Medical Marijuana: First Kansas Bill Introduced \t\t\t\t view translation \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Printer Friendly Version Email this Article from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #521, 2/1/08 In a historic step, the Kansas Healthcare Strategies Committee voted Monday to introduce the state's first medical marijuana bill. The bill, titled the Medical Marijuana Defense Act, would allow legitimate medical marijuana patients arrested for pot possession to raise their medical use as "defense to prosecution." Under the bill, people arrested for possession could present a written certification from their physicians to defend themselves in court. Out-of-state medical marijuana cards and registrations would not be a valid defense. The bill also includes protections for physicians who recommend medical marijuana to their patients. Robert Stephan, KSCCC press conference, August 2007 The bill is the result of months of groundwork by the Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition and its director, Laura Green. The effort to get a medical marijuana bill in the legislature this session had its public coming out last August, when Green organized a press conference where former Republican state Attorney General Robert Stephan came out in support of medical marijuana legislation. Green requested that the committee introduce the bill, and that request was approved on a voice vote with only one representative dissenting. "This is simply an issue of compassion," said Green. "It costs a lot of money to introduce a bill," complained Sen. Vicki Schmidt (R-Topeka), the sole no vote. She added that the bill violates federal law -- it does not -- and that it would be difficult to ensure each patient used the same amount of marijuana. The bill is now at the State Revisor's Office, where it will be formatted and given a bill number. That should take about a week. After that, look for hearings sometime next month.
I never even thought it would get to this point. Living here is a drag. I have cartilage damage and arthritis, and i hate taking pills all the time!
WOO HOO hope fully this goes through it would be nice if you kept us updated on it. finally kansas might not suck so much
You're talking about the state that dropped everything a year ago to outlaw salvia, and dropped everything again a month ago to outlaw k2. Kansas is interested in control, not compassion.