The governor of Kansas came out strongly against the state\u2019s ongoing criminalization of medical marijuana on Tuesday, blasting the \u201cridiculous\u201d laws that criminalize patients. And following the speech, a top GOP senator whose been skeptical about reform committed to at least holding hearings on the issue this session.<\/p>\n
In her annual State of the State address, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said that there\u2019s a \u201ccommonsense way to improve health care here in Kansas\u2014and that\u2019s to finally legalize medical marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBecause we haven’t yet legalized medical marijuana, every day, thousands of Kansans are forced to choose between breaking the law and living more comfortably. It\u2019s an unbearable choice \u2013 and an unnecessary one. #ksleg<\/a> #SOTS<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) January 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
She cited a recent example of a terminally ill man whose hospital room was raided<\/a> by police and who was given a later-rescinded citation to appear in court over possession of a cannabis vape and extract that he was using to treat serious pain. That man has since passed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know that was ridiculous,\u201d Kelly said<\/a>. \u201cThis is not to blame the police\u2014the police were just enforcing the law. That means the law itself is ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
The governor said that the situation reminded her of an an op-ed that a different patient\u2014a self-described conservative and military veteran who was battling cancer\u2014wrote last year, addressing the state Senate and urging action. The man, Dave Auble, refused to try marijuana to ease his symptoms because he didn\u2019t want to break the law, and he died weeks after the op-ed was published.<\/p>\n
A fried of Auble\u2019s was present in the legislative chamber during Kelly\u2019s speech, and he received a standing ovation from lawmakers when the governor acknowledged him.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day, thousands of Kansans are forced to choose between breaking the law and living without pain. It is an unbearable choice\u2014and an absolutely unnecessary one,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cLet\u2019s do better in Dave\u2019s honor. In honor of the kids experiencing multiple seizures per day. In honor of veterans suffering with PTSD. Let\u2019s make Kansans\u2019 lives better, and let\u2019s do it right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nA growing majority of physicians believe medical marijuana should be part of pain management and palliative care. Every day, thousands of Kansans are forced to choose between breaking the law and living more comfortably. It\u2019s an unbearable choice \u2013 and an unnecessary one. #ksleg<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Kansas Dems (@KansasDems) January 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not to say that legalizing medical marijuana won\u2019t be complex. Of course it will,\u201d she continued. \u201cWe\u2019ll need to put in place effective safeguards to ensure that it\u2019s used appropriately and that it\u2019s not abused. But I believe, like with everything else, if you and I work together, we can find a fair and commonsense solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThirty-nine other states have figured this out. Surely, Kansas can too.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
After the speech, Senate President Ty Masterson (R) held a press conference where he addressed<\/a> the governor\u2019s call for medical cannabis legalization.<\/p>\n
He was dismissive of the stories that Kelly shared about patients, calling one an \u201cinteresting example,\u201d but not one that necessarily moves the needle for him. \u201cI\u2019m not going to be shamed into doing it from some bad examples.\u201d<\/p>\n
That said, he acknowledged that there\u2019s a \u201crole for potential palliative care,\u201d and \u201cthere\u2019s gonna be bills, there\u2019s gonna be hearings.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s notable given Masterson\u2019s resistance on the issue. A spokesperson for the Senate president said last year that medical cannabis reform is \u201cnot a priority,\u201d<\/a> though they acknowledged that the issue was \u201cmaturing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The story of the man whose hospital room was raided over cannabis also prompted a renewed call for reform from Kansas Democrats, who\u2019ve worked to advance medical marijuana legalization in recent sessions but haven\u2019t been able to get it enacted.<\/p>\n
\nNow is the time to legalize medical marijuana in Kansas. During this upcoming legislative session, we must pass a bill to support Kansans suffering from chronic illnesses. #ksleg<\/a> #SOTS<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Kansas Senate Democrats (@kssenatedems) January 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
The Kansas House of Representatives approved a medical marijuana bill in 2021<\/a>, but it later stalled in the Senate. The latter chamber did hold hearings on the issue, however.<\/p>\n
Members of a special committee\u00a0held a final meeting on medical marijuana issues<\/a> last month with the intent of informing reform legislation that\u2019s expected to be introduced in this session.<\/p>\n
The Special Committee on Medical Marijuana, members of which\u00a0toured a Missouri cannabis cultivation facility<\/a> last month as part of their work, went over the wide range of issues that they\u2019ve been discussing with officials and experts in recent months.<\/p>\n
The bicameral committee,\u00a0which was formed in June<\/a>,\u00a0convened for an initial meeting<\/a>\u00a0in October that involved state officials, law enforcement and an Oklahoma medical cannabis regulator giving their perspective on the issue.<\/p>\n
Potentially complicating efforts to enact reform this session is the fact that Sen. Robert Olsen (R), who put significant time into studying medical cannabis as a leader of the special panel, was replaced this session as chair of the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue.<\/p>\n
Also, Rep. John Barker (R), who worked on the issue as chair of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, lost his primary bid last year and is no longer in the legislature.<\/p>\n
Then-House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer (D) and Assistant Minority Leader Jason Probst (D) said last year that they wanted to let voters decide on legalizing medical and adult-use marijuana<\/a>\u00a0in the state.<\/p>\n
The governor, for her part, previously pushed a separate proposal that would legalize medical cannabis and use the resulting revenue<\/a>\u00a0to support Medicaid expansion, with Rep. Brandon Woodard (D)\u00a0filing the measure on the governor\u2019s behalf<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nNow is the time to legalize medical marijuana in Kansas. During this upcoming legislative session, we must pass a bill to support Kansans suffering from chronic illnesses. #ksleg<\/a> #SOTS<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Brandon Woodard (@Woodard4Kansas) January 25, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Kelly has she said she wants voters to put\u00a0pressure on their representatives to get the reform passed<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Following President Joe Biden\u2019s announcement on pardoning people who\u2019ve committed federal marijuana possession offenses and imploring governors to follow suit, Kelly said that her administration is \u201cfocused on legalizing medical marijuana<\/a>\u00a0so that Kansans with severe illnesses no longer have to suffer.<\/p>\n
She added that they will \u201ccontinue to consider all clemency and pardon requests based on a complete and thorough review of the individual cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor also said in 2020 that while she wouldn\u2019t personally advocate for adult-use legalization, she\u00a0wouldn\u2019t rule out signing the reform<\/a>\u00a0into law if a reform bill arrived on her desk.<\/p>\n
\nMassachusetts And New York Lawmakers File Drug Decriminalization Bills For 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
Photo courtesy of Chris Wallis \/\/ Side Pocket Images.<\/em><\/p>\n
The post Kansas Governor Blasts \u2018Ridiculous\u2019 Medical Marijuana Ban In Annual Speech, With GOP Senate Leader Committing To Hearings<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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