Nebraska Bill Would Allow Lawmakers to Write Additional Regs for Medical Cannabis Program 

A bill proposed in Nebraska would allow the Medical Cannabis Commission to write additional regulations around the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law, the Nebraska Examiner reports. Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, told the Examiner that the bill is “extremely concerning,” warning that it would strip patient protections and consolidate power in a governor-appointed commission, which is opposed by advocates.  

In an interview with Nebraska TV, Eggers added that advocates support 75% of the bill, but the remaining 25% poses significant issues. 

“A patient that currently has a recommendation right now and is a legal cannabis patient, they would no longer have protections. … We’re trying to possibly talk through amendments… but if these things stay that strike statute we are going to be adamantly opposed to it.” — Eggers to Nebraska TV 

Under the proposal, patients, caregivers, and physicians would have to pay an application fee and follow the commission rules if they want to legally possess medical cannabis in the state. Nebraskans would also not be permitted to obtain medical cannabis from outside the state. 

The bill would also implement the state’s 5.5 cents per $1 sales tax to medical cannabis sales. 

State Sen. John Cavanaugh (D), vice chair of the legislature’s General Affairs Committee, which proposed the legislation, said the bill would give more authority to a commission that “has already demonstrated that it is openly hostile to the will of the voters.”   

“A successful program is respectful of the voters,” Cavanaugh told the Examiner, “but, more importantly, respectful of the patients and the families of those patients who just want help.”  

Cavanaugh has introduced two bills to protect the state’s medical cannabis program: one to explicitly give physicians protections, and another that would make the seats on the cannabis board elected. Both bills are in committees. 

Currently, the Medical Cannabis Commission is writing regulations in order to launch the program.