Nebraska Regulators Keep Strict Medical Cannabis Rules Despite Public Backlash

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The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission on Monday voted 3-0 to decline to
change its proposed regulations for the state’s voter-approved medical
cannabis program despite public criticism, Nebraska Public Media reports.

Nebraska voters approved the state’s medical cannabis legalization ballot
proposal last November. Despite overwhelming support, the Commission opted
to include heavy restrictions for the program that were not included in the
ballot proposal. Advocates say the resulting program will fall short of
what the voters approved.

Public comments during a Commission meeting last month broadly condemned
the proposed regulations and recommended improvements to the program,
including allowing cannabis flower products, vaporizers, and edibles;
reducing THC potency and possession limits; and increasing the number of
licensed facilities and plant counts for licensed cultivators. Speakers
also criticized restrictions on out-of-state medical cannabis
recommendations and rules requiring patients to get additional
recommendations to refill their prescriptions.

In response to allowing smokable cannabis products, Commissioner Lorelle
Mueting said, “We make medical decisions based on science and research, and
although 71% of Nebraskans voted for medical cannabis, we still owe it to
them to provide it in a medical form that’s not going to do more harm than
good.”

The Commission rejected the recommendations, although Commissioner J.
Michael Coffey hinted at potentially expanding the program’s plant and
cultivator counts down the line.

“This isn’t cast in stone, but we are starting from zero, and we think
we’re doing the best we can to get this program up and running.” — Coffey,
via Nebraska Public Media

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) signed emergency regulations in September to
set up the state’s medical cannabis program after lawmakers fumbled
legislative efforts earlier in the year.