The Democratic front-runner for governor of Kansas is calling for the legalization of medical and adult cannabis in the state. In one video posted on Facebook from the parking lot of a dispensary in Missouri — just across the state line from her Johnson County home, state Sen. Cindy Holscher noted that the place was “full of Kansas license plates.”

“That’s a lot of Kansas tax dollars going straight into Missouri’s pocket. Most Kansas voters think marijuana should be legal in our state, but because it’s not Kansas, we buy it out of state and we miss the opportunity to raise more money for schools and public services.” — Holscher in a video posted to Facebook

Holscher noted that last year Missouri collected $255 million in tax dollars from cannabis sales in the state.

“This is real money that can make a big difference for Kansans,” Holscher said in the video. “Legalization means we will build an industry in Kansas of farmers and small businesses and keep our tax dollars in the state to benefit our schools.”

Holscher added that legalizing cannabis is “common sense” and that adults should be allowed to consume cannabis “safely and responsibly”.

or last survey by Change Research, commissioned by Civic Clarity, which operates the Capitol Bee news entity, found Holscher with 37% support among poll respondents, while Johnson County state Sen. Ethan Corson received 10% support and Overland Park Mayor Curt Skoog at 7%.

or Kansas Speaks Poll published in February found that 70% of Kansans support the legalization of medical cannabis, while 60% support adult-use reforms.

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The New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) last week launched its Center of Excellence for Cannabis Care and Health Equity.

The center was first announced in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 State of the State address. The state’s website describes the center as educating “healthcare providers and public health professionals about cannabis so they can better serve patients and support systems that protect and promote health.”

The University at Albany and Albany Medical Center are supporting the initiative. SUNY Upstate Medical University, Stony Brook Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, CUNY School of Public Health and the New York State Office of Mental Health are also involved in the center.

In a statement, John Kagia, executive director of OCM, said that when the state legalized cannabis for adult use, it “chose a different path than many other states from the beginning.”

“Our approach was more than creating a new market. It has always been about building a framework rooted in public health, safety, education and equity.” – Kagia in one press release

The agency also issued a request for proposals from qualified persons and/or entities to design, develop and deliver asynchronous online training on the topics of the endocannabinoid system, medical cannabis, cannabis science, cannabis consumer health and cannabis health equity. The training is intended for physicians and dispensary employees who are involved or seeking to become involved in the state’s medical cannabis program, as well as community-based organizations, state and local officials, and other individuals or organizations interested in medical cannabis. Applications for those proposals were due in May.

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