LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – Two weeks after a bill to establish regulations for medical marijuana stalled in the General Affairs Committee, it’s now headed to the Legislative floor for debate.
State Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue said he expects that debate to occur later this month.
Despite medical marijuana legalization getting wide approval from voters in November, LB677 — the bill that would establish regulations — has faced a tough road this session.
The hang-up on the bill seems to stem from whether to allow the plant’s flower as a consumable. On Thursday, a compromise was made to allow such marijuana flower consumables of up to 2 ounces — but only if it’s be vaporized, not smoked. As the stipulation stands, punishment for smoking the flower in Nebraska would be the same as it has been.
The compromise also keeps PTSD off the list of qualifying conditions.
Nebraskans showed overwhelming support for medical marijuana legalization, with 70% of voters casting their ballots in favor of the measure during the General Election. Still, the legalization and subsequent regulation of medical marijuana has faced pushback from some of Nebraska’s highest-ranking elected officials, including Gov. Jim Pillen, U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, and Attorney General Mike Hilgers.
This weekend, voters will have a chance to speak face-to-face with state lawmakers about the issue at forums planned in Omaha, La Vista, and Lincoln.
State Sens. Holdcroft, John Cavanaugh of Omaha and Ben Hansen of Blair will have three public meetings in to discuss the implementation of medical marijuana in Nebraska.
Twelve other state lawmakers will participate in the forums: Sens. Machaela Cavanaugh, John Fredrickson, Margo Juarez, Megan Hunt, and Ashlei Spivey of Omaha; Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue; Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston; Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington; Sens. George Dungan and Jane Raybould of Lincoln; Sen. Myron Dorn of Adams; and Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth.
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10/11 Now contributed to this report.
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Two weeks after a bill to establish regulations for medical marijuana stalled in the General Affairs Committee, it’s now headed to the Legislative floor for debate. Read More
