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Kansas Chief Justice Lawton Nuss is scheduled to give the State of the Judiciary address at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in a courtroom of the Kansas Supreme Court in Topeka.
Among those in the audience will be state legislators and Judicial branch employees.
The public may view a live webcast of the address by following the “Watch Supreme Court Live” link in the right-hand column of the Kansas Judicial Branch website, http://www.kscourts.org/.
A hearing on the medical marijuana bill is planned at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the Kansas Senate Health and Public Welfare Committee.
The Senate bill, sponsored by State Sen. David Haley, D-4th Dist., would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients in order to relieve pain. In other states it is being used for those who have epilepsy, cancer and other serious illnesses.
“We had a chance to visit with several lawmakers when we were here last week.” said Chris Bay, a member of Bleeding Kansas, a group in favor of medical marijuana, and a parent to 3-year-old Baby Autumn, who has sodium-channelopathy and suffers from prolonged febrile seizures.
“We had very positive feedback. We were told that there is a need for education among the lawmakers. That they need to learn about the cannabinoids found in the medication and the unique way these cannabinoids works with our body’s own endocannabinoid system. Then they can understand how and why this medication is a safer and non-toxic choice for patients. It doesn’t work on the brainstem like the rescue medicine Autumn currently uses to stop her seizures. Her current meds are powerful opiates that cause her heart to stop. Each seizure, we usually end up in PICU at Children’s Mercy. These meds are destroying her organs. We want the committee to give all our patients a chance for the hope and healing so many other patients are getting in states where doctors can recommend this medicine.”
When asked how parents plan on educating lawmakers, Bay replied, “We are planning to present them with the tip of the iceberg of research available. If we brought all the research, we would need a truck and a week-long hearing. ” Bay will have in hand a letter from Autumn’s doctor stating that she would like to have the legal option to recommend this medication for Autumn.
The Wyandotte County Conservation District will hold its annual meeting at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Edwardsville Community Center, 696 S. 3rd St., Edwardsville, Kan.
On the meeting’s agenda are a full report of the district supervisors of their activities and financial affairs since the last meeting, and an election of two supervisors. An election by secret ballot of qualified electors is planned at the meeting to serve for a three-year term. The terms of Kris Blevins and David Hackathorn are expiring.
For more information about the meeting, contact the conservation district office at 913-334-6329.