Nebraska AG ‘Retaliating’ Against Omaha Tribe for Medical Cannabis Plans 

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska is claiming that Attorney General Mike Hilgers is ending negotiations on a tobacco tax compact due to the tribe’s medical cannabis program, WOWT reports. Tribal Attorney General John Cartier said that a representative from the Attorney General’s office, during a phone call, “explicitly” told him it was “retaliation.” 

“She told me flat out – that the attorney general’s office is not going to move forward with our tribal tobacco tax compact because the tribe is going to engage in the medical cannabis industry.” — Cartier to WOWT 

Cartier also indicated that the Attorney General’s office representative also plans “on expending significant police resources to station essentially folks around [the tribe’s] border” due to its medical cannabis plans. 

“To use the medical cannabis issue, which has been highly politicized by this attorney general, is inappropriate in my opinion,” Cartier said, “but it’s even worse because it’s unfairly targeting the tribe.” 

The Attorney General’s office did not comment on Cartier’s claims, but a spokesperson told WOWT that Hilgers will eventually provide a written response to the claims and the tribe’s plans after speaking with the governor. 

The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska intends to move forward with its medical cannabis plans despite the threats from the Attorney General’s office.