‘Don’t make us lawbreakers’: Effort to legalize medical marijuana fails in Kansas House
By Sherman Smith Posted Mar 26, 2018
Rep. Abraham Rafie, R-Overland Park, spoke against an amendment in the House Monday that would have legalized medical marijuana. The amendment failed 54-69. [Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
In this June 23, 2016, photo, plants mature on a hemp farm in Pueblo, Colo. A proposal from Rep. Cindy Holscher, an Olathe Democrat, would have amended Senate Bill 282, which would legalize hemp oil with no THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. [AP Photo/Kristen Wyatt]
Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and others shared emotional stories during debate on an amendment, Monday, offered by Rep. Cindy Holscher, back, D-Olathe, in the House, that would have legalized medical marijuana. The amendment failed 54-69.[Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
An amendment by Rep. Cindy Holscher, in the House to legalize medical marijuana failed on a 54-69 vote Monday.. [Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
Rep. Abraham Rafie, R-Overland Park, spoke against an amendment in the House Monday that would have legalized medical marijuana. The amendment failed 54-69. [Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
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In this June 23, 2016, photo, plants mature on a hemp farm in Pueblo, Colo. A proposal from Rep. Cindy Holscher, an Olathe Democrat, would have amended Senate Bill 282, which would legalize hemp oil with no THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. [AP Photo/Kristen Wyatt]
HIDE CAPTION
Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and others shared emotional stories during debate on an amendment, Monday, offered by Rep. Cindy Holscher, back, D-Olathe, in the House, that would have legalized medical marijuana. The amendment failed 54-69.[Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
HIDE CAPTION
An amendment by Rep. Cindy Holscher, in the House to legalize medical marijuana failed on a 54-69 vote Monday.. [Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
HIDE CAPTION
Rep. Abraham Rafie, R-Overland Park, spoke against an amendment in the House Monday that would have legalized medical marijuana. The amendment failed 54-69. [Thad Allton/The Capital-Journal]
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Posted Mar 26, 2018 at 2:15 PMUpdated Mar 26, 2018 at 2:51 PM
An effort in the House to legalize medical marijuana failed on a 54-69 vote Monday after Rep. Cindy Holscher’s amendment met resistance for not going through a committee first.
Others blasted the legislative process, saying committee leaders have refused for years to allow hearings on the bill.
Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and others shared emotional stories during debate on the amendment, recalling the relief marijuana brought to loved ones suffering from cancer, epilepsy, migraines and other illnesses. Waymaster said he supported a dying companion’s efforts to seek marijuana in Colorado as she battled ovarian cancer, but he couldn’t support the amendment.
“I don’t think this is the right time to bring this forward,” Waymaster said. “I know there is a benefit to it. I’ve seen it. I saw what it did to her. But as the previous representatives who spoke before me, a 116-page amendment is not the right process.”
The proposal from Holscher, an Olathe Democrat, would have amended Senate Bill 282, which would legalize hemp oil with no THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. The House advanced the hemp oil bill on a voice vote.
Modeled on legislation that has passed in other states, Holscher defended her amendment by saying the dependency rate for marijuana is equal to caffeine and lower than more serious drugs. Legalizing marijuana for medicinal use is the answer to the opioid crisis, she said, and has support from doctors.
Marijuana is a gateway to health, not other drugs, she said.
“The question,” Holscher said, “is do we want to help our people or send them potentially to other states?”