Nebraska Regulators Keep Strict Medical Cannabis Rules Despite Public Backlash

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission on Monday voted 3-0 to decline to change its proposed regulations for the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis program despite public criticism, Nebraska Public Media reports.

Nebraska voters approved the state’s medical cannabis legalization ballot proposal last November. Despite overwhelming support, the Commission opted to include heavy restrictions for the program that were not included in the ballot proposal. Advocates say the resulting program will fall short of what the voters approved.

Public comments during a Commission meeting last month broadly condemned the proposed regulations and recommended improvements to the program, including allowing cannabis flower products, vaporizers, and edibles; reducing THC potency and possession limits; and increasing the number of licensed facilities and plant counts for licensed cultivators. Speakers also criticized restrictions on out-of-state medical cannabis recommendations and rules requiring patients to get additional recommendations to refill their prescriptions.

In response to allowing smokable cannabis products, Commissioner Lorelle Mueting said, “We make medical decisions based on science and research, and although 71% of Nebraskans voted for medical cannabis, we still owe it to them to provide it in a medical form that’s not going to do more harm than good.”

The Commission rejected the recommendations, although Commissioner J. Michael Coffey hinted at potentially expanding the program’s plant and cultivator counts down the line.

“This isn’t cast in stone, but we are starting from zero, and we think we’re doing the best we can to get this program up and running.” — Coffey, via Nebraska Public Media

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signed emergency regulations in September to set up the state’s medical cannabis program after lawmakers fumbled legislative efforts earlier in the year.