The Kansas Legislature is reviewing two versions of a bill that would legalize medical and recreational cannabis use in Kansas. Senate Bill 294 was introduced last week. It would authorize the processing, distribution, sale and use of medical marijuana. House Bill 2405 would would legalize marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, possession, and sale for adults. The House bill was introduced on Monday.
Under Senate Bill 294; Kansans would need to apply for medical marijuana cards used for specific medical conditions. The conditions include cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and PTSD. The bill also prohibits landlords from forbidding or punishing the use of cannabis in rental properties. Also parents could not be denied visitation rights or be denied custody over marijuana use.
HB 2405 establishes a framework for the licensure and regulation of cannabis in Kansas. The bill would establish a Cannabis Business Regulation Fund to collect a 15% tax on cannabis revenue, and would introduce and set requirements for various business licenses.
In the State of Kansas, Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I substance in the same class as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Proponents for legalization say it’s a medicine that saves lives and offers a safer alternative to many FDA-approved pharmaceuticals.