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Nebraska Tribe Says State Officials Are Punishing It For Legalizing Marijuana By Suspending Talks On Separate Tobacco Tax Deal

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“People need to understand that this issue is still going to be fought hard to the end, even though I think the voters of Nebraska have spoken.”

Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner

The The Omaha tribe in Nebraska is moving forward with legalizing marijuanathe tribe’s attorney general says Nebraska officials used them to disrupt negotiations over an unrelated state-tribal tobacco tax deal.

The tribe called the move “just retaliation.”

Omaha Tribe Attorney General John Cartier said an assistant state attorney general called him Monday, an hour before the tribe’s first cannabis commission meeting. Cartier learned that state officials would no longer negotiate a tobacco tax deal because of the tribe’s more permissive stance on marijuana.

The Omaha Tribal Council voted unanimously in July legalize medical cannabis and recreational marijuana for adults. The initial focus of the tribe’s cannabis commission is “strictly” medical cannabis.

“It gave me pause for about 30 seconds there because I didn’t really anticipate that level of obstruction,” Cartier told the Nebraska Examiner on Thursday. “At least I appreciated the honesty and the honesty of it.”

If a tobacco tax deal gets the green light, states and tribes could split revenue from tobacco sales on the reservation. It could be a new potential hundreds of thousands of dollars for the tribe.

The Omaha Tribe’s reservation is located in northeastern Nebraska, more than 300 square miles, primarily in Thurston County and parts of neighboring Burt and Cuming Counties.

‘Direct retaliation’

In a follow-up interview with Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) this week, Cartier said Hilgers indicated his office would confirm the state’s official position and how Gov. Jim Pillen (R) wanted to proceed.

Pillen asked Hilgers this summer to negotiate the contract on behalf of the State of Nebraska. The AG’s Office declined to comment on the intense negotiations. Pill’s office did not respond to questions about the dispute this week.

Cartier said he doesn’t foresee any change because “none of them fundamentally believe in the cannabis industry.” He said the AG’s Office also plans to spend additional tax dollars on more policing of the Omaha Tribe’s border because of the new tribal law.

“If that’s their official position, in our opinion, that’s direct retaliation, to potentially shirk their responsibilities legally and use this as leverage,” Cartier said.

Cartier added, “People need to understand that this issue is still being fought to the hilt, although I think the voters of Nebraska have spoken, and they should honor that.”

“two plus two is four”

In November 2024, voters overwhelmingly voted to allow someone to possess 5 ounces of medical cannabis with a doctor’s prescription. Voters also created a new state commission to regulate the new drug. The state board’s rules would eventually allow the purchase of medical cannabis in the state, a milestone not expected until at least mid-2026.

Hilgers has argued that cannabis should remain illegal because federal law classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug; The federal government says the drug has a high potential for abuse and has not approved it for medical use. A bipartisan group of advocates has called for drug rescheduling for decades.

Congress has repeatedly prohibited the US Department of Justice from interfering with state medical cannabis programs. Advocates, including from Nebraska, have pointed to the Tenth Amendment to the US Constitution to protect states’ rights to legalize marijuana.

“I think two plus two is four, even though everyone else says two plus two is five,” Hilgers said in May.

Pillen says he has always supported medical marijuana, but wants it strictly regulated to prevent a slide into legalizing recreational use. In September 2023, as advocates prepared for a third and ultimately successful petition campaign, Pillen said access to medical cannabis should only come with the approval of the US Food and Drug Administration. That hasn’t happened yet.

Nebraska followed dozens of other states in passing medical cannabis laws in 2024, a nationwide push Hilgers acknowledges is part of voter frustrations. He called the failure to enforce the laws created by the federal government “a colossal failure.”

“I’m a big guy. It doesn’t bother me,” Hilgers, a former state lawmaker, said of opponents of his policy stance. “I’ve been through wars. What people mean, they mean.”

Hilgers’ office has not publicly commented on the tribe’s position on marijuana.

Negotiations began in July

Cartier said the Omaha tribe contacted Pillen in July to begin discussing the tobacco tax deal. The Santee Sioux Nation has that agreement, which allows the Santee Sioux to retain 75 percent of tobacco tax revenue. The Omaha tribe says it wants to keep 90 percent of the tobacco tax revenue from the state’s additional regulatory obligations, subject to negotiations.

State and tribal officials met in August on a tobacco tax contract, a meeting Cartier said was “very productive” and left “hopeful for real progress.” The state promised to offer suggestions or a counter proposal within weeks.

“After months and months of promises and negotiations that they have to take away from us at the last minute, it really makes no sense to me,” Cartier said.

