Nebraska Bills Aim to Help Implement Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Program

Nebraska lawmakers this week proposed bills containing regulations to help implement and operate the state’s new medical cannabis program, which was approved last year by voters, the Nebraska Examiner reports.

Three state senate proposals seek to expedite the program. Without legislative action, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is tasked under the voter-approved ballot initiative to create regulations for licensing medical cannabis establishments by July 1, and the state could award cannabis industry licenses by October 1, the report said.

The three bills — introduced separately by state Sens. Danielle Conrad (D), Ben Hansen (R), and Terrell McKinney (D) — seek to let Nebraskans with a doctor’s recommendation apply for a medical cannabis registry card, although they differ slightly in their regulatory approach. Each of the three bills, however, would delay the state’s medical cannabis business licensing period until January 1, 2026.

“I think we’re in a little bit of a unique position, where a lot of other states have already gone this direction. We have the ability to see what has worked well for others and what hasn’t.” — Sen. Hansen, via the Examiner

Meanwhile, a fourth proposal by state Sen. Jared Storm (R) would set a 300-milligram THC cap on medical cannabis products, the report said, and would limit the “permissible” forms of cannabis in the state to just pills or tinctures, directly contradicting the ballot initiative approved by 71% of voters last month.