Topeka — Former Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan plans to announce his support of the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, the leader of an advocacy group said Tuesday.
"He is favorable to the issue," said Laura Green, director of the Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition.
Stephan, a Republican who served as attorney general from 1979 to 1995, will hold a news conference on the matter Friday in the Capitol. He could not be reached for comment.
"The general is a highly respected statesman who continues to serve the public in many capacities. We look forward to hearing his thoughts on this issue," said Green, who sent out a news release about the news conference. Green said she didn't want to speak any further on behalf of Stephan.
The Compassionate Care Coalition advocates for legal protection of patients who use medical marijuana and physicians who recommend the drug for treatment of pain.
The coalition has 400 members in chapters in Lawrence and Wichita.
In Kansas, marijuana is illegal even for medical purposes for ill people.
Twelve states that make up 22 percent of the U.S. population have enacted laws that allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes, the coalition said.
State Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, said she would probably support allowing medical marijuana.
"An important part of health care is managing pain. If, as the data says, this is a good way to manage pain, I don't think we should outlaw that," Francisco said.
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Mkh (anonymous) says…
Wow, intelligent thinking by Kansas policy makers concerning medical marijuana. Did a miracle just occur here?
RedwoodCoast (anonymous) says…
I love that people can't get past stereotypes and generalizations when it comes to marijuana. Twinkies, ha! I don't have to think, I just generalize and let stereotypes do the work for me. But, yes, I think that either the guy is thinking past generalizations and stereotypes at the same time as he's grabbing a lightning rod. We'll see if the lightning strikes. Or maybe he's just smoking something, right? And maybe some generalizing stereotyper shows up at the press conference with twinkies to pass around.
jonnypotseed4all (anonymous) says…
where is our hearts? our compassion? Give the sick and dying what they may need or ask for to help with pain. grow up, enough with the clever sayings and lies. people are in pain and dying from the pain. if this helps, whats the problem?