Volume 125 Issue 64
kansan.com
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
BUZZ KILL
Pro-medical marijuana Compassion and Care Act referred to committee in Kansas legislature
EMILY DONOVAN
edonovan@kansan.com
The Kansas state legislature doesn't care to hear about medical marijuana.
After two weeks of review, the "Cannabis Compassion and Care Act" was introduced to the House yesterday by Rep. Gail Finney (D-Wichita). The bill, originally introduced by Sen. David Haley (D-Kansas City, Kan.) would legalize medical marijuana in the state of Kansas and decriminalize possession of up to six ounces and home growing of up to 12 plants. By current Kansas law, possession of marijuana can result in up to a year in prison. Growing marijuana can lead to 17 years of jail time.
A similar bill died in committee last year.
"It's very prevalent amongst the leadership in Kansas that they think there's no interest in medical marijuana in Kansas," Finney said.
Once introduced, the Speaker of the House will assign a committee to review the bill. The committee would then open the bill to the chairperson, who can then decide whether to grant the bill a hearing for a vote or to let the bill die.
Rep. Laura Kelly (D-Topeka), the ranking democratic member of the Public Health and Welfare committee reviewing the bill, doesn't expect the medical marijuana bill to live.
"We have a very conservative legislature and this is the sort of issue that most would balk at," Kelly said. "In some ways, I think it's reflective of our citizenry. My gut instinct tells me that Kansans aren't ready for this yet. This will have to occur in a number of other states and Kansans will watch it play out and then sometime down the line they might be willing to consider it — but not now."
A national public opinion poll conducted by Public Policy Polling in December 2012 found that 58 percent of 1,325 registered voters believe marijuana should be legalized. That statistic, however, does not necessarily reflect the state of Kansas.
"In the state of Kansas, you have a few people that are in leadership positions or are chairpersons of committees and they have the power to say yea or nay about any bill that they want," Finney said. "That's one of the things that a lot of citizens in the state of Kansas do not know and do not realize. A lot of
these deals and things that happen here in the capitol are made by very few people"
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states and Washington, D.C. have approved the use of medical marijuana. Some have done so through initiatives or referendum, which
"It's very prevalent amongst the leadership in Kansas that they think there's no interest in medical marijuana in Kansas."
GAIL FINNEY
Kansas State Representative
allow citizens to directly vote on a popular ballot rather than rely on the state's legislative body.
"They've been able to override and veto their legislature because they took it into their own hands to put it up to a vote on a ballot by the people," Finney said. "Kansas doesn't have initiative or referendum that would allow people to put issues on a statewide ballot."
The Sunflower state does not allow initiatives and referendum by the public but only legislation-referred constitutional amendments. To legalize medical marijuana in the state of Kansas, either the Kansas House and Senate would have to vote on and approve the Cannabis Compassion and Care Act or the Kansas legislature would have to refer the act as a referendum for a vote by the public. Still, Rep. Finney and like-minded lawmakers haven't given up hope. She believes that if and when states surrounding Kansas have legalized medical marijuana, the Kansas legislature will follow suit to keep additional tax revenue within the state.
"I do think it's just a matter of time, but Kansas has a history of coming in last," Finney said.
Kansas was the last state to end Prohibition, partially re-legalizing alcohol in 1948 and not allowing on-premises sale of alcohol until 1987. To this day, Kansas has complicated alcohol laws and forbids the sale of alcohol heavier than 3.2 percent in grocery stores.
It's significant that both Colorado and Washington, where recreational use of marijuana has been legalized on a state level, first legalized
medicinal marijuana, said political science professor Michael Lynch.
"If I was a conservative who was not excited about recreational marijuana being legalized, I would just stop it now by preventing a law that seems to be — at least for other states — the first step in that direction," Lynch said. "Because it has to be led by the state legislature, it is institutionally more difficult to do in Kansas, even if there were as much support for it here as there is in other states."
The Cannabis Compassion and Care Act would regulate marijuana exclusively for medical use. Medical marijuana, Rep. Finney believes, is a civil rights issue. The possession and distribution of marijuana for recreational use would remain a criminal act.
"This bill is not for recreational purposes. This bill is to help chronically and terminally ill patients," Finney said. "When you're at the end of life and suffering from a lot of debilitating pain, medical marijuana gives them the opportunity to hold food down, to eat and to still be conscious when you're in pain and taking hardcore drugs like morphine."
Edited by Brian Sisk
History of the bill
2011
HB 2330
Feb 11 — Introduced
Feb 14 Referred to committee on Health and Human Services
June 1 — Died in committee
2012
SB 354
Jan 30 — introduced
Jan 31 — Referred to committee on Public Health and Welfare
Feb 2 — Withdrawn committee on Public Health and Welfare, Referred to committee on Federal and State Affairs
June 1 — Died in committee
2013
SB 9 Jan 10 — Prefiled for introduction on Thursday
Jan 14 — Introduced to Senate
Jan 15 — Referred to committee on Public Health and Welfare
Jan 30 — Introduced to House
source: kslegislature.org
LEGAL
Regents, students oppose concealed carry on campus
MARSHALL SCHMIDT mschmidt@kansan.com
A University student's 21st birthday means they can finally drink alcohol legally, as well as start packing heat. A bill allowing concealed carry permits on college campuses is likely to reemerge in this session of the Kansas legislature, said student body president Hannah Bolton.
