LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is now accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the statewide Medical Cannabis Commission after its chair, Dr. Monica Oldenburg, resigned. Oldenburg, an anesthesiologist from Lincoln who had been appointed to the commission in April and confirmed by the Legislature, said in her resignation letter that she could not commit the necessary time to the volunteer role due to her family and medical practice commitments. Interested applicants can apply online or by mail for the at-large seat, which carries a six-year term and is subject to legislative confirmation; interim leadership of the commission has passed to fellow at-large member Lorelle Mueting.
Oldenburg’s departure follows broader changes on the commission, which includes two at-large members in addition to the three members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, all of whom are gubernatorial appointees. In 2025, Gov. Pillen asked former liquor commission members to resign and appointed new members with an eye toward cannabis experience. Pillen has emphasized that the panel’s work should keep Nebraska’s program strictly medical and not slide toward recreational use as it continues to develop regulations and licensing criteria under the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis laws.