Nebraska Gov. to Support Medical Cannabis Commission as Legislature Remains Deadlocked

Amid legislative roadblocks, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) announced last week his administration’s intentions to provide support and resources to the newly-created Medical Cannabis Commission (MCC) through the Policy Research Office (PRO) and Department of Administrative Services (DAS), consistent with the support those agencies provide to other agencies during the regulatory process. 

The MCC was created through voter approval of two initiatives, but launching the medical cannabis program has so far been blocked by lawmakers who cannot agree on legislation to enact the reforms. Earlier this month, state Attorney General Hilgers urged lawmakers to reject proposals to create the program, alleging that regulating the medical cannabis industry would “supercharge the black market,” fuel adult-use cannabis reforms, and “make Nebraska less safe, more dangerous.”   

“I have appointed two experienced, well-qualified individuals to the Medical Cannabis Commission, who will ensure this new industry is strongly regulated to the letter of the law the people of Nebraska enacted. I urge the Legislature to promptly confirm them so they can take up the urgent work of writing strong and effective ‘rules of the road’ for the medical cannabis industry.” — Pillen in a press release 

Pillen added that with support from the PRO, DAS, and other agencies, as necessary, the MCC is fully enabled to meet and carry out its responsibilities under the Patient Protection Act and the Regulation Act to meet its milestone dates of July 1 and October 1. He noted that operational funding has already been appropriated to the MCC and that due to the statutory financial authority of DAS, the commission will have all the financial resources it needs to effectively function under current law.