The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission last week approved emergency regulations to begin accepting medical cannabis applications as soon as Gov. Jim Pillen (R) allows the agency to proceed, the Nebraska Examiner reports. Under the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law, the commission must start accepting applications by July 1.
The regulations largely mirror a legislative proposal that failed in the legislature last month and would remain in effect for 90 days after being approved by the governor.
Under the medical cannabis law, medical cannabis licensing must begin by October 1, and the emergency regulations would allow for the licensing of cultivators, product manufacturers, dispensaries, and transporters, with individuals or organizations only permitted one type of license.
Under the emergency regulations, only one dispensary would be allowed in each of the state’s 12 District Court Judicial Districts; no dispensary could be located within 1,000 feet of any school, daycare, church or hospital; at least 51% of an applicant’s business or organization must have resided in Nebraska and be a U.S. citizen for at least the past four years; and applicants would have to pay to submit two legible sets of fingerprints to the FBI and the Nebraska State Patrol for a criminal background check.
The regulations do not specify qualifying conditions for medical cannabis access but require that a physician’s recommendation specifies the product being recommended, the recommended dosage and potency, the number of doses, the directions for use, and the name of the patient.
The regulations allow dispensaries to sell oral tablets, capsules, or tinctures; non-sugarcoated gelatinous cubes, gelatinous rectangular cuboids, or lozenges in a cube or rectangular cuboid shape; topical preparations; suppositories; transdermal patches; and liquids or oils for administration using a nebulizer or inhaler. Flower is not permitted under the regulations, neither are infused food or drinks, any products containing artificial or natural flavoring or coloring, or any products that can be smoked or vaped.
