LINCOLN — After Nebraska voters approved medical cannabis in 2024, patients, caregivers and advocates spent much of the following year frustrated by a lack of legislative detail and funding to implement the law. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission adopted regulations that, in some cases, conflicted with the voter-approved initiatives, while also noting it lacked appropriated funds to carry out its responsibilities. Lawmakers are now attempting to provide clearer structure through LB1235, a bill sponsored by members of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee that would consolidate the two voter-approved initiatives and establish a more defined framework for medical cannabis in the state.

The bill would create patient and caregiver registries, set qualifying medical conditions, and require practitioners who recommend cannabis to register with the commission while prohibiting them from having financial ties to cannabis businesses. It also outlines licensing, fees and oversight for medical cannabis businesses, expands the authority and staffing of the Medical Cannabis Commission, and grants it enforcement powers, including license suspension and product recalls. While some advocates acknowledge the bill adds clarity, others argue it is more restrictive than what voters intended and say they plan to oppose it.

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