“Everyone is becoming more aware, and how popular and well-liked medical marijuana in Kansas is currently.”
By Daniel Caudill, KMUW
Statehouse activists are renewing their call for lawmakers to legalize Kansas medical marijuana. The Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, as well as many other state legislators of both parties, support this concept. However, the legislature has yet to address the issue in the current session.
The American Civil Liberties Union organized an online day of protest for marijuana legalization in the first week of this month. Activists expressed their disappointment at the lack of legal medical marijuana in Kansas, almost three years after , the state House had passed a bill.
Cheryl Kumberg is the president of Kansas Cannabis Coalition. She said, “I am here with open mouth amazement that we still discuss passing a medical cannabis bill.” It’s the same excuses for all these years. “The same rhetoric is used by opponents and legislators.”
Kansas House passed medical marijuana legislation in 2021 with bipartisan support. However, it was not taken up by Senate. This bill would have allowed patients suffering from cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and other diseases to be prescribed smokeless cannabis products.
Some Republicans were against the bill at the time because they wanted to know more about dosage and distribution or they did not want to be in conflict with the federal law, which still prohibits marijuana possession.
Some House members have expressed optimism for a medical marijuana discussion in the next few weeks. However, they hope the Senate will lead the way.
“I do think that it has some traction.” “I know people are talking about it,” stated Republican Rep. Nick Hoheisel who voted for the 2021 medical cannabis bill. “Everyone is becoming more aware, as well as how popular and polling-positive medical marijuana in Kansas is.”
Ty Masterson, the Republican Senate president, is one of many key legislators who have opposed medical marijuana during past sessions. But he has recently stated that he would be open to a conversation.
In December, said that he was open to medical marijuana. “I’m open to that. I’m not saying no. “I’m not saying no, I’m just saying that we haven’t done any real studies on dosage and distribution.”
The Senate has yet to decide whether it will address the issue in this year. If lawmakers send a bill to the governor’s desk, she is likely to sign it.
According to a recent poll conducted by Fort Hays State University, about two thirds of Kansans favor legalizing medical marijuana and recreational marijuana .
In some cities, such as Lawrence, marijuana possession is no longer criminally punishable.
Kelly Rippel of Kansans for Hemp, a member of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition and co-founder, says that de facto legalization of hemp is not the preferred method.
Rippel stated that the inconsistency in enforcement was not only a problem in local communities but also with county district attorneys. “They may not charge – that’s fine – but we need something in the law to say, ‘We will not criminalize this’, especially for private possession.”
At least 38 states, Washington D.C. and three U.S. Territories have legalized some form of medical cannabis. In 24 states, recreational marijuana is legal. This includes the neighboring states Missouri and Colorado.
Kansas has legalized CBD but cannabis products that contain high levels of THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, remain illegal.
Many Democratic-controlled states have legalized medical or recreational marijuana through the typical legislative process. Washington, D.C. and 13 other states, including Missouri, legalized marijuana through ballot initiatives. These are questions that voters were asked directly by a citizen petition.
Kansas has no formal framework for ballot initiative.
The story first appeared in the Kansas News Service . This collaboration between KCUR and Kansas Public Radio was a part of the Kansas News Service .
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The post Kansas Republican Representative Says Medical Marijuana has ‘Traction” This Session Based on ‘How well it polls’ first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