"All the leaders from the Kansas Board of Regents Schools are in opposition to the concealed carry bill," Bolton said.
sne will meet legislators on Feb. 11 as part of the annual higher education lobby, which advocates for legislation on behalf of University students.
"We are trying to fight against having concealed carry on campus," Bolton said.
Students are not allowed to bring weapons on campus, but they may store their weapons at the KU Office of Public Safety, located on west campus.
"We realize that different students have different hobbies, and hunting's one of them," said KU
Police Chief Ralph Oliver. "We try to accommodate both bows and rifles."
Oliver said the number of students who keep their weapons on campus tends to be low and varies by season.
Regarding concealed carry permits, Oliver did not think allowing guns in the classroom would benefit students at the University.
"I don't think bringing concealed weapons on campus makes a student safer," Oliver said.
Edited by Tara Bryant
HOW-TO: OBTAIN A PERMIT
Students 21 and older who are U.S. citizens and Kansas residents can apply for a concealed carry permit after completing a weapons safety and training course, according to the Kansas Attorney General's Office.
WHO?
This course may be sponsored by the National Rifle Association, law enforcement agencies or any other institution approved by the attorney general's office, according to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
After completion, permit seekers must fill out a license application answering questions regarding criminal history, child abuse, drug use and mental illness. Implication in such activities could result in denial of application.
WHERE?
Permit-seekers submit the weapons safety and training course certificate, application, $132.50 worth of state fees and fingerprint to the local sheriff's office. The documents are then forwarded to the attorney general's office, which runs background checks on applicants before they may be approved. The approval process takes approximately 45 days to complete, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.
- source: Kansas Attorney General
LAWRENCE
ERIN BREMER/KANSAN
Craft beers, home brews become popular
Cooper Nickel worked to boil, bottle and ferment. After hours of trying to find the right combination of ingredients and discussing the process with his two friends, both the over-sanitized beer and Nickel's vision of a delicious home brew went down the drain.
JENNA JAKOWATZ
jjakowatz@kansan.com
The way students drink beer is changing.
Dillan Straight, a senior from Wichita and employee at the Cork and Barrel liquor store, identifies popular craft beer brands. These specialty beers have become increasingly popular with university students.
Nickel, a senior from Lindsborgh, has left behind cheap beer for craft beer and his own home brew. And, although his latest experiment was unsuccessful — because of an overdose of iodophor — his other attempts have resulted in a good, cost-efficient beverage.
"I haven't bought cheap beer for a very long time." Nickel said.
Nickel and his friends Kurtis Myers and Grant Doerkson, both of whom are University alumni, first tried out home brewing a couple of years ago, and it made them appreciate the art of crafting beer.
"The whole process to start a batch takes about six hours from boil to bottling for fermenting. However, the rewards are great. The grain and all for one batch that makes around three to four gallons of beer costs around 40 bucks with shipping. It's well worth the price, as it tastes phenomenally superb to any cheap beer." Nickel said.
Nickel says that brewing his own beer is well worth the time and effort it takes to complete a batch.
"You get to play with the taste and in brewing your own beer you begin to appreciate craft breweries a whole lot more," Nickel said.
Over the last two years, the craft beer market has been growing rapidly. According to the Brewers Association, an organization made up of more than 1,500 United States breweries members, more than 34,000 American Homebrewers Association members and other craftsmen of the beer trade, there
are currently 2,126 breweries in the United States—up by 350 since June 2011.
Craft beer and home brewing are becoming so popular among students that a group of beer lovers started the KU Beer Club.
Alek Joyce, a junior from Lawrence and treasurer of the club, said that members share each other's favorite beers at the meetings.
"During our meetings, we focus exclusively on craft beers. Each meeting, we ask everyone to bring a six pack, and then we share the beers around the group," Joyce said, "All in all, I'd say our personal tastes are all shifting towards investing in craft beers rather than just sufficing with cheaper stuff."
Nickel also goes into liquor stores for craft beer and usually purchases a "make your own six pack" that many of the Lawrence liquor stores offer to beer drinkers who want variety.
"My favorite thing to do is to go to the liquor store and purchase a 'mix six' and try out a variety of craft beers," Nickel said.
Brendan Dowdle, the General Manager of Cork and Barrel on 9th and Indiana, says that sales reflect the shift in people choosing craft
Domestic beer companies like Budweiser and Coors are having trouble keeping up with the craft beer competition. Budweiser recently released its Budweiser Black Crown, and will be promoting it with ads during the Super Bowl.
beer over cheap beer.
"Domestic beer is selling less and less. Craft beer sales have gradually risen every year. We don't expect to see a slow down on craft beer sales over the next ten years, especially with the amount of microbreweries opening." Dowdle said.
Dowdle said that aside from the new Budweiser Black Crown, the larger beer companies are not really doing much to come out with new beers. The smaller craft beer companies, however, are releasing new beers quite often.
"We see a new craft beer every week. I hope people are" turning to craft beer because they want to buy American, but I think realistically it's becoming popular, the word is getting out, they find out it's good and people like the flavor", Dowdle said. "They're not just drinking to get drunk."
**Index**
CLASSIFIEDS 7 CRYPTOQUIPS 5 SPORTS 8
CROSSWORD 5 OPINION 4 SUDOKU 5
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2013 The University Daily Kansan
To nurse your hangover from celebrating Kansas Day so hard.
Edited by Brian Sisk
Today's Weather
Overcast in the morning,
then mostly cloudy.
Breezy. Winds from the
NW at 20 to 25 mph with
gusts to 30 mph.
HI: 34
L0: 21
5
清