Nebraska Gov. to Support Medical Cannabis Commission as Legislature Remains Deadlocked

Amid legislative roadblocks, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) announced last
week his administration’s intentions to provide support and resources to
the newly-created Medical Cannabis Commission (MCC) through the Policy
Research Office (PRO) and Department of Administrative Services (DAS),
consistent with the support those agencies provide to other agencies during
the regulatory process.

The MCC was created through voter approval of two initiatives, but
launching the medical cannabis program has so far been blocked by lawmakers
who cannot agree on legislation to enact the reforms. Earlier this month,
state Attorney General Hilgers urged lawmakers to reject proposals to
create the program, alleging that regulating the medical cannabis industry
would “supercharge the black market,” fuel adult-use cannabis reforms, and
“make Nebraska less safe, more dangerous.”

“I have appointed two experienced, well-qualified individuals to the
Medical Cannabis Commission, who will ensure this new industry is strongly
regulated to the letter of the law the people of Nebraska enacted. I urge
the Legislature to promptly confirm them so they can take up the urgent
work of writing strong and effective ‘rules of the road’ for the medical
cannabis industry.” — Pillen in a press release

Pillen added that with support from the PRO, DAS, and other agencies, as
necessary, the MCC is fully enabled to meet and carry out its
responsibilities under the Patient Protection Act and the Regulation Act to
meet its milestone dates of July 1 and October 1. He noted that operational
funding has already been appropriated to the MCC and that due to the
statutory financial authority of DAS, the commission will have all the
financial resources it needs to effectively function under current law.