State lawmakers in Kansas will try again to bring medical marijuana to the state after attempts failed in recent years. Senator Rob Olson chairs a special committee that looked into the issue in advance of lawmakers returning to the Statehouse next week. His plan will include strict regulations on things like who can grow medical marijuana. Olson says the bill he’s going to write is going to be fair to the state, very tight, and very regulatory. The restrictions could help attract more Republican support. It’s not yet clear if that will be enough to win the support of GOP leaders. One Democratic lawmaker wanted the bill to include changes to criminal justice issues including expunging past marijuana convictions.
Another issue facing the legislature will be the continued push by Governor Kelly to expand Medicaid. Kansas is only one of 11 states that have not done so.
