After national spotlight, Kansas groups urge lawmakers to legalize marijuana

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – After the nationwide highlight was placed on Kansas when police ticketed a most cancers affected person for his use of marijuana to appease his signs, teams across the state will converge on the Statehouse to induce lawmakers to legalize the plant.

The ACLU of Kansas says that from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, a collective of organizations from throughout the Sunflower State will host a Medical Marijuana Day of Motion on the Kansas Statehouse. They’ll name on lawmakers to rapidly act to legalize medical marijuana within the 2023 session.

The ACLU indicated that Kansans will share their views on how the prohibition of the drug has compromised their medical care and negatively impacted their high quality of life which exacerbates affected by continual sicknesses.

The group famous that many who’re sick in Kansas can’t legally entry the drugs their medical suppliers have decided works greatest for them and Kansans who’ve been impacted will focus on how the federal government has grow to be an impediment in getting medical care. This consists of the severely in poor health corresponding to veterans with PTSD or most cancers sufferers who discover the medicinal properties of marijuana relieve their ache and struggling with out debilitating unintended effects.

In accordance with the ACLU, different audio system will embody Sharon Brett, Authorized Director for the ACLU of Kansas, and Barry Grissom, former U.S. Legal professional for the District of Kansas. The pair will focus on how state legal guidelines prohibit possibilities for small enterprise house owners, how criminalization has impacted these with legit medical wants and the way criminalization contributes to unconstitutional outcomes.

The group indicated that Kansas is one in all three states left with no authorized degree for hashish – even for medical sufferers. Nationally and statewide, public opinion on marijuana has shifted away from the misinformation of the Warfare on Medication period and additional towards acceptance of its makes use of. A 2021 ballot discovered that round 68% of Individuals supported legalization together with 83% of Democrats, 71% of Independents and 50% of Republicans.

The ACLU additionally famous that the state’s restriction on medical marijuana acquired international consideration in December when Hays police entered a terminally in poor health Kansas man’s room after staffers reported his use of a vape pen and THC paste to ease the signs of the ultimate phases of inoperable most cancers. Whereas the misdemeanor ticket was rapidly dismissed, the incident reignited the dialogue.

In accordance with the group, marijuana can be a racial justice difficulty – particularly in Kansas. It stated criminalization has disproportionately impacted Black Kansans because the state ranked twelfth for the biggest racial disparities in arrest charges for marijuana possession in 2018. Equally, it stated Black Kansans have been 4.8 instances extra prone to be arrested for possession of weed than a white individual in 2018.

Lastly, the group stated equitable legalization, regulation and taxation of the drug may present hundreds of thousands in income. With the encouragement of a accountable and sustainable business, it stated Kansas may elevate hundreds of thousands in income for important providers like roads, faculties and safeties as new alternatives are created for Kansas farmers.

The group will collect on the south wing of the primary flooring of the Kansas Statehouse at SW eighth and Van Buren in Topeka at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

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