WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – Multiple organizations opposing and supporting medical marijuana usage in Kansas stood in front of a special committee in Topeka on Wednesday.

Kansas is one of a handful of states that have not legalized medical marijuana. The legislature has stalled it from being made onto the floor multiple times. During the 2024 legislative session, senate republicans blocked the effort just before adjourning for the year.

At Tuesday’s special meeting, state agencies, law enforcement organizations, medical professionals, businesses, and advocacy groups stood in front of the committee and shared their connection to medical marijuana.

Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Kansas Peace Officers Association, and Kansas Sheriffs Association all oppose medical marijuana. They all told the committee it would cost the state more than what it could earn.

Bel Aire Police Chief Darrel Atteberry with the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police said passing medical marijuana would end up with the legalization of recreational marijuana. Atteberry said it all started when the state legalized CBD, “The next year, it was, ‘No, we’re going to change that; we need THC in our CBD.’ And the incrementalism began.”

Meanwhile, Inga Seldres, the executive director of the Cannabis Justice Coalition- Kansas, said the state needs to do more than legalize marijuana. “Decriminalize it statewide, meaning no arrests, prison time, or criminal record for the possession of cannabis for personal consumption,” Seldres told the special committee on medical marijuana. “Additionally, we need to expunge the records of any non-violent cannabis offenses so that Kansans do not have a criminal record holding them back from employment and educational opportunities.”

Earlier this year, the DEA announced that it plans to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug; ultimately, weed could be used for medical use nationwide.

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It’s one of the football world’s biggest burning questions as the month of October rolls on: Will the Kansas City Chiefs add a wide receiver before the 2024 NFL trade deadline?

While there are still a few weeks before that needs to be answered, speculation won’t be slowing down one bit. As the back-to-back Super Bowl champs enter Week 7 with a perfect 5-0 record, there’s plenty of room to improve on the offensive side of the ball. Already down wideouts Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rashee Rice for at least the regular season, Andy Reid’s club would benefit from a talent injection.

It takes two to tango, however, and Kansas City has yet to strike a deal with an opposing club. How strong have their efforts been? In a recent article with Dan Graziano of ESPN, Jeremy Fowler emptied his reporting notebook to give the latest on the Chiefs.

“The receiver-depleted Chiefs haven’t been overly aggressive on the market to this point,” Fowler wrote. “As was told to me, coach Andy Reid values receivers who either have played in his system or know it well. Finding a plug-and-play situation isn’t always clear cut. That said, Kansas City will stay nimble. The Chiefs liked DeAndre Hopkins in 2023 free agency, but Tennessee isn’t eager to deal him as of now, and he likes playing in Tennessee. I don’t get the sense he’s angling to get out of there. Carolina’s Diontae Johnson would be a good fit, but his base salary is $7 million and the Panthers do not seem eager to deal him just yet. The Bills just released Marquez Valdes-Scantling, so perhaps the Chiefs add a familiar face in the short term.”

Fowler’s report signals that Kansas City might ride the current wave of production from its offense but keep its eyes peeled regarding external options. Coming off Week 5’s huge performance against the New Orleans Saints, that makes at least some sense. In that outing, JuJu Smith-Schuster went over 100 receiving yards and rookie Xavier Worthy continued to showcase his growth. On the other hand, relying on an injury-prone wideout and a first-year player – along with 35-year-old tight end Travis Kelce – is an insanely risky proposition.

The Chiefs are maintaining a consistent philosophy pertaining to trades. While having someone who’s familiar with their style of offense would be nice, Reid himself said this week that it isn’t absolutely necessary. When considering players like Hopkins or Mike Williams of the New York Jets, it’s important to factor in their archetype compared to what Kansas City traditionally values on offense.

The champs’ salary cap situation is another potential obstacle. Currently estimated to have just over $4 million to work with, fitting in a high-level playmaker is much easier said than done. A combination of base salary ($8.27M) and per-game roster bonuses ($1.02M) makes a Hopkins acquisition tricky, even with those figures being deflated now that the season is rolling. The same is true for Johnson ($7M base), and it would’ve been true for Davante Adams before he got moved to the New York Jets. Amari Cooper was one of the few cheap and good receivers available. He’s now with the Buffalo Bills.

That leaves the Chiefs stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are ways to improve the wide receiver room, albeit far more to get better depth instead of a starting-caliber option. A lot can change between now and November 5, so buckle up for one of the busiest times of the NFL calendar.

Read More: Andy Reid Explains Chiefs’ Self-Scouting, Areas for Improvement After Bye Week

As the Houston Cougars emerged from their bye week and geared up for a critical matchup against Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium, head coach Willie Fritz made an important announcement that had long been anticipated. Zeon Chriss would be the starting quarterback going forward. Fritz, speaking at his weekly press conference, confirmed that Chriss had earned the role after showing remarkable promise in previous appearances.

In Chriss’s first official start, he delivered an electrifying performance, highlighting his combination of speed, athleticism, and determination. His 71-yard touchdown run up the middle was a memorable moment that showcased his natural talent. Chriss also proved to be a balanced threat, completing 15 of 18 passes for 141 yards and adding 97 rushing yards on 11 carries in a much-needed 30-19 victory over TCU. The win snapped an eight-quarter scoreless streak for the Cougars, providing the offensive spark the team had been searching for.

Chriss’s journey to becoming the starter had been filled with challenges. After transferring to Houston in the offseason, the young quarterback had to battle for playing time behind returning starter Donovan Smith. Even though he began the season as the second option, Chriss never wavered. He continued to work hard, embodying the advice given by his father to always practice like he was the starter and be ready for his opportunity.

That opportunity came in Week 6, and Chriss seized it. With confidence and poise, he led his team to a critical win. Now, he will look to build on that momentum in the upcoming road game against Kansas, playing at the iconic NFL Stadium.