Early results from a survey of law enforcement agencies conducted by the Kansas attorney general suggest legal Colorado marijuana is having a big impact on Kansas, but it may not be all negative. Attorney General Derek Schmidt received responses from 390 Kansas law enforcement agencies and district attorneys indicating that less marijuana is being confiscated, […]
Kansas
Kansas Legislators Look to Lessen Criminal Penalties, Legalize Hemp Oil
Lawmakers sent bills to the Senate floor Tuesday to lessen penalties for marijuana possession and allow individuals with epilepsy to try hemp oil. The Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee approved allowing the use of hemp oil – or CBD oil, which is extracted from marijuana – but offered no endorsement of the proposal, instead […]
Kansas Supreme Court Overturns Wichita’s Voter-Approved Marijuana Ordinance
The highest court in Kansas on Friday voided a voter-approved ordinance in Wichita to reduce punishments for possessing small amounts of marijuana. By a 7-0 vote, the Kansas Supreme Court said Wichita ignored filing and disclosure rules that were mandated by state law, and meant to ensure that legislators and voters in the state’s most […]
Kansas Legislature Debating Legalization of Medical Marijuana Oil
It has been a year since Owen Klug was in front of the Legislature — a year of continued seizures, stemming from epilepsy: the “prison he can’t escape.” Now 8, Klug repeatedly turned his eyes and head toward his mother, Kiley Klug, on Wednesday as she pleaded with lawmakers yet again to allow her son […]
City of Wichita Wants Marijuana Initiative to Be Tested in Court
The city of Wichita says it thinks the initiative voters passed last month to reduce marijuana penalties is legally valid, but agreed with the state’s attorney general that it should be put on hold while it’s tested in court. Those are the key points in the city’s answer to a lawsuit by Attorney General Derek […]
Marijuana in Wonderland: Making Sense of a Judge’s Anti-Cannabis Ruling
By Barry Gainsburg “When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’ ” — Lewis Carroll, from Through the Looking Glass Last week, the U.S. District Court in Northern California declined to declare the federal classification of marijuana […]
Voters Decide to Decriminalize Marijuana in Kansas’ Largest City
Now that a win for marijuana reform is in the books in Kansas’ largest city, the focus shifts to Topeka, where the attorney general has called Wichita’s voter-approved initiative unlawful and the Legislature could consider as many as three marijuana-related bills in the coming weeks. In the general city election Tuesday, Wichita voters said yes […]
Poll: Most Kansans support medical marijuana
HAYS, Kan. – With small amounts of marijuana now legal in Colorado, attitudes about the drug may be changing in Kansas. The annual “Kansas Speaks” poll reveals most Kansans support legalizing pot under certain conditions. The poll released Sunday by Fort Hays State University shows 59 percent support legal medicinal marijuana. Only 30 percent oppose […]
KC State Senator pushing for the legalization of growing hemp
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City state senator says Missouri farmers are losing money and maybe voters can change that in 2016. Jason Holsman wants Missouri to join over a dozen other states in legalizing hemp. It’s something he’s pushed for several years and he will pre-file a measure in December. Holsman believes though, […]
Wichita group hopes to force vote to decriminalize marijuana
A group of Wichitans think they have enough, or nearly enough, petition signatures to force a citywide vote on changing the municipal code to decriminalize marijuana. A determined group of Wichita marijuana advocates is hoping that by the next Fourth of July weekend, you’ll be able to light up more than fireworks. They think they […]