​Lawmakers on Monday introduced the Kansas Compassion and Care Act, which would make growing, selling, buying and smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes legal under state law.

House Bill 2330 has been referred to the House Committee on Health and Human Services for consideration and debate. Under this measure, patients with certain debilitating conditions would be able to use medical cannabis without fear of reprisal under state law, reports JoCo NORML The bill would also protect patients’ rights as employees, tenants, and parents. A patient registry system would be established, along with nonprofit care centers and a board to oversee the entire program. “Legalizing medical marijuana in the state will not only allow those with debilitating conditions an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs, but will also help lower the amount of people that have to turn to the black market to obtain their medicine,” said Kyle Norton, director of Johnson County NORML





​Under the language of the bill, a “qualified patient” is defined as someone with a physician’s recommendation that medical cannabis will help their qualifying condition. “Qualifying conditions” are defined as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, agitation accompanying Alzheimer’s disease, nail patella, or the treatment of these conditions; or a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia, wasting, severe pain, severe nausea, or seizures; and “any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the department, as provided by further amendments.”