Kansas Governor Blasts ‘Ridiculous’ Medical Marijuana Ban In Annual Speech, With GOP Senate Leader Committing To Hearings
MJ moment

The governor of Kansas came out strongly against the state’s ongoing criminalization of medical marijuana on Tuesday, blasting the “ridiculous” laws that criminalize patients. And following the speech, a top GOP senator whose been skeptical about reform committed to at least holding hearings on the issue this session. In her annual State of the State address, Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said that there’s a “commonsense way to improve health care here in Kansas—and that’s to finally legalize medical marijuana.” Because we haven't yet legalized medical marijuana, every day, thousands of Kansans are forced to choose between breaking the law and living more comfortably. It’s an unbearable choice – and an unnecessary one. #ksleg #SOTS — Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) January 25, 2023 She cited a recent example of a terminally ill man whose hospital room was raided by police and who was given a later-rescinded citation to appear in court over possession of a cannabis vape and extract that he was using to treat serious pain. That man has since passed away. “We all know that was ridiculous,” Kelly said. “This is not to blame the police—the police were just enforcing the law. That means the law itself is ridiculous.”

The governor said that the situation reminded her of an an op-ed that a different patient—a self-described conservative and military veteran who was battling cancer—wrote last year, addressing the state Senate and urging action. The man, Dave Auble, refused to try marijuana to ease his symptoms because he didn’t want to break the law, and he died weeks after the op-ed was published. A fried of Auble’s was present in the legislative chamber during Kelly’s speech, and he received a standing ovation from lawmakers when the governor acknowledged him. “Every day, thousands of Kansans are forced to choose…

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