Nebraska marijuana officials have missed the deadline to issue medical cannabis growing licenses, creating fresh frustration for supporters of the voter-approved law. The setback is the latest sign of political resistance in several GOP-led states against marijuana legalization.
Residents voiced their anger and disappointment during a recent meeting with the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission. Among them was Lia Post, who lives with a painful nerve condition. She said marijuana helps her manage pain without relying on addictive opioids. “I don’t have any fight left in me,” she said, fighting back tears after hearing that licensing would again be postponed.
The commission’s three members, all appointed by Republican Governor Jim Pillen, said more time was needed to review applications. Critics, however, argue that state leaders are intentionally slowing the process to undermine the law voters overwhelmingly supported.
Across the country, 24 states and Washington, D.C., now allow recreational cannabis, and 40 permit medical use in some form. Even so, pushback continues in many conservative states. South Dakota lawmakers have tried to repeal ballot-approved medical cannabis laws, while Idaho legislators proposed a constitutional change to block citizens from legalizing it through ballot initiatives.
In Mississippi, a court ruling erased the medical cannabis law voters passed in 2020, leaving the state’s initiative system in limbo.
Opponents often claim cannabis is dangerous and could lead to wider drug abuse or impaired driving. Law enforcement agencies frequently cite the federal government’s stance that still classifies cannabis alongside LSD and heroin.
However, according to Karen O’Keefe of the Marijuana Policy Project, polls show that most Republican voters actually favor medical cannabis. “It’s a small but vocal group that still buys into old myths about marijuana,” she said. She pointed out that far more people die from prescription opioids each year than from marijuana use.
Nebraska’s law required that growing licenses be issued by October 1, but Governor Pillen removed two commissioners just days before the deadline. Critics say his replacements share his opposition to legalization. Pillen has denied trying to block access, saying his goal is to prevent overproduction and illegal sales. His office proposed limiting cultivation to 1,250 plants, a number industry advocates argue is far too low.
The new commission has already changed several parts of the voter-approved plan. It banned vaping, smoking, and edible products, all of which were allowed under the original law. It also added strict limits on how strong medical cannabis can be and placed new requirements on doctors who recommend it.
Attorney General Mike Hilgers is also challenging the initiative in court, calling parts of the petition process fraudulent. Although he lost several legal fights, he continues to argue that cannabis remains unsafe even under medical supervision.
Advocate Crista Eggers says the state’s actions betray voters. “If you’re one of the 71 percent who supported this, you should be outraged,” she said, warning that heavy restrictions will only push patients toward the black market.
Medical marijuana companies like Cresco Labs Inc. (CSE: CL) (OTCQX: CRLBF) operating in other states with legal medical marijuana markets will be hoping that their counterparts in Nebraska finally get licensed and open their stores to serve patients who need marijuana products for medical reasons.
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