KANSAS CANNA NEWS
Kansas Is a Mess , Dude ! Is There Any Hope Politicians Will Pass Medical Cannabis ?
by Lisa Sublett , contributing writer
While many wish for a different outcome , many others are left feeling that medical cannabis will most likely go no further in the Kansas legislature ’ s 2023 session . However , that does not mean it cannot see some movement overall during 2023 , as the committees where the current medical cannabis bills reside are exempt — meaning they can work on bills all year , even outside of a session . This may be the slim sliver of hope for Kansas medical cannabis patients .
Hopes for the 2023 session were dashed during two days of virulent prohibitionist testimony during informational hearings held on March 1st and 2nd in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee . Those prohibitionists testifying were by invitation only . No advocates for medical cannabis were invited . The prohibitionist testimony walked the spectrum of absurd claims comparing medical cannabis advocates to communists and claiming that every medical cannabis state program has failed to claims of cannabis-induced suicides , marijuana poisoning , and spiking crime rates . Who invited the prohibitionist was unclear , but many believe it was Senate President Ty Masterson , ( R ) Andover , KS , who issued the invitations . Masterson has neither confirmed nor denied those claims . It ’ s been widely reported by mainstream Kansas media that Masterson strongly opposes cannabis in any form . There is also reason to believe the new committee chair could be behind the invitations . He has a past record of doing the same .
Some may recall that the former Chairman of this particular committee was Senator Rob Olson ( R ) Olathe , KS , who put many months of effort into writing a comprehensive medical cannabis bill in conjunction with members of the House Federal and State Committee and hosted several rounds of hearings open to all , including cannabis experts , advocates , doctors , nurses , patients , and business owners . However , he was yanked from service , both as chair and from the committee completely , by Masterson and replaced with Senator Mike Thompson , ( R ) Shawnee , KS . When medical cannabis advocates called foul and accused Masterson of purposefully sinking the process toward passing a medical cannabis bill , Masterson retorted that he just had to move Thompson from his former committee . Thompson had drawn national attention and criticism , having barred environmental scientists from testifying on wind and solar energy , and was accused of inviting only “ the fringe of the fringe ” to testify . This similarity to the two days of prohibitionist testimony leads medical cannabis advocates to once again feel that the deck is purposefully stacked against any progress .
Governor Laura Kelly , who has supported medical cannabis efforts since her time as a Kansas state senator , was quoted ( Topeka Capital- Journal , cjonline . com ), “… Gov . Laura Kelly said of Masterson . “ I
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think he ’ s also fully aware that the people of Kansas want this , but again , we ’ re becoming an island in the middle of the country . We ’ re watching the legalization of marijuana and recreational marijuana happening all around us . That ’ s going to put us in a very precarious position .”
Many dedicated house members like Senator Cindy Holscher ( D ) Olathe , a firm advocate for patients , have worked hard on medical cannabis bills dating back to 2020 . Holscher served on the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana . She and many other advocates in the capital continue to get pushed back .
Masterson said . “ We ’ ll probably have something that ’ s a lot more conservative than what people might want to start with ,” he said of the Senate ’ s approach to the bill . “ It ’ s really going to be around what is legitimate medicine ,” he said . “ I think that hurdle ...”
Whether Thompson and Masterson allow medical cannabis to go any further in 2023 remains to be seen . The patients of Kansas can only continue to hope , as they have every year since 2009 when the first medical cannabis bill was introduced in Kansas .
There are currently three medical cannabis bills , one adult-use bill , and one expungement bill . You can track the progress of the current bills on www . kslegislature . org .
• HB : 2363 Expungement Act
• HB : 2367 Adult Use Regulation Act
• HB : 2417 Medical Cannabis Regulation Act
• SB : 171 Veterans Medical Cannabis Act
• SB : 135 Medical Cannabis Regulation Act
Sadly , signature drives “ By The People ,” like in Missouri , are not allowed in Kansas . I guess “ For The People ” has little weight in Kansas . Basically , it ’ s like one person ( Masterson ) is deciding what is “ Medicine ” without regard to what “ The People ” want . However , you can find your elected district representatives at www . kslegislature . org , write to them with your opinions , and ask for change .
Meanwhile , for Kansans , age 21 and above you are welcome to purchase in Missouri with a valid Kansas ID . You can only possess and consume it while in Missouri , as cannabis remains illegal in Kansas .
Lisa Ash Sublett of Bleeding Kansas Advocates can be reached at 913.396.9675 , president @ bleedingks . org , or www . bksadvocates . org .
Notice : Written views of the contributing writers expressed in this publication belong to the writers and do not necessarily reflect the sentiments , endorsements , or editorial opinion of the publisher or staff of The EVOLUTION Magazine .