Wichita City Council has voted to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and fentanyl test strips

WICHITA, Kansas – The possession of tiny amounts of marijuana and fentanyl test strips will no longer be considered a criminal offense thanks to a vote taken by the Wichita City Council.

As a result of the vote that took place on Tuesday, crimes involving the possession of marijuana or fentanyl test strips will no longer be brought before the Wichita municipal courts. If charges were to be brought forward, it would be the responsibility of the District Attorney’s office in Sedgwick County.

Because of this decision, between 750 and 850 cases of marijuana possession being prosecuted in the city’s courts would be dismissed.

The District Attorney for Sedgwick County, Marc Bennett, stated that his office does not have the capacity to handle that many additional cases but did not take a stance before the vote.

Marijuana is still prohibited at both the state and federal levels in Kansas.