More than a year after voters in Nebraska overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis, the state remains far from establishing a functional program. Lawmakers and cannabis advocates are disheartened following the recent setback on Tuesday night, when a bill intended to protect healthcare practitioners recommending medical cannabis failed on the legislative floor.
“If there are no practitioners, there are no patients in this program,” stated Crista Eggers with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. “What seems to be the goal of this is to make sure Nebraska never has a functioning program.”
Families in Need
Countless families are advocating for a robust medical cannabis program. Dominic Gillen shared his experience with his son Will, who suffers from Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that results in hundreds of seizures daily. “We thought we were the only family. And we’ve come to find out that there are thousands of Nebraskans that are in need of this,” Gillen remarked.
Matthew Bronson, a disabled veteran dealing with chronic pain, echoed similar sentiments regarding the program’s importance. “I want to take something that will help with the pain, but not impair me to the point where I cannot give aid to my child,” he said.
The Legislative Challenge
Both families celebrated the initial approval of a medical cannabis program by 71% of Nebraska voters, but they are now frustrated that lawmakers have failed to bring the initiative to fruition. “The legislature has not fulfilled the real intent of the voters,” Gillen asserted.
Senator John Cavanaugh advocated for LB933, which aimed to provide protections for healthcare practitioners recommending cannabis, a Schedule 1 substance. “Not a single doctor in Nebraska has made a recommendation because they are afraid of repercussions from law enforcement,” Cavanaugh noted.
On Tuesday, amendments—including one from Senator Brian Hardin—stalled the bill. Hardin referred to LB933 as a “recreational marijuana bill masquerading as a medical marijuana bill.” As a result, practitioners remain without legal protections this year, significantly chilling prospects for the medical cannabis program.
Continuing Advocacy
Attorney General Mike Hilgers’ office stated that ensuring patient safety is a priority, emphasizing that complaints against medical professionals will be taken seriously. “We take that obligation very seriously, and the office will look at any medical professional who has been alleged to have violated the conditions of their license,” the office stated.
In comparison, other states with medical-only cannabis programs have established protections for practitioners, leaving Nebraska at a disadvantage. Bronson remarked, “It feels like a slap in the face,” voicing concerns about the future of medical cannabis in the state.
The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission has faced criticism for missing deadlines, imposing restrictions on cannabis forms for patients, and limiting the total number of plants cultivators can grow to just 1,250—totaling only 5,000 hemp plants across four licensed cultivators. Gillen pointed out that stakeholders are already expressing that this amount won’t suffice.
The Medical Cannabis Commission has not commented on the latest developments but is scheduled to hold a public meeting in Lincoln next Monday at 1 p.m., where further discussions on the program’s future may take place.