Kansas is among the few states that have not legalized medical marijuana or expanded their Medicaid programs. Efforts to force debates on both issues were blocked by Republican state senators. Supporters argue that both measures have popular support but have been unsuccessful due to the lack of voter-initiated laws in Kansas. Currently, only a few states, including Kansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have not legalized medical marijuana or expanded Medicaid.
The medical marijuana vote in Kansas received 12-25, with three senators absent. Law enforcement officials oppose the idea, fearing that medical marijuana could lead to the legalization of recreational use. The explosive growth of the marijuana industry in Oklahoma, following legalization in 2018, has raised concerns about criminal activity and illegal operations. However, Oklahoma has also benefited from significant revenue generated from marijuana taxes, indicating the potential financial benefits of legalization.
Cheryl Kumberg, a registered nurse and president of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, highlighted the challenges faced by Kansas residents who have to travel to neighboring states to access medical marijuana, risking legal issues. Democratic Governor Laura Kelly has linked medical marijuana to Medicaid expansion, pitching marijuana taxes as a way to cover the state’s share of the cost. Despite months of campaigning, the Medicaid expansion vote was narrowly defeated, with aggressive public campaigning by Kelly and other expansion advocates.
Governor Kelly has taken a more political approach to pushing for Medicaid expansion, forming political action committees and nonprofit advocacy groups to support her goals. The Middle of the Road political action committee raised nearly $1 million for this year’s legislative elections. Despite efforts to promote expansion, Senate President Ty Masterson dismissed surveys and polling showing support for Medicaid expansion, arguing that the wording of the question influences the responses.
Republican leaders in Kansas had expected both the medical marijuana and Medicaid expansion efforts to fail, given the party’s majority in the Senate. The failure of these measures highlights the challenges of implementing progressive policies in conservative states. While the issue of Medicaid expansion may not become a major campaign issue in the upcoming elections, the debate over medical marijuana and healthcare access continues to be a contentious issue in Kansas.
