Nebraska’s legislative committee has voted to reject a medical cannabis bill by a 5-3 margin, forcing legislators to search for alternatives. Nebraska Examiner.
The General Affairs Committee rejected Legislative Bill 6, sponsored by Blair Senator Ben Hansen during a voting on Thursday where members of the committee refused to make amendments.
Hansen said to reporters that after the vote: “I’m not going to close all doors, but there are some closing very quickly. So we need to act.” Examiner.
Nebraskans approved the use of medical marijuana in November 2024. Residents have been allowed to legally possess 5 ounces or less with a doctor’s prescription since mid-December. The regulatory commission established by the ballot measure lacks funding and the power necessary to regulate this industry.
Hansen said his legislation was “a must” by 2025 in order to stop a Wild West situation on the state’s marijuana market. It would also have extended licensing deadlines and expanded Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission’s regulatory framework to provide more time for implementation. Examiner noted.
The main disagreements in the committee centered around proposed restrictions. An amendment by the committee would have banned smoking cannabis, and prohibited sale of flower products or buds, while restricting qualified healthcare practitioners only to doctors, osteopathic physician, physician assistants, or nurse practitioners with at least six-month experience.
This amendment would also have restricted qualifying conditions to only 15 ailments, including HIV/AIDS and cancer.
Hansen, who “strongly disagreed” with the claim made by Holdcroft and Andersen was that holding cannabis flowers for sale would lead to “recreational marijuana.” Examiner.
Hansen faces a tough path to success. He needs at least 25 senators in order to remove the bill from a committee, and 33 senators for it to be advanced through three rounds of discussion, regardless of any filibuster efforts.
Crista Eggers remained positive despite this setback. She is the executive director for Nebraskans For Medical Marijuana.
Eggers, according to the outlet, said “This won’t be the end.” The outlet reported that Eggers said, “Giving in has never been an alternative. It was never an option to be silenced. The fight isn’t over. “It’s still not over.”
Litigation is complicating the legislative impasse. John Kuehn is the former senator of Nebraska who has challenged the provisions that were approved by the voters in two separate lawsuits. A third appeal before the Nebraska Supreme Court is still pending. In a similar way to the Attorney Generals of other states in the nation, Nebraska is also taking action to address the hemp debate.