TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – After the national spotlight was put on Kansas when police ticketed a cancer patient for his use of marijuana to soothe his symptoms, groups around the state will converge on the Statehouse to urge lawmakers to legalize the plant.

The ACLU of Kansas says that from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, a collective of organizations from across the Sunflower State will host a Medical Marijuana Day of Action at the Kansas Statehouse. They will call on lawmakers to quickly act to legalize medical marijuana in the 2023 session.

The ACLU indicated that Kansans will share their perspectives on how the prohibition of the drug has compromised their medical care and negatively impacted their quality of life which exacerbates suffering from chronic illnesses.

The organization noted that many who are sick in Kansas cannot legally access the medicine their medical providers have determined works best for them and Kansans who have been impacted will discuss how the government has become an obstacle in getting medical care. This includes the seriously ill such as veterans with PTSD or cancer patients who find the medicinal properties of marijuana relieve their pain and suffering without debilitating side effects.

According to the ACLU, other speakers will include Sharon Brett, Legal Director for the ACLU of Kansas, and Barry Grissom, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas. The pair will discuss how state laws restrict chances for small business owners, how…