Kansas Cannabis Politics — Gov. Laura Kelly (D) vs. AG Kris Kobach (R)

Last verified: May 2026

Gov. Laura Kelly (D) — Pro-Reform but Term-Limited

Laura Kelly took office as Kansas Governor in January 2019. She is term-limited in November 2026. Her cannabis-policy record:

• Endorsed medical cannabis in every State of the State address since 2019, including 2026.
• Signed Claire and Lola’s Law (SB 28) in 2019 — the only cannabis-related medical pathway Kansas has.
• Tied medical-cannabis revenue to Medicaid expansion in repeated proposals that the legislature ignored.
• Cannot move the legislature. The 2026 House cannabis bills (HB 2678 + HB 2679) died in committee without hearings despite Kelly’s ongoing advocacy.

In 2026, Kelly filed an unprecedented lawsuit against Attorney General Kobach over litigation control unrelated to cannabis but reflecting the broader gridlock between the Democratic governor’s mansion and the Republican AG’s office.

The State of the State Pattern

In every State of the State address from 2019 through 2026, Gov. Kelly has called for medical cannabis legalization. Each year:

• The governor proposes.
• The Senate Republican leadership refuses to grant a hearing.
• The House occasionally moves (notably the 79-42 HB 2184 vote in 2021) but cannot force the Senate.
• Session adjourns; bills die.
• Repeat next session.

Kelly’s 2026 State of the State, delivered before her final session, again endorsed medical legalization. The Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee under Sen. Mike Thompson refused to grant hearings on HB 2678 / HB 2679 anyway.

AG Kris Kobach (R) — Active Opponent

Kris Kobach took office as Kansas Attorney General in January 2023. He is one of the most active opponents of cannabis reform in Kansas executive office. His record:

• Co-led the October 1–2, 2025 hemp raids with KBI Director Tony Mattivi. 15+ search warrants on hemp/CBD shops across 8 Kansas cities. See October 2025 raids page.
• Filed for re-election January 8, 2026 with a record $502,626 in cash on hand for a January-1 filing — substantial fundraising that could also indicate gubernatorial pivot.
• Co-defendant in the March 5, 2026 Indy Vapes / Abilene Vape federal Fourth Amendment lawsuit.
• NORML rates Kobach "D-" with a "NO MEDICAL USE" designation.

KBI Director Tony Mattivi

Tony Mattivi serves as Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Mattivi has been a central voice in Kansas’s anti-cannabis enforcement framework:

• Co-led the October 2025 statewide hemp raids alongside AG Kobach.
• Has publicly characterized hemp-derived intoxicant retailers in terms ("nothing but weed dealers") that frame the gray market as criminal.
• Has emphasized after the April 2026 federal Schedule III order that "rescheduling is not the same as legalization" — making clear KBI’s posture would not change without state legislative action.
• Co-defendant in the Indy Vapes federal lawsuit.

The Ed Klumpp Voice

Ed Klumpp, retired Topeka police chief and lobbyist for the Kansas Peace Officers Association, told Kansas Reflector after the April 2026 federal Schedule III order:

"Under state law, it’s still under Schedule I. If this happens and it sticks, then there would need to be some kind of bill run to move it from Schedule I to Schedule III on the state schedule, and then it’s still a controlled substance."

The framing illustrates the structural reality: federal rescheduling does not change Kansas state law. The Kansas Peace Officers Association, Sheriffs Association, and KBI all have institutional incentives to maintain prohibition, and they speak through Klumpp and similar advocates.

Lt. Gov. David Toland (D)

Lt. Gov. David Toland has supported Kelly’s medical-cannabis advocacy. As Lt. Governor, his ability to move policy is limited; he is more visible in cabinet-coordination and economic-development roles than in cannabis-policy advocacy specifically.

The Republican 2026 Gubernatorial Field

The November 3, 2026 gubernatorial election will substantially reshape the cannabis-policy executive landscape. Leading Republican candidates as of May 2026:

• Senate President Ty Masterson (R-Andover) — declared candidate (launched July 20, 2025). Anti-cannabis. See Masterson page.
• AG Kris Kobach (R) — filed for AG re-election in January 2026 but with substantial cash positioning that suggests possible gubernatorial pivot. Anti-cannabis.
• Other Republican candidates exploring the race.

The Republican primary winner will face the Democratic nominee. Lt. Gov. David Toland and other Democratic candidates have not announced as of May 2026. The Democratic gubernatorial nomination is expected to be competitive.

What a Democratic Gubernatorial Win Would Change

A Democratic gubernatorial win in November 2026 alone would not break the Senate Republican supermajority chokepoint. But it would:

• Maintain pro-reform executive advocacy after Kelly leaves office.
• Maintain the Democratic AG-vs-governor litigation balance.
• Potentially shift the political calculus for moderate Republicans considering whether to break with Masterson on cannabis votes.

A Masterson or Kobach gubernatorial win would entrench the existing prohibition framework at both executive and legislative levels.

The Kelly-Kobach Litigation

In 2026, Gov. Kelly filed an unprecedented lawsuit against AG Kobach over litigation control unrelated to cannabis. The lawsuit reflects the broader executive-branch gridlock between the Democratic governor’s office and the Republican AG’s office. While the underlying case isn’t about cannabis, it illustrates the structural conflict that shapes every Kansas executive-branch policy area.

Related on this site: Kansas 2026 Election Watch, Kansas Cannabis Key Legislators, Kansas Has No Ballot Initiative Process.