Kansas Supreme Court to hear Wichita pot ordinance challenge

WICHITA – Kansas’s highest court will soon hear oral arguments over the legality of Wichita’s marijuana ordinance.

The Kansas Supreme Court is scheduled to take up on Thursday the legal challenge brought by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

At issue is the state’s effort to invalidate a voter-approved ordinance in Wichita lessening criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

Among the issues the Kansas Supreme Court will consider is whether the ordinance conflicts with state law. Also at issue is whether the ordinance was filed properly.

The ordinance imposes no more than a $50 fine for first-time possession of a small amount of pot.

State law deems it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

Wichita voters approved the measure in April.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 1:22 PM with the headline "Kansas Supreme Court to hear Wichita pot ordinance challenge."