Cartier said it’s easy to get emotional or moved by such a response, which he described as a continuation of the government’s punishment of Native Americans “for just existing.” He said the Omaha Tribe is working to support its members and has adopted a policy that could provide millions in economic development and job opportunities without relying on the federal government.

A contrasting tribal committee

Cheyenne Robinson, secretary of the Omaha Tribal Council, said Monday she was excited about the “historic day” for the people of Omaha.

“We are moving forward to commit to our sovereignty, responsible regulation and economic diversification,” Robinson said. “Looking forward to what’s to come.”

Jason Sheridan, chairman of the Omaha Tribe Council, said Monday that every member of the council knew someone who could benefit from medical marijuana. He said he was glad the tribe was moving forward.

“I just trust all of you,” Sheridan told the committee.

The Omaha Tribe on Monday swore in four members to its cannabis commission: Jayzon Hundley, Amanda Hallowell, Arthur Isagholian and Allison Stockman. Cartier is also on the board as a non-voting member. The tribe can add one more member.

Hundley, the tribe’s grant accountant, and Hallowell, a registered nurse, are members of the Omaha Tribe. Isagholian, who has experience in agriculture, and Stockman, who has experience in public safety and public health, bring about 40 years of experience in the cannabis sector in other states.

The initial meeting included a discussion of future board rules and regulations, with a focus on testing marijuana products for safety and how to navigate a potentially hostile situation beyond its borders. One solution may be to try out the reserve products.

“Even if we think we have a legal right … they’re probably more than willing to fight it in court,” Cartier told commissioners Monday, referring to the Nebraska AG’s Office.

Cartier said the tribe will defend its sovereignty and laws if necessary. The committee will meet next November 19, and then it can approve its rules.

‘Driver’s Seat’

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission’s state regulations regarding final approval have been criticized by many as overly burdensome. The restrictions include allowing 12 dispensaries statewide.

Nebraskans must receive a medical cannabis-specific recommendation from a physician registered with the state’s medical cannabis program to enter a licensed state dispensary. Dispensaries could not sell combustible products, vapes, edibles or raw flowers. Couldn’t buy more than 5 grams of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) every 90 days the part associated with most cannabis.

The state board could finalize its regulations and seek final approval of Hilgers and Pill as soon as Monday.

Cartier said the tribe hopes to provide “significant opposition” to state regulations and promote access to medical cannabis, an issue he said would have “nothing to do” with tobacco taxes.

“We decided now is a good point to take this to the public, without waiting for a response from the attorney general and the governor Hilgers, because from our point of view we are not in this,” Cartier said. “We are in the driver’s seat, and we want to maintain that attitude.”

This story was first published by the Nebraska Examiner.

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Report reveals California cannabis cultivation and regulatory process puts Tribal cultural resources at risk

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November 3, 2025

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A comprehensive new report by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Northeastern University reveals that California’s cannabis cultivation threatens Tribal cultural resources. As in other fields of development, however, protecting these resources faces systemic challenges.

Based on the findings of a two-year survey of tribal and agency representatives across the state, the survey found that the state’s current consultation policies, while stronger than in many other states, are inadequate and inconsistently applied, leading to significant risks of irreparable damage to tribal cultural heritage.

“Our research shows a significant disconnect between state policy and the experiences of California’s indigenous tribes. The current cannabis permitting system, while well-intentioned, does not adequately protect ancestral lands and cultural resources,” said Jennifer Sowerwine, the project’s principal investigator and a UC Cooperative Extension specialist in UC Berkeley’s Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management. “It’s not just about historic preservation; it’s about respecting tribal sovereignty and perpetuating old damage by this new industry. These findings provide a clear roadmap for the state to move beyond performative consultation to a process that is truly meaningful and just.”

Jeremy Sorgen, principal investigator of the project and research faculty at Northeastern University’s Oakland campus, said, “One of the first things we’ve heard from Tribal Historic Preservation Officers and county officials involved in cultural resource protection efforts is that cannabis cultivation occurs on lands that are highly likely to be sensitive to Tribes.”

A good place to grow cannabis can be a Tribal cultural resource
“If it’s relatively flat, near a water source and facing south, it can be not only a good place to grow cannabis, but also a ceremony or a village site or some other place of cultural significance to the tribes,” said Sorgen, who is also a researcher at the UC Berkeley Cannabis Research Center. “What this means is that cannabis producers, historically and today, are actively selecting Tribal cultural resources.”

In 2014, California Assembly Bill 52 amended the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, to include statutory requirements for the protection of tribal cultural resources. This law was enacted shortly before Proposition 64 legalized the use of cannabis in 2016. The study “Examining Tribal Sovereignty over Cannabis Permitting on Native Ancestral Lands” investigated the intersection of these two laws and found that AB 52, while strengthening Tribal consultation at the local level, retains the same problems as previous state and federal cultural resources laws.

