Nebraska Medical Cannabis Advocates Plan 2022 Legalization Ballot Campaign 

Cannabis advocates in Nebraska are planning two new initiatives in their latest attempt to legalize medical cannabis in the state after their 2020 proposal was struck down by the state Supreme Court which found that it violated the state’s single-issue rule for referendums, the Lincoln Journal Star reports.

The new strategy by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana would put two questions to voters next year that state Sen. Anna Wishart (D) said would “work in unison” to legalize medical cannabis in the state.

Wishart co-sponsored legislation to enact the reforms in the state this session, but the bill was narrowly defeated, the Journal Star reports.

One question would require lawmakers to pass bills protecting physicians who recommend medical cannabis along, with their patients who possess or use the product, from criminal penalty. The second question would require the Legislature to enact measures protecting private companies that produce and supply cannabis for medical purposes.

“Our main goal is putting in place language that we feel absolutely confident in, that we have looked at every type of potential challenge that could come and feel we have addressed it.”— Wishart to the Journal Star

Gambling advocates in the state successfully used the multiple-initiative strategy in 2014 to ensure their initiative did not violate the single-issue rules. Ultimately, that campaign ended up using three individual petitions.

Wishart indicated the campaign will file the final language for the initiative before Labor Day.