TOPEKA ( KSNT )- Efforts to legalize marijuana in Kansas could fall short in 2024. While advocates are renewing their push to get legislation through the statehouse, top Republican leaders say the current legislation is a non-starter.
“It’s our representatives’ jobs to represent us… and we have overwhelmingly told them… we support this,” Delaney Jones, a marijuana advocate, said Tuesday during an annual event hosted by the ACLU. “Now, it is your job to make that happen for us.”
However, their plea may not get far this year.
In a pre-session interview with Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, he said the current legislation is a non-starter.
“I can tell you the bill that’s in our committees right now is a non-starter,” Masterson said. “Part of that is you’ve seen the disaster in Oklahoma… with cash transactions for land… you’re seeing a lot of gang activity…”
Last year’s medical marijuana bill was put on hold , after opponent testimony in the Senate Federal and State Affairs committee. Law enforcement officials in Kansas spoke in opposition to the bill. Masterson also cited how law enforcement is dealing with legalization in other states, like Oklahoma.