Kansas Senate Committee Votes to Lower Cannabis Penalties, Legalize Medical Cannabis Oil

Kansas Senate Committee Votes to Lower Cannabis Penalties, Legalize Medical Cannabis Oil

Kansas’ Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee has given approval today to two cannabis-related bills. One of the proposals would legalize the possession and use of low-THC cannabis oil for medical use, and the other would lower the penalties associated with someone’s first and second cannabis possession offense.

The proposal reduces the charge for first-time cannabis possession to a class B misdemeanor, down from a class A misdemeanor. This reduces the maximum sentence to 6 months, rather than a full year. A person’s second cannabis possession offense would be reduced to a class A misdemeanor, whereas it’s currently a felony.

The cannabis oil bill would allow those with epilepsy who receive a recommendation from a physician to possess and use cannabis oil that’s low in THC (tetrahydracannabinol) and high in CBD (cannabidiol).

Both measures have been sent to the state’s full Senate for consideration; their passage will send them to the state’s House of Representatives, where it would then be sent to the state’s governor if passed.