The Kansas Supreme Court is preparing to hear oral arguments about the legality of a Wichita ordinance that lessens the penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana.
The justices are scheduled to hear testimony on Thursday in a case that could shake up the political landscape as citizens in other communities across the state consider launching similar initiatives.
Wichita voters approved the ordinance in April with 54 percent in favor of the measure, but Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has argued that the ordinance conflicts with state law.
The ordinance imposes no more than a $50 fine for first-time possession of a small amount of pot, while state law deems it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
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