Nebraska Gov. and AG Approve Medical Cannabis Regulations 

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) and state Attorney General Mike Hilgers have signed off on regulations for the state’s medical cannabis industry. Hilgers gave his approval in a June 30 letter, saying that the regulations proposed by the state Medical Cannabis Commission “do not clearly violate the state or federal Constitutions on their face.” Pillen followed suit on July 1. 

The regulations prohibit “any product administered by smoking, combustion, or vaping,” all edibles, and any product that exceeds 60% THC or 40 milligrams of THC per dose. The only products allowed under the program are oral tablets, with or without flavored coating; capsules, or tinctures; gels, oils, creams, or other topical preparation; suppositories; transdermal patches; or liquids or oils for administration using a nebulizer or inhaler.  

Despite the restriction on flower, the regulations also restrict purchases to no more than 5 ounces of medical cannabis in a 30-day period, of which no more than 5 grams can be delta-9 THC from the same dispensary. 

The regulations allow just 12 dispensaries statewide, dispersed by judicial district. 

In his letter, Hilgers said the regulations “appear to be properly aimed at regulating marijuana for medicinal use” but warned “that does not mean that future regulations necessarily will.”  

“Any medical cannabis regulations that allow access to marijuana untethered to a plausibly medical purpose without adequate patient protections are ‘medical’ in name only and may slip into a preempted recreational marijuana scheme.” — Hilgers in the letter 

In a press release, Pillen did not comment on the regulation details, rather noting he had “approved permanent regulations for medical marijuana as drafted by the state Medical Cannabis Commission.” The governor’s office indicated that regulations would become law five days after they were received by the secretary of state’s office.