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Medical marijuana action group meets at Kansas Statehouse to confront legislators

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KCTV Morning Headlines, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

By Sarah Motter

Published: Jan. 23, 2024 at 6:01 PM CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A group that hopes to advance the legalization of medical marijuana through the Kansas Legislature this session met at the statehouse in an attempt to close the gap between what Kansans want and legislator actions.

The ACLU of Kansas says that on Tuesday, Jan. 23, a coalition of organizations is set to descend on the Kansas Statehouse to call on lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana during the 2024 session. A move members have claimed would close the gap between actions and public sentiment.

The action group said it convened at the Statehouse between 10 and 11 a.m. on the South Wing of the first floor of the Kansas State Capitol Building, SW 8th and Van Buren St., in Topeka.

According to the ACLU, Kansas laws not only restrict chances for small business owners but can also criminalize those with genuine medical needs. This includes veterans with PTSD or cancer and other chronic care patients who have found marijuana a far more favorable option than legal opioids.

In the 2023 legislative session, the organization indicated that medical marijuana legislation was blocked in the Senate, which contradicted the popularity of legalization among Kansans. A poll from that year found that 79% of residents supported access to medical marijuana through a medical provider and 71% supported decriminalization for personal use.

Additionally, a survey done by Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Speaks found that 67% of Kansans support taxable, recreational marijuana.

The ACLU noted that the criminalization of marijuana is a racial justice issue - especially in Kansas. This has disproportionately impacted Black Kansans, who ranked 12th in the nation for the largest racial disparities in arrest rates for marijuana possession in 2018. Similarly, Black Kansans were 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person in 2018.

KCTV has reached out to both the Kansas House and Senate and awaits a reply.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.

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Medical marijuana action group meets at Kansas Statehouse to confront legislators

Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small Caps

Default X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-Large

Default Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light Bold

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KCTV Morning Headlines, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

By Sarah Motter

Published: Jan. 23, 2024 at 6:01 PM CST

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A group that hopes to advance the legalization of medical marijuana through the Kansas Legislature this session met at the statehouse in an attempt to close the gap between what Kansans want and legislator actions.

The ACLU of Kansas says that on Tuesday, Jan. 23, a coalition of organizations is set to descend on the Kansas Statehouse to call on lawmakers to legalize medical marijuana during the 2024 session. A move members have claimed would close the gap between actions and public sentiment.

The action group said it convened at the Statehouse between 10 and 11 a.m. on the South Wing of the first floor of the Kansas State Capitol Building, SW 8th and Van Buren St., in Topeka.

According to the ACLU, Kansas laws not only restrict chances for small business owners but can also criminalize those with genuine medical needs. This includes veterans with PTSD or cancer and other chronic care patients who have found marijuana a far more favorable option than legal opioids.

In the 2023 legislative session, the organization indicated that medical marijuana legislation was blocked in the Senate, which contradicted the popularity of legalization among Kansans. A poll from that year found that 79% of residents supported access to medical marijuana through a medical provider and 71% supported decriminalization for personal use.

Additionally, a survey done by Fort Hays State University’s Kansas Speaks found that 67% of Kansans support taxable, recreational marijuana.

The ACLU noted that the criminalization of marijuana is a racial justice issue - especially in Kansas. This has disproportionately impacted Black Kansans, who ranked 12th in the nation for the largest racial disparities in arrest rates for marijuana possession in 2018. Similarly, Black Kansans were 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than a white person in 2018.

KCTV has reached out to both the Kansas House and Senate and awaits a reply.

Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.

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Fairway, KS 66205

(913) 677-7211

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[email protected] - (913) 677-7126

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At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.

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At Gray, our journalists report, write, edit and produce the news content that informs the communities we serve. Click here to learn more about our approach to artificial intelligence.

A Gray Media Group, Inc. Station - © 2002-2024 Gray Television, Inc.