No one of you is God and you don’t have the right to act as God any longer.
By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner
Teddy Bronson, a seven-year-old boy from Omaha, has undergone six brain operations, received 14 prescriptions, and spent about half a mil in medical equipment to combat his drug resistant epilepsy. He once endured an average 3,800 seizures per month.
Matt Bronson – a U.S. Air Force Veteran with a disability – and Liz Bronson – a nurse at Children’s Nebraska – say every day is a battle for Teddy, their beautiful little boy, taking all measures to help reduce Teddy’s seizures. This included an innovative half-day of neurosurgery with a robot surgical assistant at Children’s Nebraska just a few short years ago.
Matt Bronson, at a forum on medical marijuana regulations held last weekend, said that his son faces an 85 percent greater risk each night of dying. Liz and Matt welcome their son each morning.
Matt Bronson, who spoke to a cheering crowd at a public forum in Omaha, told the audience, “I can see him smile and hear him talk. And damn it, my son is 7 and half and walking.” Three years ago, Matt Bronson was in a wheel chair.
Liz Bronson noted that although Teddy appears to be improving, any seizures could still kill him. Liz Bronson quoted the California epileptologist of her family, saying, “We have two options: either we pass well-regulated, evidence-based legislation or sign more death certificate.”
“We come here before you today to say that, ‘I’m sorry, but Teddy matters,’ and that our family matters and that the suffering individuals in this state matter,” Liz Bronson said.
Continued fight
The Bronsons have fought tirelessly for the right to access medical marijuana in Nebraska for more than a decade. They’ve been involved with three elections, numerous bills, and many court battles.
The November vote was overwhelmingly in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. It was approved by 71% of voters and a smaller number, 68%, approved of the basic outline of a regulation system.
The Bronsons joined hundreds of Nebraskans at public forums held May 3 or 4 in La Vista; May 5 in Omaha, and May 6 in Lincoln. The majority of Nebraskans shared the same message: medical cannabis is now legal in Nebraska and “the will of the voters” should be implemented.
The dozens who spoke to a group of bipartisan state senators, spread over three separate events, on the Legislative Bill 67, introduced by state Senator Ben Hansen of Blair (R), a bill intended to clarify the regulations, differed in their views. The senators estimate that at least 300 attended.
Speakers linked this fight to legislative attempts that would have weakened the minimum wage protections and paid sick leaves passed during the statewide elections of 2022 and 2024.
Others linked LB 677 to LB 316, from state Sen. Kathleen Kauth (R) of Omaha, a priority of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R), who has escalated his opposition to LB 677 and all products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. LB 316 reclassifies hemp as marijuana. It is referred to by opponents as a “defacto ban” for nearly all THC products or hemp.
Hilgers stated on Wednesday that he never intended to use LB 316 as a weapon against ballot measures. Hansen is trying to clarify in Kauth’s bill that the bill does not have a conflict with ballot measures or LB677.
Hilgers’ “heart is with” anyone suffering from pain, who doesn’t feel they have access to something that could help. He said that he had to uphold the federal law against marijuana, even though dozens of state approved medical and recreational cannabis.
Hilgers launched a legal campaign this week against LB677, saying “I’m sure two plus one equals four. Even if everybody else thinks two plus one is five.”
The speakers at the forums this month criticized LB 677’s compromises. These included prohibiting cannabis smoking, defining 15 “qualifying circumstances”, limiting medical dispensaries to 30 and requiring a caregiver or patient to pay $45 to obtain a registration card.
Ethan Stankus, a Bellevue resident, said that had he known about the smoking ban, condition list, or any other “needless concessions”, he wouldn’t have voted for it.
Stankus, demonstrating the breakdown of LB 677’s amendment, asked why Nebraskans should take time to reexplain what they voted.
‘100 percent of the apple’
Hansen’s and his supporters believe that the necessity of the bill was complicated. This is illustrated by the fact that many participants criticized regulations being held in the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, which shares staff and resources with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.
