This past Tuesday the Free State Party held their first primary debate at the University of Kansas. The debate was put on by the Kansas Debates team and the Free State Party candidates, Jack Griswold and Brandon Boyce, were asked questions regarding their experience and policy initiatives. The candidates spoke about several policy initiatives, including: free market health care, legalization of marijuana, education funding, and more. But how much of what they said is true? The Sunflower Action News fact check team went to work to find out. Here is a look at some of the 'facts' stated by Senator Boyce and Mayor Griswold, and the truths behind them uncovered by our team.
GRISWOLD, on the legalization of marijuana: [will lead to] the creation of 10,000+ jobs and $10,000,000+ in revenue
GRISWOLD, on possession of marijuana: "Individuals who have had their lives ruined over small possession charges deserve reparations"
THE FACTS: Currently a marijuana possession charge in Kansas will cost the offender up to a $1,000 fine or a maximum of six months in prison. A simple possession charge is classified as a Class B misdemeanor in Kansas, so it is a bit of a stretch to declare that individuals have had their lives ruined from a possession charge alone. Regarding the economic benefits surrounding the legalization of marijuana there is no sure way of knowing the affects it may have on Kansas' economy, but here's what we do know: In 2015, following Colorado's legalization of marijuana, they saw the creation of 18,000 new jobs and upwards of $120 million in sales and excise tax revenues. If Kansas were to see similar affects to Colorado after legalization, it is safe to say that Mayor Griswold's numbers were on the low end. However, it is also important to note that legalization of marijuana can also lead to a decline in worker productivity, school performance, and a steep increase in teen marijuana usage. These affects seen following Alaska's legalization of marijuana in the 1970's, leading them to re-criminalize the drug in the 1990's.
BOYCE: on the use of police body camera's: "they have been very successful in New York"
THE FACTS: An 18-month study of more than 2,000 police officers, found that officers equipped with body cameras received civilian complaints at about the same rate as officers without cameras. This study shows that body cameras have a very insignificant impact on police behavior. In fact, the use of body camera's in New York has been nothing but controversial. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, a Union of NYPD officers, threatened to sue the city, arguing the use of body camera's was "a hindrance and that officers should be paid more to endure body-cam training and the stress of being recorded". Several criminal justice reform advocates have also expressed concerns about the ways in which body camera's violate citizen's privacy. Based on the facts, it appears Senator Boyce's proposal of equipping Kansas police with body camera's is a poorly thought out and inadequate solution.