By Michael Hooper
Advocates for the legalization of medical cannabis in Kansas may want to vote for a Democrat or an Independent in the governor's race on Nov. 6.
Sen. Laura Kelly, the Democrat party nomination for governor, has supported efforts to legalize medical cannabis in Kansas. Kelly supports the Kansas Safe Access Act, a comprehensive medical legislation vetted by the Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards (FOCUS) in Denver, and also approved by the Kansas Health Institute for meeting its 2015 health impact assessment requirements.
Independent candidate for governor Greg Orman has said he supports legalization of medical cannabis.
Republican Kris Kobach has publicly opposed legalization of cannabis. A June 29, 2018, report by Jonathan Shorman in The Wichita Eagle said Kobach opposed legalization of recreational marijuana and is highly skeptical of medical marijuana.
About 76% of Kansans support legalization of medical cannabis, according to a Spring 2017 survey of Kansans by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University.
Kelly Rippel, a member of the Industrial Hemp Research Advisory Committee for the Department of Agriculture in Kansas, said in the 1970s his father Gary Rippel participated in a hemp eradication study. Researchers saw the effects of using 2,4-D to destroy hemp. This had consequences to the environment, including the loss of bobwhite quail habitat. The hemp growing near corn and bean crops had provided habitat for birds. What is so disturbing about policy in the 1970s was the willingness to destroy hemp even though it was known to have no THC.
Today, Rippel said, there is a growing number of Kansas farmers who want to grow hemp for industrial uses. Both state and federal governments need to make some changes to allow the hemp market to develop and grow. Hemp can be used to make clothing, building materials, rope and many other products. Henry Ford once made a car body out of hemp.
CBD, the nonpsychoactive ingredient in cannabis, is now legal in Kansas as a result of legislation signed by Gov. Colyer on May 14, 2018.
Several states around Kansas already have chosen to legalize medical cannabis.
Oklahoma recently approved medical marijuana. For more than five years, Colorado has been making hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue from the sale of recreational and medical marijuana.
Thirty-one states have laws supporting the use of medical cannabis. Recreational use of cannabis is legal in nine states.
Laura Kelly, the state senator from Topeka, supports changing sentencing guidelines for cannabis use. She said the state's jails are full of nonviolent first-time offenders who probably just needed treatment, the Eagle reported.
Missouri is set to vote on whether to legalize cannabis on Nov. 6. There are three initiatives on the ballot, all three would legalize growing, manufacturing, selling and consuming cannabis for medicinal use. If that happens, Kansas will be surrounded by three states where medical cannabis is legal. The fourth state, Nebraska, decriminalized marijuana possession many years ago.
Kansas is likely to be among the last states to legalize cannabis. However, a new governor who supports legalization would make a huge difference in the next legislative session.
Kansas would create thousands of jobs if it legalizes cannabis and gives more support to the hemp industry. Kansas climate is ideal for growing hemp and cannabis. Plus, the state of Kansas could use the tax revenue from the sale of cannabis.
If voters choose the Independent or the Libertarian candidates, they will split the vote and possibly hand the election to Kris Kobach.
A vote for Laura Kelly will achieve two things. One she will support legalization of medical marijuana. She already has previously demonstrated support for the Kansas Safe Access Act. Plus, a vote for her will likely prevent a Kobach outcome. Election of Kobach would be worse than electing Sam Brownback.
A vote for Laura Kelly will achieve two things. One she will support legalization of medical marijuana. She already has previously demonstrated support for the Kansas Safe Access Act. Plus, a vote for her will likely prevent a Kobach outcome. Election of Kobach would be worse than electing Sam Brownback.
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