Kansas Lawmakers to Revisit Medical Marijuana Debate in 2025
For the fifth consecutive year, Kansas lawmakers are expected to consider a bill legalizing medical marijuana. Despite previous attempts, the legislation has yet to pass, with the Senate remaining a significant hurdle.
Senator Cindy Holscher, a Democrat from Overland Park, has been a vocal advocate for medical marijuana. She expressed frustration at the lack of progress, stating that the committee has been rehashing the same information and debunked theories repeatedly. In October, she made a motion for the committee to support the passage of medical marijuana, but it was rejected.
The Kansas House first approved a medical marijuana plan in 2021, with a historic vote of 79-42. However, the Senate has yet to take action, with Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican, pushing for a limited program to avoid the pitfalls seen in other states.
Masterson has expressed concerns about the potential for an unregulated industry, citing Oklahoma’s experience with medical marijuana. Oklahoma passed its program through a ballot initiative, leading to lawmakers struggling to regulate the industry. Masterson wants to avoid a similar situation in Kansas.
Despite the challenges, support for medical marijuana doesn’t fall strictly along party lines. Some Republicans and a significant number of lawmakers remain undecided on the issue.
Conservatives generally oppose the bill, and law enforcement has also expressed concerns about the potential impact on public safety. Kechi Chief of Police Braden Moore testified that the smell of marijuana in Oklahoma is a quality of life issue and one he doesn’t want to see in Kansas.
As lawmakers prepare to revisit the issue in 2025, it remains unclear whether this will be the year that medical marijuana finally becomes legal in Kansas.
