OMAHA – Nebraska voters approved medical cannabis. The legislature, though, has to figure out the structure for sales. Several state senators are going back to the voters to get their input on that.
- State Senators John Cavanaugh, Rick Holdcroft, and Ben Hansen are hosting town halls in Omaha and Lincoln to hear from those who support LB677.
- Lb677 is a bill aimed at establishing rules and regulations for medical cannabis.
- “It is so sad that it is so late in the session—it still has not come out of committee—that the people have to come back out here and tell their stories. These have been discussed in numerous committee hearings over the years, and it is simply time to get them done.”
Nebraska voters have approved medical cannabis. However, the legislature must decide on a sales structure. Several state senators are going back to voters to get their feedback on this.
This past November, 70% of Nebraska voters approved ballot initiatives 437 and 438, which legalized and regulated medical cannabis.
In this legislative session, the bill aimed at establishing rules and regulations for medical cannabis has finally passed out of committee and is on its way to the full Unicameral.
I spoke with a few advocates who were at the town hall on Sunday. Some are upset with a compromise that includes restrictions on medical conditions, limits the amount of cannabis sold, and prohibits smoking.
“Those concessions directly affect the petition drive that we had and the vote that we had on this, and it is basically undermining the will of the people,” said Lia Post, a medical cannabis advocate.
“And I just think it is so sad that at this late stage in the session—when it still has not come out of committee—that people are out here again telling their stories. Cindy Maxwell-Ostdiek, a medical cannabis advocate, stated that these issues have been discussed in numerous committee hearings over the years, and it is simply time to get them resolved.
Several people shared personal stories about how medical cannabis would help them.
Afterward, State Senator Ben Hansen told me that he believes he can get 33 of the 49 senators who will vote on this bill to vote yes, allowing the bill to pass.
“I hope I am encouraging some of those senators who are undecided about this bill to listen to those personal stories and think about it more deeply, not just intellectually, but emotionally. Senator Hansen stated, “I believe this brought the heart back in.”
According to Hansen, LB677 will most likely be introduced shortly after budget hearings conclude in the coming two weeks.
The bill must be passed by June 2nd, before the legislative session ends.
The final town hall will take place Monday at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, beginning at 5 p.m.