Stories from his constituents were a big reason why Rep. Joel Kitchens co-sponsored legislation that could make it legal for you to use medical marijuana. On Monday, GOP leaders held regional press conferences to announce the legislation to create five dispensaries managed by the Department of Health Services in each Medicaid region. Participants would have to suffer from cancer, glaucoma, severe chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and terminal illnesses where they are not expected to live for more than a year. Kitchens believes that marijuana should be regulated at the federal level rather than a patchwork of states that do not have it legalized at all, others that have it cleared for medical reasons, and states like neighboring Illinois and Michigan, where it is legal for medical and recreational uses. He likes that the bill gives medical marijuana users advice from a pharmacist on how to use it correctly, something he says may not happen if they leave the state to purchase it.

Even though Governor Tony Evers says he would support the bill if it makes it to his desk, he and other Democrats say it does not go far enough to make marijuana more accessible. State officials aim to pass the bill before recess at the end of February. It could be a busy end to the session, according to Kitchens, who says he has several bills he would like to see passed.