Kansas remains one of a handful of states that have not legalized medical marijuana or expanded Medicaid, despite efforts to change these laws. On Friday, Republican state senators blocked a push to force debates on both issues before the Legislature’s adjournment next week. Supporters of each measure did not garner enough votes to advance the bills out of committee. Kansas voters cannot put proposed laws on the ballot statewide, which has allowed similar measures to pass in other states.
Kansas remains one of the few states that haven’t legalized medical marijuana or expanded Medicaid, despite efforts to force debates on both issues. Republican state senators blocked the attempts, arguing that the measures lacked sufficient support. Oklahoma’s experience with legalizing medical marijuana raises concerns for some opponents, while proponents cite the potential benefits and support. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has been a vocal advocate for both expansion, linking medical marijuana legalization to Medicaid expansion. Despite her efforts and public campaigning, the Medicaid expansion vote failed by a narrow margin.
