Nebraska Bill Would Allow Lawmakers to Write Additional Regs for Medical Cannabis Program 

A bill proposed in Nebraska would allow the Medical Cannabis Commission to
write additional regulations around the state’s voter-approved medical
cannabis law, the Nebraska Examiner reports. Crista Eggers, executive
director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, told the Examiner that the
bill is “extremely concerning,” warning that it would strip patient
protections and consolidate power in a governor-appointed commission, which
is opposed by advocates.

In an interview with Nebraska TV, Eggers added that advocates support 75%
of the bill, but the remaining 25% poses significant issues.

“A patient that currently has a recommendation right now and is a legal
cannabis patient, they would no longer have protections. … We’re trying to
possibly talk through amendments… but if these things stay that
strike statute we are going to be adamantly opposed to it.” — Eggers to Nebraska
TV

Under the proposal, patients, caregivers, and physicians would have to pay
an application fee and follow the commission rules if they want to
legally possess medical cannabis in the state. Nebraskans would also not
be permitted to obtain medical cannabis from outside the state.

The bill would also implement the state’s 5.5 cents per $1 sales tax to
medical cannabis sales.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh (D), vice chair of the legislature’s General
Affairs Committee, which proposed the legislation, said the bill would give
more authority to a commission that “has already demonstrated that it is
openly hostile to the will of the voters.”

“A successful program is respectful of the voters,” Cavanaugh told the
Examiner, “but, more importantly, respectful of the patients and the
families of those patients who just want help.”

Cavanaugh has introduced two bills to protect the state’s medical cannabis
program: one to explicitly give physicians protections, and another that
would make the seats on the cannabis board elected. Both bills
are in committees.

Currently, the Medical Cannabis Commission is writing regulations in order
to launch the program.