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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According to survey data published in Journal of Cannabis Research.

The anonymous, web-based survey involved 879 health care professionals, most of whom reported that they had already encountered cannabis use among their patients. Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they had patients who use cannabis, while 87% said they believe cannabis has therapeutic promise. Ninety-five percent said they support the legal use of medical cannabis, and 74% said they would be open to recommending medical cannabis to patients.

The survey group included mental health professionals, registered nurses, physicians, and advanced practice providers. Respondents rated their knowledge of cannabis higher for its risks and therapeutic indications, but the researchers found much lower scores when participants were tested on objective knowledge of cannabis-related risks, therapeutic uses, and mechanisms of action.

The most common sources of knowledge about cannabis were personal experience and popular media, cited by 76% and 73% of respondents, respectively. The researchers also found that fewer respondents had received structured clinical training on cannabis, although many expressed openness to using it in practice.

The most cited concerns about the clinical use of cannabis included a lack of trained providers, potential exploitation of patients, recreational misuse, and the risk of psychosis. Greater openness to the clinical use of cannabis was associated with higher knowledge of self-esteem, younger age, professional role, and less worry.

The study authors said the findings indicate a need for structured training on cannabis pharmacology, dosing, contraindications, and legal and ethical considerations, as well as better systems for monitoring the use of cannabis in patient care.

NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano said the findings reflect the growing acceptance of medical cannabis among healthcare providers.

“The use and efficacy of medical cannabis is now widely accepted by health care professionals,” said Armentano. in a statement. “As more doctors, nurses and others integrate medical cannabis into their clinical practices, it is vital that medical associations, institutions and educational curricula alike include and embrace cannabis as a mainstream and established therapeutic option for patients.”

discovery are consistent with a 2021 study published in Cannabis and cannabinoid researchwhich found that nearly 69% of more than 2,200 US clinicians believed that cannabis has medical benefits. In that survey, 27% of respondents said they had prescribed cannabis to a patient, while 60% incorrectly identified their state’s cannabis legalization policy.

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