Republican candidates discuss medical marijuana
Local Republican primary candidates shared mixed opinions of medical marijuana legalization at the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce’s Reno County Legislative forum Thursday evening.
Debra Teufel, who acted as moderator and serves as the chamber’s president and CEO, asked the candidates in the three contested primaries in Reno County questions submitted prior to the event.
Currently, Kansas is one of four states where marijuana is completely illegal. While Governor Laura Kelly has expressed her support for the legalization of medical marijuana, the Republican supermajority of the Kansas Legislature has blocked any legislation.
Kansas House District 102
Candidate Kyler Sweely expressed his disapproval of recreational marijuana legalization but said he would be open to a conservative medical marijuana program.
“Medical marijuana, it seems to be the same-all for the Democratic party,” Sweely said. “I would be opposed to the bills that have been brought up. I would not support any recreational use or any smokeable marijuana. It would be strictly a liquid use.”
Kansas is bordered by states that have all taken some legislative action on the drug. Colorado and Missouri have fully legalized marijuana, with Oklahoma passing a medical marijuana program. Nebraska voters rallied for a medical marijuana initiative which received over 86,500 signatures to appear on the ballot in November.
Candidate Tyson Thrall said he would also be in favor of medical marijuana with certain restrictions to ensure the drug is not misused.
“Recreational marijuana, no, I would not be in favor of that,” Thrall said. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. Medical marijuana, I think I’m in favor of that and we need to be careful.”
Kansas Senate District 34
Rep. Michael Murphy, who is running for Kansas Senate District 34, said Oklahoma’s legalization of medical marijuana has caused problems for their attorney general’s office.
“I do know people have been helped by this sort of thing,” Murphy said. “There are already pharmaceuticals that use extracts from marijuana that can be prescribed. I was in a briefing with the Oklahoma attorney general and he said you guys better close some doors. They have a serious problem down there.”
He said any legislative action would need serious scrutiny and added he doesn’t believe Kansas is capable of that.
Candidate Bob Fee said he wouldn’t support recreational marijuana and said medical uses for the drug should pass inspections from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“It should go through the FDA, just like every other medical drug, and be prescribed,” Fee said. “[Other states] have had nothing but problems, and if you want to know what a city can turn into, look at Seattle. I don’t think we want that in this state.”
Kansas House District 114
Candidate Steve Schweizer said he would not support recreatonial use because marijuana is a “gateway drug” to other illegal acticities.
“I know it’s frustrating for law enforcement,” Schweizer said. “The country seems to be a good place for people to hide out. There are promises for medical marijuana, but the regulation would have to be well-written. Any place where they have legalized marijuana, there’s no way to enforce it.”
Kevin Schwertfeger said he is for keeping marijuana fully illegal in the Sunflower State. He said for those wishing to use medical marijuana, there are other options they could chose.
“I’m against marijuana. I’m not going to vote to legalize marijuana, whether it’s recreational or medical,” Schwertfeger said. “A person close to me has a condition that might benefit from medical marijuana, but there are other medicines that could be chosen. If we go down that world, it’s a slippery slope.”