Wichita decriminalizes fentanyl test strips, ditches city charges for marijuana possession

Those in favor of the ordinance said the current system through the city’s municipal courts negatively impacted younger people caught with marijuana, and could hurt their future employment opportunities.
The Wichita City Council passed a city ordinance that decriminalizes the possession of fentanyl test strips and removes the city’s municipal courts from charging people with possessing marijuana.

While no one has been arrested for possessing fentanyl test strips by Wichita police officers, more than 750 cases go through the city’s courts annually for marijuana possession — adding to the caseload for the Sedgwick County district attorney’s office.

“If the goal here is to reduce the impact on the citizens, there will be someone who will just actually get a complete pass because I can’t eat... can’t take on… 750 cases,” Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said. “Whether that’s a good or bad thing, you get to decide.”