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Between the years 2013 and 2015, there were minor attempts to legalize medical marijuana in Kansas. Legislators drew up a short, concise list of qualifying medical conditions and submitted the list to the Senate. Under the guidelines of the proposal, medical marijuana patients would have the legal authority to possess up to 6 ounces of cannabis and cultivate up to 12 plants. The proposal was summarily rejected.

Another bill was proposed in 2015 and was passed by the House, but rejected by the Senate. If the landmark bill had passed, it would have opened the door for medical studies on hemp, as well as significantly decreasing penalties for marijuana possession.

HB2244 passed in the house in May 2019 and moved into the Senate as SB 28. The passing of this bill effectively made low-THC CBD oil a legal treatment method for certain medical conditions. This bill came into effect on July 1, 2019.

According to SB 28, all qualifying patients must obtain a letter from their physician stating that they suffer from a debilitating condition in order to consume low-THC CBD oil. The document provides legal protection for qualifying patients, in addition to the parents of minors using CBD oil for medicinal purposes.

For everyone else in the state of Kansas, medical marijuana and medical marijuana products are still illegal, and possession of small amounts could lead to incarceration. 

CBD oil is legal for all Kansas residents but ONLY if there is zero THC content.

The Kansas Committee on Federal and State Affairs recently passed House Bill 2184 that would legalize medical marijuana. The bill needs to be passed by the Senate before attaining the governor’s signature to sign it into law.

If the bill is passed, qualifying patients would need to register with the state health department and obtain a doctor’s certification to receive a medical marijuana card.

The bill would not limit the number of growers’ licenses in the state, and would effectively allow those businesses the right to grow, manufacture, and sell medical marijuana products. The bill would prohibit Kansans from growing at home.

The proposed bill would limit the types of available products, prohibiting vape pens and smokable marijuana flower. The state would only allow the sale, possession, and use of oils, edibles, and tinctures.

The Kansas Cannabis Coalition supports proposed amendments that would allow for flower and vaporized products.

At present, the bill allows only certified doctors to prescribe the medicine. The bill presents another hurdle for many potential patients: Recommending doctors may only prescribe cannabis to patients they have been treating for over one year, and only for a specific list of qualifying conditions. However, there are also provisions for the state to add more conditions to the list.

Recently, another legalization bill was introduced by the Senate Commerce but has not yet seen any action.

According to the language of the proposed measure,  patients displaying conditions that limit their day-to-day activities, or who would suffer mental or physical harm if declined treatment, would be eligible for a medical marijuana license with a physician’s recommendation.

In addition to the relaxed regulations for qualifying patients, registrants would have the right to grow and possess four ounces of marijuana. The bill would also establish a Kansas Medical Cannabis Agency to oversee the program.