A group advocating for older Kansans is encouraging state lawmakers to legalize medical cannabis and approve Medicaid expansion. The Silver Haired legislature is a non-partisan group comprised of Kansans over the age of 60. The group met at the Statehouse to approve their priorities. Randall Hardy, Speaker of the House for the group, says the 650,000 seniors in the state represent a significant voting block. They say the number of uninsured Kansans in rural areas are a risk to hospital viability and therefore, the state should expand Medicaid. The group also advocated for medical marijuana, saying that cannabis is vital to seniors suffering from conditions like alzheimer’s and chronic pain.
Group members say legalization in other states has helped curtail illegal marijuana distribution and reducing the demand on the black market. Other resolutions advanced by the body include protecting voting rights for seniors and lowering taxes on Social Security.