The study was designed, conducted and analyzed in collaboration with the seven-member Tribal Advisory Committee, and included comprehensive surveys of 46 Tribal representatives and 56 agency officials, along with 61 in-depth interviews conducted across the state.

The report offers several recommendations for the Department of Cannabis Control and other state agencies to address these systemic problems. Key recommendations include: Working directly with tribal governments to develop fairer consultation processes and accurate maps of ancestral lands. Other recommendations include starting consultations as soon as a permit application is received, providing specific funding and training to Tribes and agency staff involved in consultations, and promoting stronger data sharing agreements between state, local, and Tribal governments.

The new tools support Tribal sovereignty in the consultation
Based on the research findings, the research team and Tribal consultants have developed two sets of tools to support tribal controls in the consultation process.

“California has some of the strongest cultural resource protection laws in the US, but meaningful consultation is undermined by structural problems in the consultation process,” said Shasta Gaughen, environmental director and historic preservation officer for the Pala Band of Mission Indians and a member of the Tribal Advisory Board. “We brought together Tribal historic preservation officials from across the state to develop a toolkit that reflects Tribal consultation experiences, is concise and easy to use, and empowers Tribes, not agencies, to set consultation requirements.”

The By Tribes, For Tribes Consultation Policy Toolkit provides a customizable Consultation Policy template and additional materials for Tribes looking to create their own consultation policies or ordinances. The “by Tribes, for Tribes” approach allows Tribes to proactively guide government agencies in consultative processes based on Tribal preferences, rather than reacting to agency interpretations as required by law.

The UC Berkeley Cannabis Site Mapping Tool provides Tribes with a means to assess the extent of cannabis cultivation on their ancestral or aboriginal land. It can be used to determine possible threats to tribal cultural resources and sensitive sites.

Source: Mavens Notebook

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Demand for high-quality substrates is strong worldwide

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November 2, 2025

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Ziegler Erden has opened a new production site in Latvia






© Ziegler Erden

German soil and substrate producer Ziegler Erden has officially opened a new production facility for professional horticultural substrates in Talsi, Latvia. The family company invested around 5 million euros in its subsidiary ZIBU Ventspils SIA. The installation was completed in just under five months and is now fully operational.

“The demand for high-quality substrates is high worldwide, as more and more countries plan to grow healthy food inland. A good peat-based substrate is the foundation of this and remains an essential raw material for global food security,” says Managing Director Matthias Ziegler.

Gregor Ziegler GmbH, headquartered in Stein near Plößberg (Upper Palatinate, Germany) is an internationally active second generation family business. The decision to invest in Latvia was due to the increase in demand for professional gardening substrates and the decrease in demand for peat in the hobby sector as a raw material. “With this step, we have set the path to continue marketing our Latvian peat resources in the best possible way,” added Matthias.

© Ziegler Erden

Weak peat crop
Although this year’s peat harvest has been historically weak due to poor weather conditions, the company remains positive about the overall evolution of the market. As one of Germany’s largest independent soil manufacturers, Ziegler is considered a pioneer in peat-free substrates, a valuable strength in difficult years. “We have decades of experience in developing and producing low-peat substrates at our German site. Especially this year, this expertise allows us to incorporate peat alternatives to compensate for limited peat availability,” says Matthias.

© Ziegler Erden

© Ziegler Erden

Ziegler Erden has been active in Latvia for more than 20 years and currently employs around 60 people, managing around 1,000 hectares of peatland and substrate production areas. Ninety-nine percent of products manufactured in Latvia are exported worldwide.

Sales are mainly handled through distributors, either under their own label or under Ziegler’s PLANTOP brand. “We want to focus completely on production and invest all our know-how to achieve the highest quality and productivity,” explains Matthias.

© Ziegler Erden

The company produces substrates with a wide range of formulations tailored to the needs of the client. Peat is screened into various fractions (eg 0-5mm, 0-10mm, 10-30mm or 20-40mm) and compressed into large bales for export to customers around the world. The company has also invested in a hood extension system to provide weatherproof protection to its substrates. Container sizes from 20 to 250 liters are filled on two fully automated packaging lines. Label-specific printing is standard.










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Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Is Receiving Complaints About Anti-Marijuana Initiative Petitioners’ Tactics

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November 2, 2025

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The Massachusetts attorney general’s office has confirmed that it is receiving complaints from the public about applicants for a 2026 ballot initiative aimed at rolling back the state’s marijuana legalization law, with a growing number of people alleging that signature gatherers are selling misleading information about the proposal.

