A Kansas Senate committee has introduced a bill that would eliminate criminal penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana, marking another step toward potential reform in the state.
Filed today by the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee, Senate Bill 295 would replace criminal charges for possessing a personal-use quantity of marijuana with a civil penalty. The measure comes just days after the same committee introduced a separate bill to legalize medical marijuana.
Under SB 295, individuals found with up to an ounce of marijuana would no longer face criminal prosecution. Instead, they would be subject to a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. Under current law, possessing even a single gram is punishable by a misdemeanor and up to six years in jail.
This latest effort follows the committee’s March 6 introduction of Senate Bill 287, which would establish a regulated medical marijuana program in Kansas. That measure proposes a system for licensed cultivation, distribution, and sales, allowing patients with qualifying conditions to access marijuana with a doctor’s recommendation.
Kansas remains one of the few states where both recreational and medical marijuana are illegal.
Both SB 287 and SB 295 will now move through the legislative process, with hearings and potential amendments expected in the coming weeks.
