Derek Schmidt on Drugs

Medical marijuana with appropriate guardrails

The second and final debate included the candidates' most extended back-and-forth on the legalization of medical marijuana, with Schmidt saying he was open to the idea in limited circumstances and with appropriate guardrails. It was important, he said, for the governor to provide leadership, and he pushed for Kansas law enforcement, long skeptical of medical marijuana, to be at the table. But he noted there were cases, such as veterans being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder, where there was wide agreement on the need for legalization. "The public policy issue is how do you draw that line," he said. "How to make sure that we can accommodate the things the vast majority of people agree on and not fling open the doors to the harm that comes with what is essentially recreational use without regulation."

CBD seller has no right to sue state over police raid

Sued to strike down city marijuana decriminalization

People influenced by chemical substances hurt innocents

"Many people who are innocent get hurt by people whose behavior is influenced by chemical substances," he noted. "I am hopeful that Kansas will not rush down that road."