Results from a recent poll of Kansans indicates continuing strong support for legalizing medical cannabis, although some of that support appears to have waned.

The state remains one of the few in the USA where cannabis is still illegal for medicinal purposes. Changing this hasn’t been through a lack of trying, and Governor Laura Kelly has repeatedly tried to get lawmakers to get legislation over the line. While the Kansas House of Representatives passed medical cannabis legislation in 2022 and again 2023, the bills did not advance in the Senate.

Another attempt has been made this year with the introduction of SB 294, which would authorize the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and use of medical cannabis products. SB 294 was referred to the Committee on Federal and State Affairs in March and has not advanced.

House Bill 2405, which dealt with regulation of adult-use marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, possession, sales and taxes, was also referred to the Committee with the same result.

While some Kansas lawmakers continue to duke it out on the issues, the attitudes of the people they represent are pretty clear — the majority support medical and recreational legalisation.

The Kansas Speaks Fall 2025 Statewide Public Opinion Survey, which involved 526 adult residents age 18 and older,  found 70.4% of respondents strongly or somewhat supported legalization of medical marijuana in general, with only 14.2% opposed. Furthermore, 65.4% of respondents were highly or somewhat likely to vote for a candidate who supports medical marijuana legalization.

There was also majority support for legalizing recreational marijuana, with 58.8% of respondents supporting and 24.5% opposing.

Looking back at 2024’s Kansas Speaks survey, 72.9% of respondents strongly or somewhat supported legalization of medical marijuana in general, while 12% opposed — so this year’s results indicate a drop in support. However, 60% of respondents were “highly” or “somewhat likely” to vote for a candidate who supports medical marijuana legalization in 2024; so this year’s results indicate an increase there.

On the issue of recreational marijuana, 61.3% of respondents supported legalization, with 22.3% opposing last year.

The full Kansas Speaks Fall 2025 Statewide Public Opinion Survey results can be found here.