Kansas' medical-marijuana community is taking its semi-regular shot at legalizing medical pot. As usual, it's a bit of a Hail Mary.
Lawmakers on Monday introduced the Kansas Compassion and Care Act, which would make growing, selling, prescribing, buying and smoking medical marijuana legal under state law.
Just a few years ago, even passing such a bill would have been nothing more than a legislative gesture, since the feds would have raided the stash of anyone who bothered to grow the stuff. But with the Obama administration looking the other way, states such as Colorado and California have partially plugged budget holes with help from tax revenue generated from marijuana sales.
But there's not enough weed in Gary Busey's weed garage to make the Kansas Legislature think twice about pot.
The bill is introduced every so often and dies the same death every time, thanks to Republicans' stronghold in the state Legislature. Too bad: With Denver's program still in its infancy, that city alone raised more than $2 million in local sales-tax revenue in 2010, while making the city noticeably more mellow, man.
A lot of sick people probably felt better, too, although it's hard to equate the laws with medicine because anyone with access to Web MD can identify an ailment sufficient enough to get an MMJ card. It's thinly veiled legalization, at least in Colorado.
Read the full bill here and see NORML's full press release below.
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On Friday, February 12th 2011, Kansas Lawmakers introduced House Bill 2330, The Kansas Compassion and Care Act which would legalize medical cannabis under state law in Kansas. HB 2330 has been referred to The House Committee on Health and Human Services for consideration and debate.
Under this measure, patients with certain debilitating conditions would be able to cultivate, own, and use medical marijuana without fear of legal reprisal under state law. This bill would also protect a patients rights as an employee, tenant, and parent. HB 2330 would also establish a registry system, not-for-profit care centers, and a board to oversee the whole program.
A "qualified patient" is defined as someone with a physician's recommendation that medical cannabis will help their "qualified condition." A "qualified condition" is defined as; 1) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn's disease, agitation of Alzheimer's disease, nail patella or the treatment of these conditions; (2) a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe pain; severe nausea; seizures, including, but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including, but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; or (3) any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the department, as provided by further amendments."
HB 2330 would allow a qualified patient to cultivate 12 seedlings and 6 mature cannabis plants at a single time. It would also allow a patient to legally possess 6 ounces of useable (harvested) cannabis. All grow sites must be enclosed and secure, and no grow site, may be within 500 feet of a preexisting school. This bill would also allow patients to legally possess paraphernalia used for the consumption and production of medical marijuana under state law.
This measure would also protect a patient from discrimination when it comes to leasing a home or parental custody rights. HB2330 would also protect patients from coming up positive for marijuana use in employment drug tests, providing that they were not medicating on the job or it affected their job performance.
HB 2330 would also establish the guidelines, regulations, and standards for not-for-profit medical cannabis dispensaries for patients who were unable to grow their own medicine. Under the proposed law, a grower may only take payment for expenses they incurred while producing the cannabis (nutrients, power, growing medium etc.) but may not take payment for the cannabis itself. Compassion centers and primary caregivers would not be able to practice if they or any of their employees are convicted felons. Compassion centers must comply with all local zoning laws as well as being at least 500 feet away from a school.
"Legalizing Medical Marijuana in the state will not only allow those with debilitating conditions an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, but will also help lower the amount of people that have to turn to the black market to obtain their medicine," says Kyle Norton, Director of Johnson County NORML.
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Marilyn Riley was convicted this week of marijuana possession in Johnson County court. 1 tenth of 1 gram that was in her car. Kansas is pathetic.
Thanks for sharing the information regarding the case.. I was not aware of it.. I am glad I visited here and come to know about a great news.. Just wondering to know about the current status?
Joe - great article!
One thing, though. Medical Marijuana in Colorado is NOT veiled legalization. As of now, only 116,000 "people" in Colorado can not be arrested or ticketed for possession of marijuana. If it were really legalized, NO ONE would be....please, don't characterize Medical Marijuana as something it's not.
Marijuana is the safest drug with actual benefits for the user as opposed to alcohol which is dangerous, causes addiction, birth defects, and affects literally every organ in the body. Groups are organizing all over the country to speak their minds on reforming pot laws. I drew up a very cool poster for the cause which you can check out on my artist’s blog at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot... Drop in and let me know what you think!
One brush off after another. The Kansas Legislators don't get it or just don't care about the citizens of Kansas.
Laura Kelly
To: Anthony Buckland
Mr. Buckland,
Given the results of the November election, I hold out little hope for legislation of medical marijuana for quite some time.
Sincerely,
Laura Kelly
18th Senate District
Representing Wabaunsee and Shawnee Counties
785-296-7365
Laura.Kelly@senate.ks.gov
Connie O'Brien
To: Anthony Buckland
Anthony,
Medical use of cannabis is hard to control, look at California where it was misused by doctors. I am sure if it did all of the things you said the people who have abused it would not have any medical problems. My sister had a stroke at the age of 39 from misuse of drugs and she started with cannabis. Until it can be controlled very strictly I will not support it use. Thank you for contacting me.
Rep. Connie O'Brien
Kansas State House 42nd District
From: Susan Wagle
To: Anthony Buckland
Thank you for your e-mail. The thoughts of my constituents and all Kansans are always important to me.
The 2011 legislature session is well under way. I can’t always personally respond to each and every e-mail but each communication is read and taken into consideration as I make important decisions and vote on each issue.
If you have urgent, more specific concerns, please do not hesitate to call my office at 785-296-7386.
Again, thank you for taking the time to write and share your concerns.
Susan Wagle
State Senator
To: Anthony Buckland
Anthony: I understand your plea and think there is a place for the use with cancer patients. I just don't think with the makeup of this new legislature, this issue has as much of a chance as a snowball has in hell. Sorry to say that.
So why are they in office if they don't care and don't have time to deal with what the citizens of Kansas want. I know it is a pipe dream to want your Legislative body to do the will of the people instead of caring for their own self interest. I don't know about the rest of you folks in Kansas but I have had enough of this type of government.
The Egyptians have shown us that a suppressed people can break their chains and free themselves from a tyrant using the the World Wide Web! We can undue this injustice upon us. We too can break the chains in our own country. It is the same injustice just in a different location. Our State & Federal legislators are not listening to us. Our US Government behavior shocks the sense of fair play.
Now there is government behavior that shocks the sense of fair play just as it did when it hung blacks from the light post and said it was good. Or when it deprived Blacks of a fair and equal education and called it good. Yes the African American's had a pipe dream of justice too just like we have here today. The Kansas Legislators need an education on cannabis so as not to continue to look like uneducated fools.
http://www.change.org/petition...
Jesus said to treat other people the way we would want to be treated. It's time to stop putting ordinary Americans in jail over marijuana. Kansas, congratulations on getting some legislative support towards a more science-based, freedom loving, Constitutionally sound approach.
Each year we get closer to a *gasp* real live MMJ bill out here in the Wheat Belt. If we can move this further each legislative session than its still a victory. It takes many steps to reach a destination.
Also, each year, more states outside of Kansas will pass similar legislation. It might take 10 years, but eventually, marijuana will be legal on a medical level for Missourians. And Nebraskans. Colorado already has it. With pressure and traffic coming in from these states, Kansas will see the windfall benefits of repealing its outdated policies.
Chuck Weismiller
Deputy Director
JoCoNORML
chuck@joconorml.org
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