After Missouri approves recreational marijuana, Kansas officials remind public it’s still illegal in state

OLATHE, Kan. — As Missouri prepares for legalized leisure marijuana, officers in neighboring Kansas are reminding individuals hashish remains to be unlawful within the state.

“It’s actual spotty nationally,” stated protection legal professional Paul Morrison. “Some locations deal with it like a site visitors violation, mainly been decriminalized. Some locations have been fully decriminalized for possession of small quantities and a few locations it’s nonetheless unlawful like Kansas.”

Morrison stated he has seen shoppers confused over conflicting legal guidelines between Kansas and Missouri.

“They’ll bust out their medical marijuana card and say ‘Right here’s my medical marijuana card. Is that going to assist me?’” Morrison stated. “To which now we have to answer, ‘No it received’t assist you to over right here.”

Morrison, a former Johnson County Prosecutor, stated the general public can be stunned by how a lot time legislation enforcement spends on small marijuana instances.

Following Tuesday’s vote, he thinks change is dependent upon what facet of the state line you’re.

“I believe in Missouri, you’ll in all probability see considerably of a change on that,” Morrison stated. “In Kansas, in all probability not likely.”

In Kansas, Overland Park Police Chief Frank Donchez addressed issues of officers ready to cease individuals for hashish as soon as they cross the state line.

“We’re not seeking to cease individuals for that,” Donchez stated. “I need to put all people’s thoughts comfy and allow them to know that’s not our focus. Our focus has all the time been security and ensuring persons are protected.”

Donchez added coaching at present exist to identify impaired drivers.

“We do make arrest for those who are impaired,” he stated. “You all the time suppose alcohol, however we’ve made loads of arrest on individuals which are impaired on account of managed substances.”

KSHB 41 contacted a number of legislation enforcement companies in Missouri to see what impression Tuesday’s vote would have.  

A spokesperson with the Clay County Sheriff’s Workplace stated the company remains to be reviewing particulars of leisure marijuana, however stated a present marijuana sniffing K9 should retire.

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