Kansas' easiest court voids Wichita marijuana ordinance

he absolute best court docket in Kansas on Friday voided a voter-authorised ordinance in Wichita to decrease punishments for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

By way of a 7-zero vote, the Kansas Supreme courtroom stated Wichita disregarded submitting and disclosure ideas that had been mandated with the aid of state legislation, and meant to make certain that legislators and voters within the state's most populous metropolis understood the ordinance before a vote was taken.

These shortcomings intended voters have been by no means "formally instructed of the whole thing" of what the ordinance meant, or how it would trade current regulation, Chief Justice Lawton Nuss wrote.

Accredited by means of voters last April with a fifty four percentage majority, the ordinance set a maximum $50 first-rate for adults over 21 who were convicted for the primary time of possessing not more than 32 grams (1.1 oz) of marijuana, or associated drug paraphernalia.

That conflicted with a state legislation classifying such an offense as a misdemeanor punishable with the aid of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 satisfactory.

Kansas lawyer common Derek Schmidt had sought to void the Wichita ordinance on that basis and a few others, together with the groundwork for Friday's resolution.

The state supreme court had put the ordinance on keep even as it reviewed its legality. Friday's determination would set back efforts to ease marijuana laws in Kansas.

"We respect the court docket's determination," Wichita said in a announcement. "The opinion provides clarity for all cities receiving such petitions. At this factor there is not any action for the city to take."

Schmidt's administrative center did not instantly respond to requests for remark.

Wichita's metropolis council put the proposed ordinance up for a vote after a gaggle referred to as the Marijuana Reform Initiative filed petitions from 1000s of folks expressing aid.

A spokesman, Esau Freeman, said the group used to be dissatisfied with the court's resolution. "It will not restrict our efforts on the state degree at all," he added.