The ballot question was a part of DHHS’s consistent opposition against medical cannabis. Tom Safranek was the only speaker among the dozens who spoke, and he expressed concern about voter-approved laws for “potential societal harm.”
DHHS opposes LB677 as well.
Due to constitutional constraints with ballot measures—including the need to stick to a “single subject”—supporters were limited in what they could present to voters. LB677 supporters say that it will provide more clarity before the commission makes a decision.
This proposal is also intended to help the voter set a deadline of July 1 for the Commission to draft the rules. In court documents, the commission has stated that the ballot measure would not allow it to “carry out any of the duties” specified in the new legislation, especially due to its lack funding.
Hansen, the state senator from Bellevue who is chair of the General Affairs Committee in the Legislature, and worked together with Holdcroft on the bill said that the required regulation for the measure could not be finished by the deadline.
LB677 aims at delaying the regulations required by 3 months while setting out the specific parameters for the new regulatory regime. The voters’ laws, which allow the commission to write all of the regulations, could lead to a more strict system.
Lorelle Muteting from Heartland Family Service of Omaha said this year in an online post against a different LB705, her agency did not support the legalization of marijuana, “in whatever form, for medical purposes”, without federal approval.
Mueting argued in opposition to LB 677 when it was heard.
Hansen stated that it is time to “get off our butts”, unite Democrats with Republicans, and achieve the threshold of 33 votes needed for LB 677. This will help Nebraskans.
Hansen says the system has to be set up correctly and “show that the world has not ended.” Everyone is not going to die. The people aren’t smoking cigarettes on the corner as many conservatives believe.
Hansen, speaking of Saturday’s efforts: “We won’t eat 100% of the apples.” “We’re getting 75, 80, 90 percent. Make sure you give it to the people that need it.”
‘Pigs must be flying’
Marcie Reed, a constituent of Hansen, talked about her son Kyler who is 12 years old and has epilepsy. He takes six pills a day. The family is prepared for Kyler to be given a rescue drug, which is a controlled substance if his seizures are longer than 5 minutes.
Reed, a cannabis ballot measure worker, stated that “you don’t understand it until the situation arises.” When someone close to you is diagnosed with cancer or epilepsy one day, Reed, who worked on the recent cannabis ballot measures, said, “You don’t really understand it until you are in that situation.”
The weekend was not all serious. There were also moments of humor, like when Shannon Coryell, an Omaha “bleeding-heart liberal”, said “pigs are flying” after she agreed Hansen, who is a Republican Libertarian.
Tom Becka is a conservative talk-radio host in Omaha, and has been a broadcaster for many years. He told Hilgers and Ricketts that “Reefer Madness”, the film/musical, was not a documentary.
Becka, addressing a laughing audience said: “More have died than medical cannabis from eating the onions in a McDonald’s hamburger.”
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, no deaths have been reported from marijuana overdoses. However, some edibles are causing an increase in emergency room visits.
‘Fight like our lives matter’
Nebraskans have also urged legislators to act fast, saying that some patients could have received help or tried the medicine but died after 12 years.
Jill Hessing, a Lincoln resident, spoke about her open-minded Republican mother who was a licensed practical nurse and died from cancer in 2006. Hessing stated that her mother would not have gone to Missouri just for marijuana. She was a compassionate woman who followed the law.
Lia Post, of Springfield, read out a letter on Monday in the name of Angie Cornett from Norfolk who was unable to attend due to her mother’s funeral.
Cornett, an RN, reported that her mother suffered from severe chronic pain over a period of decades. At age 50 she experienced severe burning in her legs due to severe nerve damage and diabetes.
Cornett said Cornett’s mother described the pain relief she was using as “stepping on cold, slushy Watermelon.”
Cornett revealed that her mom took a cocktail of addiction-inducing painkillers as part of her medical regimen. Cornett added she could not help but wonder what her mom’s life would have looked like if medical cannabis had been used.
Cornett said Monday that “she knew what she voted for and that as I bury her today, you should know that my mother is one of the many Nebraskan patients who died while waiting to have access to plant-based medicine and to the God-given herb that has been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times.”
