The Republican leader in the Kansas Senate has resisted an attempt to legalize medical cannabis in the state. He called the legislation proposed by advocates “nonstarters” and suggested that the policy change might lead to a rise in “gang activities” and put children at risk.
Senate President Ty Masterson stated in a recent media interview that he is open to enacting an limited cannabis pilot program to help patients but has heard far too many stories about the problems with Oklahoma’s medical marijuana law to support any broader reform.
You’ve heard about the Oklahoma disaster, right? He told reporters that he was involved in cash transactions to buy land. You’re seeing a great deal of gang activity.”
Masterson claimed an Oklahoma law enforcement officer told him that the medical marijuana producers in that state produce more than 50x the amount required by the patients of the state. The lawmaker stated, “So it is not being sold as a medicine.” “I don’t think it helps the conversation.”
Masterson said, “I think when people think of medical care, they think about palliative and other things.” I believe that a majority are in support of this.
A Kansas Speaks survey from last fall revealed that 67% of Kansans support the legalization of cannabis for adults over 21. This includes a majority within Masterson’s party.
Masterson says he is “open to discussions” about a limited cannabis-access, but that any legislation must “protect our children” before he will allow it to be passed.
He said, “I’m open to a pilot program, or something controlled enough that you could test it. But you don’t need to. It’s not like the horse has left the barn, and you’ll never be able to put it back.”
Masterson acknowledged that marijuana was being used by minors in schools, despite the prohibition.
He said that the problem was already present in Kansas, and that he didn’t believe it helped his argument. He cited news reports about “growing, large numbers” of students who were having problems, “basically overdosing with edibles and other things.”
He said that the issue boils down “to protecting our population.”
The comments were broadcast on the local KSNT NBC affiliate.
Masterson has previously expressed skepticism towards cannabis. Last month, he said, for instance, that he was “open”, to passing a medical cannabis program, but only in a limited version, which would be for terminally ill patients or seriously ill patients. He might first want to implement a limited program before expanding it.
He also downplayed the support that voters have shown for legalizing cannabis in general, as demonstrated by a recent survey, which suggests they don’t fully understand the policy shift.
The Senate President said, “If you ask most people this question, they would probably answer yes. But they wouldn’t really know what it is that they are saying yes to.”
As the new legislative sessions begins, advocates in Kansas are intensifying their efforts to allow patients access to marijuana.
In 2021 the state’s House of Representatives approved a medical cannabis bill, but Masterson blocked it in the Senate in the following year.
The Senate’s Federal and State Affairs Committee conducted several hearings in 2023 on a medical marijuana reform bill. However, members voted to put it aside.
The Senate committee shelved a medical marijuana bill. Laura Kelly (D), in a press release, urged the public to call their representatives and demand that the legislation be brought back to action. However, this did not occur before the end the legislative session.
Kelly, who is a long-time advocate of cannabis reform, stated at the time she was “disappointed” that some lawmakers were saying they didn’t want to legalize medical marijuana in this year, effectively turning their backs on veterans, those with chronic pain, and those with seizure disorders.
In her 2023 State Of The State Address from a year ago, the Governor said there was a “commonsense solution to improve healthcare here in Kansas – and that is to finally legalize medicinal marijuana.”
The governor said that in 2021 she would “enlist the efforts of Kansas residents who truly want this reform” to press their legislators to pass the reform.
In December 2022, members of the Special Committee on Medical Marijuana met for their final meeting on the subject as they prepared legislation for the session in 2023. Sen. Rob Olson, who was the chairperson of the special panel and believed that Masterson had removed him from his position as the chair of the Federal and State Affairs Committee for holding the hearings on medical marijuana.
In 2022, the then House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer and Assistant Minority leader Jason Probst both said that they wanted to let voters decide whether medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis were legal in the state.
Rep. Brandon Woodard filed the measure for the governor.
Kelly stated that following President Joe Biden’s announcement of 2022 pardoning those who have committed federal marijuana possession crimes and urging governors to follow, her administration ” is focused on the legalization of medical marijuana to ensure Kansans suffering from severe illnesses do not suffer any longer.
Kelly said that the department will continue to “consider all clemency requests and pardons based on an in-depth and complete review of each case.”
In 2020, the governor said that she would not personally support adult-use legalization but she would not rule out signing a reform if it came across her desk.
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