Could Medicinal Marijuana Soon Be Legal in Kansas?
Could Medicinal Marijuana Soon Be Legal in Kansas? Save Email Print
Posted: 6:36 PM Feb 11, 2008
 Last Updated: 8:17 PM Feb 11, 2008
 Reporter: Rae Chelle Davis
Email Address: RaeChelle.Davis@wibw.com
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Senate Bill 556 was debated in a panel session today. The Senate health committee heard from both sides. The bill called The Kansas Medical Marijuana Act allows people with a debilitating disease to present a judge with written certification from their doctor. This would defend them against prosecution from possession of the substance.

Among the conditions covered by the measure are cancer,
glaucoma, AIDS and hepatitis C.

"Frankly, I don't know how the Federal Government or the Drug Enforcement Administration can sleep at night when they choose to ignore mounting evidence that marijuana relieves suffering for many diseases," said Bob Stephan, former Attorney General.

"I think most Kansans are smart enough to know that you don't smoke pot for medicine," said Dr. Eric Voth, Chair of the Institute on Global Drug Policy.

After hearing the testimonials the committee said that they will conduct their own research and read the material presented to them Monday before taking a side.

The bill is still in it's early stages and a recommendation could take some time.
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Posted by: Kerry Roney Location: Topeka, KS on May 4, 2009 at 02:34 PM
tell u the truth i haven't done marijuana before but my uncle did it for a long time and he was the nicest person to me but now since he stopped in 2007 he's been a pain in u know what because he quite it and i really didn't like it. i think it would be best if we all just legallise it and all get along k.
Posted by: rukidding? Location: Topeka on Mar 10, 2009 at 12:11 AM
Forget the medical benefit. I have had pot and beer. Pot is not the problem. And after those senators discussed weather or not you should have permission in this so called free country to do what at least some of them do in private, they went to lunch and had a drink. the law is total hipocracy. when we went to war in Afganistan we mocked the taliban on our news continuosly how their people were so oppressed and they kept showing tanks crushing a big pile of bottles of liqure. What's the differance between that and the oppression that is carried out here in the states every day when people are busted for having a harmless weed in their possesion. lets all toast to that.
Posted by: Kayla Location: Manhattan on Mar 31, 2008 at 12:47 PM
I was diagnosed with crohns disease when i was 14 yrs old. I have had severe cramping, internal bleeding to lumps on my legs and arms. MARIJUANA is one of the only things that eases my pain. The thought of living with this for the rest of my life is depressing and it really does something to who i really am. I smoke everyday and its the only way to cope. Whats the big deal Kansas. Why would you want your citizens to suffer when theres absolutly no need to. If there wasent a proper use for it God would have never created it. Im pretty sure in the governer of kansas had crohns kansas would be a whole different state!!! To all who live with Crohns keep your chin up. Please!
Posted by: Marek Location: Wichita on Feb 12, 2008 at 11:10 AM
I have crohn's disease which causes cramps, bleeding, loss of appetite. The doctors have prescribed me everything, and it either makes it worse or has no effect. I had a total anti-marijuana stance. Until I could not stand the pain any more, and finally decided to smoke marijuana. I was surprised that it helped. Now almost 10 years later, I am not allowed to be prescribed a TRUE medicine. I think there is to many profits for big name pharmaceutical companies and the government's stock in them. What happened to freedom, compassion, and understanding? Not f* off and die!
Posted by: Wake Up Kansas!! Location: Kansas on Feb 12, 2008 at 10:32 AM
We gain recognization as the state that still supports late term abortion, creationism, and now to follow suit with California on the marijuana vending machines? Get real, the sixties ended almost 50 years ago. Where is someone with intelligence in political office when you need them? Since every ingredient in the weed can be duplicated, why does one have to smoke it to get the benefits? Thought smoking was bad for one's health. Atta way to go Kansas, lets give the rest of the country something else to berate us with.
Posted by: mamabear Location: KANSAS, USA on Feb 11, 2008 at 10:28 PM
i don't think it is right that physical suffering americans should have to pay high prices for legal prescription chemicals that effect ones liver,and other organs and doesn't touch one's pain. If a person was to self medicate with hemp they are treated like murderers, etc.. and my friend was fearful dealing with the black market. my friends pain is gone now and so is my friend, i just wish my friends dying didn't have to be so painful, when that person could get hemp.. it didn't take away the pain but helped to tolerate it. my friend will not be remembered as a criminal.
Posted by: OhSillyMe Location: Topeka on Feb 11, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Nobody ever overdosed on Marijuana. So just keep showing the world your red-neck gullibility Kansas.
Posted by: GG Location: Land of Oz on Feb 11, 2008 at 10:21 PM
The federal government is in DIRECT VIOLATION of the Constitution as it DOES NOT HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY to pass laws on this issue. By what RIGHT does the legislature deem that it can tell someone what they can do with their own body? Why all of a sudden in the early 20th Century were all drugs brought under federal control? Marijuana is less of a danger than alcohol. Legalize it, tax it and control it..but then you cut into the illegal activity supported by the federal government and would cost the federal government vast sums of taxpayer dollars! Voth's disagreement comes from the pharaceutical lobby that pays his salary.
Posted by: A on Feb 11, 2008 at 10:07 PM
If you have ever seen someone suffer from an illness you would agree that any type of relief is worth it. I think it should be legal, give these people some hope for coping.
Posted by: Adam Location: Michigan on Feb 11, 2008 at 08:42 PM
You two are correct. The government has no right to deny me the right to use a benign, natural, god-given herb for my relief. The government is so hypocritical on this issue. They claim it has no medical benefits, thus it's labeled a schedule 1 drug. But while they say that, they are sending 5 federal medical marijuana patients cannisters pre-rolled joints every month from their farm in Mississippi. It's too bad heath ledger didn't have the option of medical marijuana for sleep and anxiety. We know he couldn't have overdosed from that. He would probably still be here if he wasn't forced to use deadly prescription pills.
Posted by: Oppressed Location: Topeka on Feb 11, 2008 at 08:03 PM
First off, I don't see why the government has the right to tell us what we can or can't ingest, for one reason or the other. Second it's a natural plant that has documented cases stating that it benefits a variety of different illnesses. If it had no benefits,the pharmaceutical companies wouldn't synthesis THC,one of the active ingredients in marijuana. The truth of the matter is, pharmaceutical companies, therefore politicians, would stand to lose money if marijuana was legal. That is the only solid reason that they would have to give to argue against it, anything else, could be argued the other way just as easily, with more logic.
Posted by: Susan on Feb 11, 2008 at 07:52 PM
"I think most Kansans are smart enough to know that you don't smoke pot for medicine," said Dr. Eric Voth, Chair of the Institute on Global Drug Policy. Right... but most drug warriors are too ignorant to know how many main stream medical organizations are in support of it? http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3390 The government does NOT own me, and they have no right to tell me to suffer in agony, or to become addicted to expensive opiates that do not work!
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