LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — A prevailing trend during the 2025 legislative session involves scaling back ballot measures that Nebraska voters had strongly endorsed.
Legislation addressing paid sick leave and minimum wage had already moved forward on the Unicameral floor, and this week, an amendment to a medical marijuana bill might significantly limit its implementation. This move has alarmed supporters of medical cannabis.
Over 70% of Nebraskans voted in favor of legalizing medical marijuana on the November 2024 ballot. Approximately 67% also backed the establishment of a regulatory body for this purpose. However, legislators have identified a problem with this approach.
"The Liquor Control Commission lacks any funding, responsibilities, or guidelines," stated Senator Rick Holdsworth, who chairs the General Affairs Committee.
This is when the Nebraska Legislature takes action. The General Affairs Committee has made LB 677, proposed by Senator Ben Hansen, their top priority. This bill aims to establish a structure and secure financing for the newly formed Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. However, at present, this situation requires careful management.
"My aim is to have a clean bill pass through the committee and avoid chaos when it goes to the floor," Hansen stated.
This week, Holdcroft proposed an amendment to Hansen’s legislation aimed at limiting it. The proposal seeks to ban smoking and restrict accessibility.
Lists from other states encompass numerous qualifying conditions such as acute pain, glaucoma, various types of cancer, and anxiety. Holdcraft advocates for reducing Nebraska’s list to less than ten qualifying conditions, prioritizing epilepsy and terminal cancer at the forefront.
"I believe those were the kind of aspects the residents of Nebraska hoped for in their medical marijuana legislation," Holdcraft stated.
However, some members of the committee view the omission of particular circumstances as unjustified.
"If you choose a number and try to identify all the conditions that apply up to that number, you will omit several crucial ones," Senator John Cavanaugh stated.
Crista Eggers, who leads the Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana group that gathered signatures for the ballot measures, stated that this undermines the voice of Nebraskans.
Removing essential elements and making it less comprehensive until it fails to assist, excluding patients, and leaving decisions about whose life holds greater value up to individuals rather than society, is beyond our jurisdiction," Eggers stated. "Observing this process being dismantled and the public's intent disregarded, we refuse to accept such treatment.
Holdcraft mentioned that allowing a broad implementation of medical marijuana could lead down a dangerous path.
The concern is recreational marijuana," he stated. "If you manage to persuade your doctor that, for instance, 'I suffer from headaches and require marijuana,' and the doctor writes a recommendation for you, how does this differ from using recreational marijuana?
However, Hansen views it differently.
You're going against the public's wishes, you'll find that recreational marijuana could appear on ballots much faster than anticipated, which is precisely what opponents of this bill fear," Hansen stated. "This process is more like playing chess rather than checkers.
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