A Colorado man has been sentenced to prison in a marijuana case in Iowa.

George Podes, 44, of Denver, received a sentence of 96 months in prison on Thursday.  He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana.

He was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after the imprisonment.

Authorities said that between May 2011 and March 2013, Podes agreed with several individuals, including Jared Fromknecht, Morgan Hermiston, Charles Williams, Harrison Summers, Jacob Aldrich, Michael Wood and Austin Iossi to manufacture and distribute marijuana.

Authorities said Podes grew the marijuana in Colorado for distribution in Iowa.

DES MOINES — Maria La France and Sally Graer say they are exhausted and frustrated, and highly critical of state lawmakers who oppose expanding Iowa’s medical cannabis program.

La France, Graer and other advocates for legalized medical cannabis oil spoke to reporters on June 3 at the Iowa Capitol as they made one final plea to state lawmakers this legislative session.

Joined by fellow advocates with the grassroots Iowans 4 Medical Cannabis Coalition, La France and Graer said they are exasperated with state lawmakers who refuse to consider expanding Iowa’s narrow medical cannabis law to allow for the treatment of patients with a variety of diseases like epilepsy, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Legislature's failure to expand Iowa's medical marijuana law has some parents of sick children looking to Minnesota.

Area lawmakers who worked to pass the proposed legislation suggested some Iowans may relocate to nearby states to access medicinal marijuana. Medical marijuana will be legal in limited form in Minnesota beginning July 1.

Some Cedar Falls families confirmed they're considering their options, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (http://bit.ly/1MsWswE ) reported.

"Obviously, they have all these good things about their bill, but it's proximity. So, you just gave yourselves competition. Minnesota moved forward. You chose to stay stagnant," said Brienna Decker.

Mike Decker and Brienna Decker tickle their 3-year-old son, Garrett, as they play in his room in Cedar Falls. The Legislature's failure to expand Iowa's medical marijuana law has some parents of sick children looking to Minnesota.(Photo: Tiffany Rushing/Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier)

CEDAR FALLS, Ia. – The Legislature’s failure to expand Iowa’s medical marijuana law has some parents of sick children looking to Minnesota.

Northeast Iowa lawmakers who worked to pass the proposed legislation suggested some Iowans may relocate to nearby states to access medicinal marijuana. Medical marijuana will be legal in limited form in Minnesota beginning July 1.

Medical-marijuana advocates expressed frustration and exhaustion Wednesday, as the Legislature prepares to leave for the year without acting on the issue.

The activists held a Statehouse news conference to criticize Republican leaders of the Iowa House, who have not brought the proposal up for a debate.

Medical marijuana activist Sally Gaer of West Des Moines speaks with reporters Wednesday at the Statehouse. (Photo: Tony Leys/The Register)

"They didn't want to visit this issue. They don't really care about suffering Iowans, and it's really unfortunate," activist Sally Gaer of West Des Moines said. "…It boggles my mind that there's no compassion. They say they have compassion, but their actions don't show that they have compassion."

The event brought people together to promote cannabis reform in Iowa. Des Moines, IA (WOI) - Nearly a hundred people gathered at the statehouse today to take part in the global marijuana march.

The event brought people together to promote cannabis reform in Iowa.

Organizers say the march has happened at the capitol on the first Sunday in May since the late 1990's.

Some event goers say change is desperately needed in the Hawkeye state.

"Help us, please," says David Letsch, a supporter of the cannabis reform. "We need help. We're suffering. When I had marijuana, I lived. When I'm on medications, I survive. I'm sick of surviving. If they don't get it done in one year, I'm going to Colorado."

Marijuana advocates meet at Des Moines City Hall on Saturday and march down Locust Street to the Iowa Capitol.(Photo: Linh Ta/The Register)Buy Photo

The daily pills 39-year-old Angel Francis-Kline has to take makes it hard for her to handle everyday life.

In a day, she can take between 12 to 16 pills to deal with her fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia and early on-set menopause. The combination of her pills, like Cymbalta and Hydrocodone make her uncontrollably shake and have seizures, causing dangerous situations, especially when she's driving.

"It's living everyday in pain," Francis-Kline. said. "What they're making me take is poison."

A debate over medical marijuana legislation is getting acrimonious at the Iowa Capitol, and is even spilling over into a fight over anti-abortion legislation.

Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City, opened the bidding on Monday by declaring that House Republican legislative leaders have a “moral obligation” to permit a vote on Senate File 484, which was approved earlier this session by the Senate.

The bill would allow Iowans with a range of health problems to obtain medical marijuana. Those conditions could include cancer, multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other chronic and debilitating ailments.

Once again, our community’s state line perch provides valuable insight into governance.

On this issue of marijuana, we see side-by-side state legislators acting differently.

Iowa law allows only one form of medicinal marijuana, a non-intoxicating extract found to be effective for a form of epilepsy. But the law approved in 2014 is written so that the handful of eligible patients have no way to get or transport it.

The Global Marijuana March (GMM) is kicking off at different locations across the world taking place this year on Saturday May 2, 2015 and include marches, meetings, rallies, concerts, festivals and other relevant information and events relating to cannabis.

The Global Marijuana March began in 1999 which have had hundreds of thousands of people participated in over 829 different cities in 72 countries worldwide since its inception.

The Global Marijuana March is a celebration embracing cannabis culture as a personal lifestyle choice. Participants unite to discuss, promote, entertain and educate both consumers and non-consumers alike.