The Kansas Compassionate Care Coalition (KSCCC) is a grassroots organization that advocates for a change in Kansas law to allow people with serious and terminal medical conditions to obtain and use a limited amount of marijuana if recommended by their physician.

Currently, Kansas law makes the use of marijuana illegal for any purpose. A conviction for first-time possession of any amount of marijuana for personal use is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. The cultivation of five or more marijuana plants, even for medical purposes, is a felony charge punishable by 11-17 years in prison.

An affirmative defense law in Kansas would protect patients -- and their caregivers -- from being arrested, prosecuted, and convicted for possessing and growing a small amount of medical marijuana.

The KSCCC supports this statement of principle regarding the medical use of marijuana:

Licensed medical doctors should not be punished for recommending the medical use of marijuana to seriously ill people, and seriously ill people should not be subject to criminal sanctions for using marijuana under the recommendation of their physician.