Kansas – Speakers call for legalization of marijuana at Statehouse rally – Experts, advocates tout benefits of cannabis

By Corey Jones – THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Dr. Jon Hauxwell, a retired family physician who now lives in Hays, speaks Saturday afternoon at a rally on the south steps of the Statehouse in favor of marijuana and its medicinal uses.  COREY JONES/THE TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL
Dr. Jon Hauxwell, a retired family physician who now lives in Hays, speaks Saturday afternoon at a rally on the south steps of the Statehouse in favor of marijuana and its medicinal uses.
 
Topeka City Councilman Andrew Gray sees benefits to legalizing cannabis.
For instance, he said, a wonderful revenue source for governments would be created if marijuana were regulated and taxed. Gray also cited potential quality of life gains to be had from medical weed — more diverse treatment and pain management options would be available outside of pharmaceutical drugs.
Gray was among several speakers Saturday afternoon during a rally on the south side of the Statehouse in support of cannabis. Experts and advocates stood behind a lectern in turn to tout marijuana and stump for its legalization.
But the first point the councilman drives home is that he doesn’t feel government should be delving so deep into people’s lives as to ban cannabis.
“I don’t really care what a consenting adult does if they’re not depriving someone else of their property or liberty,” said Gray, a Libertarian. “And somebody at home using marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes is no different than someone having three or four martinis at their home.”
 
Complete article:
http://cjonline.com/news/2012-09-29/speakers-call-legalization-marijuana-statehouse-rally