Marijuana Legislation Update
Kansas
Medical Marijuana
Rep. Gail Finney and Sen. David Haley introduced identical medical marijuana bills — House Bill 2011 and Senate Bill 9 — on Monday.
The Cannabis Compassion and Care Act would create a regulated medical marijuana system in Kansas with distribution through not-for-profit compassion centers. The bill would also give patients an affirmative defense of medical necessity against marijuana-related charges.
Under the current language, personal cultivation of up to 12 plants and possession of up to six ounces would be allowed. Non-resident patients would be permitted to use marijuana if they qualified in their home state. There are specific provisions protecting registry card holders against discrimination. They include protections in schooling, housing, organ transplants, employment and child custody matters.
An independent “compassion board” would be created and could later add conditions, but the ones listed are cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, amytrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s, nail patella, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures and multiple sclerosis. Minors would be permitted with consent.
Both bills were read into the record and referred to committees in their respective chambers for further action.
