Kansas cannabis: Gubernatorial candidates in Democratic primary weigh reform | Porter
Editor's Note: The Kansas City Star Editorial Board has been meeting with candidates in this year’s primary on Aug. 4. Most recently, we met in person with the three Democratic candidates vying for Kansas governor: Kansas State Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher, and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog. Over the next few days, we will discuss main issues of importance to voters and candidates that came up during interviews. Today: legalization of cannabis.
Kansas remains one of only a handful of states yet to legalize cannabis in any form — at least 42 states and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana, and 24 states and D.C. have legalized recreational use of THC.
According to the Marijuana Policy Project, a pro-marijuana think tank, Kansas currently lacks a comprehensive medical cannabis law and continues to penalize individuals for simple possession. Neighboring Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado all allow adult-use marijuana for recreational or medical purposes.
Following the spring legislative session in Kansas, the federal government reclassified medical cannabis as a Schedule III drug, acknowledging its medical value and lower potential for abuse compared to Schedule II prescriptions. The MPP notes that this federal action, initiated under President Donald Trump, could prompt Kansas lawmakers to consider regulating medical cannabis in the upcoming session.
A primary obstacle to policy reform has been Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, who has consistently blocked cannabis legislation. However, Masterson’s current run for governor may shift the legislative dynamics in Topeka.
Ahead of the Aug. 4 primary, The Star Editorial Board spoke with three leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates regarding their positions on legalization. Below is a summary of what state Sens. Ethan Corson and Cindy Holscher and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog had to say on legalized cannabis in Kansas.
Ethan Corson
Corson, of Fairway, supports legalizing both medical and recreational marijuana immediately, noting that Kansas is losing revenue to neighboring states while denying relief to patients. If elected, he advocates for a regulated framework that balances public safety, personal freedom and revenue growth.
“It’s time for Kansas to legalize both medical and recreational marijuana,” Corson said in a statement. “Nearly every other state in the country now allows some form of medical marijuana, and nearly half have legalized recreational use. Kansas is falling behind while people suffering from chronic pain, PTSD, cancer and other serious conditions are denied relief, and tax dollars that could be invested into education here are crossing the border into other states.”
Cindy Holscher
Holscher, of Overland Park, highlighted her 10-year effort on this issue, suggesting that federal rescheduling provides an opportunity to educate legislative peers. She noted that a significant portion of Kansas residents support legalization, pointing to Missouri’s $255 million in revenue as an example of the economic benefits Kansas is currently missing out on.
“I actually helped get it passed in the House, and then we had the roadblock in the Senate,” Holscher said in a recent interview with our board. “And what I did there is we had a couple of powerful committee chairs who did not believe in legalization. I took time to get them educated on the topic. So there’s probably room to get some of my other peers educated on the topic. But I will say some of the dynamics are changing and what I’m talking about in particular is the federal rescheduling which was initiated by President Trump. That kind of changes some of the dynamics when it’s someone from their own party making those changes.”
Curt Skoog
Skoog advocates for a gradual, structured approach, proposing that the state establish a regulatory framework for medical marijuana — similar to the regulation of alcohol — before transitioning to recreational use.
“I think that we need to start with medical marijuana in the state,” Skoog said. “I think we need to take a lesson from what our friends in Oklahoma did and the chaos that’s kind of happened where they just jumped in with both feet without regulation or structure. If we’re going to get into the marijuana business, we need to be in it just like we’re in the alcohol business, right? The state is in the alcohol business. We regulate it, right? And we tax it. We make sure that products meet quality standards, right?
“That’s what we need to do on the marijuana side. And once we get medical marijuana up and running, and we have the regulation and the structure around that, then it’s time for a conversation about recreational marijuana and how we take that step in that direction.”
The Sunflower State is among just a few states that locks up people for simple possession of cannabis, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. That needs to change.
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