Kansas GOP Considers 'Controlled' Medical Marijuana Pilot, Senate President Deterred By 'Disaster in Oklahoma'

The Kansas Senate President, Ty Masterson, has said that a comprehensive medical marijuana bill currently under consideration is a "non-starter". The bill, which has yet to reach the governor's desk, is opposed by top Republican leaders in the state. Masterson's opposition to the bill is based on issues with illegal cannabis activity in neighboring Oklahoma. He called attention to "gang activity" and concerns about how cannabis businesses were operating there. However, Masterson did express willingness to consider legalizing medical marijuana, provided it is done in a strictly controlled manner, such as through a pilot program. His biggest concern is the potential impact on children. According to a 2023 poll, 79% of Kansans are in favor of medical marijuana access through medical providers, while 71% back decriminalization for personal use.

Kansas remains one of the last strongholds of cannabis prohibition, even though a 2023 poll revealed 79% of Kansans are in favor of medical marijuana access through medical providers, while 71% back decriminalization for personal use.

Despite the growing movement for cannabis legalization, a comprehensive medical marijuana bill that has yet to reach the Kansas governor's desk is a non-starter for top Republican leaders in the Sunflower State, reported KSNT 27 News.

"I can tell you the bill that's in our committees right now is a non-starter," Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said.

Why? Masterson named issues related to illegal cannabis operations that neighboring Oklahoma, where medical cannabis is legal, has been dealing with over the past year.

"Part of that is you've seen the disaster in Oklahoma… with cash transactions for land… you're seeing a lot of gang activity," he said.

Some of the challenges authorities in Oklahoma have been facing last year included cannabis farms that were linked to sex trafficking, prostitution and drug trafficking, as well as several cannabis businesses that were under review for allegedly submitting fraudulent ownership documentation.

Still, in one of the recent interviews, Masterson expressed his willingness to consider legalizing medical marijuana in Kansas, although he remains opposed to recreational cannabis.

Referring to Oklahoma, he said the main issue there is that cannabis is not being sold for medical purposes.

"One of their drug enforcement people down there in their agency… he said 98% overgrown… he said 1.8% of their grow can fill every medical card… it's not being sold as medicine…," Masterson said, adding that it "harms the conversation if you're having a legitimate conversation."

He is open to a strictly controlled medical cannabis pilot program, while the protection of children remains his biggest concern.

"What I'm open to is, basically, some type of pilot program or something that is controlled to the point you can test it, but you don't have to— it's not the horse is out of the barn and you can't ever put it back in," he said.

Cannabis In Kansas

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) called for the legalization of medical marijuana a year ago in her State of the State address, calling the current state law on cannabis "ridiculous."

This was followed by a Kansas House Democrats announcement of a plan to continue to push for the regulation and taxation of cannabis for both recreational and medical purposes.

In June, Kelly stated that she would not exercise her executive powers to permit medical marijuana possession or decriminalize cannabis in the state. While some states have employed executive orders to allow limited possession, Kelly explained that Kansas law does not grant her the authority to take similar action.

In August, House Minority Whip Stephanie Sawyer Clayton argued that cannabis legalization won't happen any time soon as there is strong bipartisan opposition, targeting Masterson as the main obstacle.

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