Kansas voters against stem cell ban

A poll of 800 Kansas voters found that they overwhelmingly support allowing all types of stem cell research.

By a margin of more than two-to-one, Kansas voters said they support allowing both adult and early, or embryonic, stem cell research in the state -- and oppose a proposed law that would impose a state ban on the type of stem cell research called Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer.

The poll was conducted by pollster Fred Steeper on behalf of the Kansas Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, a coalition of pro-stem cell research groups.

The poll found Kansas voters approve of using stem cells from the SCNT process by a margin of 69 percent to 28 percent; approve of stem cell research using leftover fertility clinic embryos by a margin of 66 percent to 33 percent; and favor allowing SCNT research in Kansas by a margin of 70 percent to 27 percent.

Some state legislators have proposed a bill that would ban and criminalize SCNT research in Kansas and prohibit state patients from having access to any future SCNT stem cell cures.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International