Lawmakers Propose Giving Kansas Voters a Chance to Legalize Weed

January 10, 2022

House Minority Leader Tom Sawyer (Wichita) and Assistant Minority Leader Jason Probst (Hutchinson) are making a pitch to give Kansas voters the opportunity to legalize marijuana. They propose that a question be placed on this fall’s ballot asking whether or not Kansas should legalize marijuana. The state House of Representatives passed a restrictive medical marijuana bill last year. That bill awaits action by the state Senate. Proponents say the bill has the bipartisan support to pass and would be signed by Governor Kelly. 

Rep. Sawyer said, “it’s time to give voters their opportunity to have their say and let the legislature know how they feel.” In fact, about two-thirds of Kansans support legalizing cannabis. That would be enough for the issue to pass a statewide ballot initiative. 

Many lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum and the Governor herself would like to deliver some form of legalized marijuana to Kansans prior to the November election. If this ballot proposal were to pass by the Legislature it would appear on the ballot this fall and would take effect in July 2023.