Post, who is a regular medical marijuana advocate in the Nebraska State Capitol said that she was one of only a few longtime supporters to be told by legislators not to get angry or use aggressive advocacy methods. For example, Post has been warned against telling Republicans patients were dying.
Even so, Post said the roadblocks won’t make her back down from a disease—complex regional pain syndrome—that will one day take her life.
“Fight with us.” Fight like our lives matter,” Post said Saturday. Post said Saturday: “None are you God and you don’t deserve to be playing God anymore.”
Seeing patients
Dominic and Shelley Gillen, of Bellevue in Washington, are fighting, like the Bronsons for their son Will who is now 23, and has severe drug-resistant seizures. Will’s family, friends, and colleagues refer to Will as “God’s Will.”
Dominic Gillen, the father of Dominic, estimated that in this time his son had suffered from more than 450,000 seizures, and a “body littered by scars.”
Dominic Gillen told reporters that Hilgers’s campaign against medical cannabis and its volunteers, patients, and caregivers is similar to the “lawfare,” Republicans had criticized under Joe Biden, former Democratic president. Gillen told the senators at each of these events to “see” patients and not just look through them.
Dominic Gillen stated that Will has never said a single word but his story had touched the lives of countless people in both this and other states. Will is a true blessing. “He is perfect in spite of his imperfections.”
Hansen, also, encouraged Nebraskans to send their photos and stories to lawmakers, especially Republicans. In an attempt to be curious, Hansen asked on Sunday if the attendees would still support marijuana recreationally if LB677 fails or IF regulations were too restrictive.
Nearly all raised their hands. Hansen told his colleagues that if they don’t pass LB 677, and regulate medical marijuana, the voters may end up legalizing cannabis for recreational use. Hilgers said that LB677, which is opposed to both medical cannabis and recreational marijuana, would already open up the doors for recreational use.
Nebraska Supreme Court continues to hear cases against notaries and Hall County. Lancaster County also has courts. Nebraska Attorney General’s Office claims that the federal laws preempt the Nebraska laws, and threatens to sue Medical Cannabis Commission for issuing dispensary licences.
Jacy Todd of York has pleaded innocent in the cases. She is a first-time criminal charge in Grand Island. No criminal charges have been filed against any of the notaries in this case, even though the lower court judge has thrown away some of their original signatures. Hilgers said that the absence of criminal charges should not be “read in.”
Hilgers and other sheriffs joined Hilgers in saying that medical cannabis, LB 677, will “make Nebraska less safe, dangerous”. The good men and woman in this room and their colleagues across the state will be handcuffed by LB 677.
‘Let’s take away this pain’
Todd, a veteran with PTSD, is among the veterans who asked lawmakers to include the condition in their list of conditions acceptable for the use of LB 677. Hansen stated that the elimination of this condition was one of “the negotiating factors” needed to pass LB677 through the General Affairs Committee.
John Cavanaugh’s (D) amendments to state law would add PTSD. First, by adding PTSD to the list directly. Second, by removing it from the list and leaving doctors and patients the final decision.
Matt Bronson was 19 when he left to war. He claimed to have broken his back in 2007 and suffers from PTSD. In addition, he is a recovering alcoholic who has also lost the majority of sensation in his legs. There were many choices, such as opiates and addictive pain medicines. Teddy’s father claimed that before Teddy was born he attempted to end his own life.
Medical cannabis is not about Matt Bronson or Teddy getting high—”I give two shits about getting high,” his father says.
Bronson, however, says that he cannot take any addictive medication, undergo significant back surgery, or be placed in a wheel chair for an 18-month period because, he, and Liz Bronson, must care for Teddy, at all times, putting Teddy’s health above their own.
Matt Bronson explained, “Let us take this pain away.” “I’m not going to remember the people I killed in combat. “I don’t remember those brothers and sisters I lost in war.” “I love my country but Goddamn, Uncle Sam. Let’s fix this.”
Nebraska Examiner was the first to publish this story.
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Philip Steffan is the photographer.