The GOP Kansas Senate Leader says he is “open” to the use of medical marijuana, but only for terminally ill patients or those with serious illnesses. He might first want to implement a limited pilot program before expanding it.
During a KCUR interview that aired Thursday, Senate president Ty Masterson was asked if he would be willing to legalize cannabis given recent polls showing overwhelming support for this policy change.
He claimed that the majority of Kansans support only medical cannabis in “palliative” care, and that “recreational marijuana was not addressed by a majority.” He was pressed by the host, who pointed out that a recent Kansas Speaks poll showed 67 per cent support for taxing adult-use marijuana.
Masterson, who’s chamber refused to act on the House’s medical marijuana legalization legislation in 2021 argued, “If you looked at that question, most people would say yes. But they don’t really know what they are saying yes to.” He expressed concerns about the implementation of adult use legalization in Oklahoma, a neighboring state.
Listen to Masterson’s comments at around 23:15 in the audio below.
He said, “I am open to real medical marijuana or palliative treatment.” “I’m open to it. “I am open to that.” You don’t smoke any other medicine, do you? “I mean, you don’t.”
“If this is true–I believe in it, then there’s a medicinal benefit to that plant.” “I have no issue with that,” said he. It’s not the way it has been done in other parts of the country that’s been unhelpful.
The Senate President noted that earlier in the year members of the Federal and State Affairs Committee had held multiple hearings on medical cannabis reform legislation . However, they ultimately voted to put it aside.
He said there is “probably” another bill dealing with “dosage” and “research” that could be passed. He said that he would “take a trial program” to learn more.
The Senate committee had voted to shelve the medical marijuana legislation. 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, 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 to our veterans, those with chronic pain, and those with seizure disorders.
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The governor said that in 2021 she would “enlist the efforts of Kansas residents who truly want this reform” to press their legislators to get it enacted.
Masterson said previously that he expects bills and hearings to be held on this issue in the coming year. A spokesperson stated that Senator Masterson understands that views are “maturing”, on medical marijuana, though the spokesperson added that the issue “is not a priority.”
In her State of the State Address in January the Governor said that “there’s a commonsense way to improve healthcare here in Kansas – and that’s finally legalizing medical marijuana.”
She gave the example of , a terminally-ill man who had his hospital room raided and was issued a citation later rescinded to appear in court for possession of cannabis extract and vape that he used to treat severe pain. This man died a few years ago.
Last year, members of the Special Committee on Medical Marijuana met for final meetings to discuss the issue as they prepared legislation for the 2023 legislative session. Sen. Rob Olson, who was the chairperson of the special panel and believed that Masterson had removed him from his position as the chairperson of the Federal and State Affairs Committee for holding the hearings on medical marijuana.
Last year, the then-House Minority leader Tom Sawyer (D), and Assistant Minority leader Jason Probst (D), said that they wanted to let voters decide whether medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis should be legalized in the state.
Rep. Brandon Woodard filed the measure for the governor.
Kelly stated that following President Joe Biden’s announcement last summer 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.
She said that the government 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 wouldn’t rule it out if she received a reform bill.
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Photo by Philip Steffan.
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