Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. Iowa law
Cannabis laws in Des Moines follow Iowa’s state law. Cannabis enforcement and penalties are governed by jurisdiction law, not city-specific rules in most cases.
Recreational cannabis is illegal. Medical cannabis is available for qualifying patients through the state program. Unauthorized possession can result in penalties.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Illegal
- Medical: Available (qualifying conditions)
- Possession: Permitted only with medical authorization
- Buying/Selling: Limited to medical program
- Tourists: Generally ineligible for medical access
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Law Enforcement
Des Moines police could seem fairly relaxed, with some stops ending in being let go. Surrounding departments in Urbandale, Windsor Heights, Johnston, West Des Moines and Clive had much stricter reputations.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Some people got approached along Martin Luther King Drive. Another encounter there cost the buyer US$42 with nothing to show for it. The east side came up for brick, the south side for brick and nugs and the west for good nugs.
Marijuana Prices
- Brick or schwag: US$10–20 for an eighth, US$20 for a 5 g sack or US$25 for 8 g in separate accounts. A quarter was quoted at US$25, a half ounce at US$40–50 and an ounce at US$60–100.
- Larger brick amounts: US$190–250 for a quarter pound, around US$300 for a half pound or US$550 for a pound.
- Mids: US$10 per gram or US$20–45 for an eighth. One list put 7 g at US$55, a half ounce at US$80 and an ounce at US$140.
- Nugs, kind bud or hydro: US$20 per gram, US$50–75 for an eighth, US$100 for 7 g and US$175 for a half ounce. Ounces ranged from US$350–600, with US$400–420 reported separately. Quarter and half pounds were quoted at US$1,000 and US$1,600.
- Hash: US$40–90 per gram.
Types of Marijuana
Northern Lights, AK-47, Strawberry Cough, Purps, Silver Pearl, Orange Kush, Cherry Dro, Purple Kush and Trainwreck all came through. There was plenty of unnamed hydro and nugget, with decent mids and even some good schwag. Quality rose and fell.
More Information
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