A staffer in Massachusetts Attorney General (D) Andrea Campbell’s office told Marijuana Moment on Friday that while they can confirm they have received those complaints, they are not at liberty to discuss whether the matter is actively being investigated.

The office “has received complaints about this matter, but we cannot confirm, deny or comment on any investigation,” they said.

“Every application has a summary of the Attorney General’s bill printed at the top,” the staffer said. “We strongly encourage voters to read the summary of any bill carefully before deciding whether to sign it.”

Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) David O’Brien on Friday openly accused the campaign behind the repeal initiative, the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, of hiring paid petitioners to use “trickery tactics” to add signatures.

“These out-of-state groups are collecting signatures from state to state and it’s clear that they’re having trouble here in Massachusetts finding people who want to repeal our very effective cannabis laws and kill our successful cannabis industry,” O’Brien said. “This is voter fraud that people should report to their town hall.”

The Marihuana Moment campaign was reached for comment, but a representative was not immediately available.

According to the MCBA, reports of deceptive signature-gathering tactics are widespread, with paid petitioners using fake letters on other ballot measures, such as affordable housing and same-day voter registration.

A Reddit post earlier this week appeared to show such tactics, with two petitioners sitting at a table with signs about housing and voter registration, but the poster said they were collecting signatures for a marijuana repeal initiative.

Bait and switch signature request
according tou/yanki2del in the yearmassachusetts

MCBA said in a press release that “other fraudulent messages reported by voters claimed the ballot question would strengthen fentanyl testing requirements for marijuana and expand buffer zones between dispensaries and schools.”

Voters in Massachusetts have sounded the alarm about the state of social media, sharing their experiences with applicants who appear to be misrepresenting marijuana initiatives, in some cases as a way to protect young people from being criminalized for possessing cannabis.

“Just wanted to give a heads up to *anyone* interested in the legal status of cannabis in Massachusetts. While shopping this morning I was presented with a ‘legislation to protect minors from arrest with 2oz of cannabis or less’ signature form,” a post on Reddit last week. he says. “I refused to sign after reading the first line that stated that the current laws on cannabis would be repealed.”

Until then, the Prosecutor’s Office has stressed the importance of reading its summary, which should go at the top of the signature form, before signing any request. Chief Prosecutor cleared the signature collection campaign, with a summary of the petition, last month.

Another Reddit post shared on Wednesday was by a user he said “They joined a couple of interns at the grocery store who were gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to end the sale of recreational marijuana,” and “people misrepresenting what the ballot question really is when asking for signatures.”

Another post describes the user’s experience with a petition that said the initiative was “to make sure kids didn’t go to jail for minor marijuana offenses.”

“The big sign behind it read DARE to keep kids off drugs. When I read it, it was clearly a petition to recriminalize marijuana. Be careful and know what you’re signing!” they he said.

There are numerous responses to the posts, with others telling similar stories and sharing tips on how to report illegal election activity.

“Voters heading to the polls on Election Day next Tuesday, November 4th should expect signature gatherers to be at polling places across the state,” said Meg Sanders, CEO of Canna Provisions. “Know what you’re signing! Take your time and read the application language. If the collector doesn’t say what it says, don’t sign.”

The marijuana repeal campaign, for its part, said as much this month They are “on the way” to get enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot. They are working to send 100,000 signatures by December 3rd.

When the Attorney General’s Office completed its review of 50 proposed ballot measures for 2026, it certified two versions of the proposed recriminalization campaign.

Both would eliminate the state’s adult commercial use market, maintain patient access under the medical cannabis program and continue to allow legal possession of an ounce of recreational marijuana. “Version A” contains language that would also limit THC content for medical marijuana, while “Version B” omits that policy.

The campaign continues this latest initiative without a cap.

Under the initiative, called the “Restoration of Sensible Marijuana Policy Act,” adults over the age of 21 can still possess up to one ounce of cannabis, of which only five grams can be the product of concentrated marijuana.

Possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces would effectively be decriminalized, with violators facing a $100 fine. Adults can also continue to gift cannabis to each other without payment.

But provisions of the state’s voter-approved marijuana law that allow commercial cannabis sellers and adults to access regulated products would be repealed under the proposal.

The right of adults to cultivate cannabis at home would also be repealed.

Meanwhile, the head of Massachusetts’ marijuana regulatory agency recently suggested measures to effectively recriminalize the sale of recreational cannabis. dangerous tax revenues being used to support substance abuse treatment efforts and other public programs.

If enough signatures are validated from the initial submissions, the proposal will go before the legislature, and lawmakers will have until May 6 to pass the law or propose a replacement. If they don’t, organizers will need to collect an additional 12,429 valid voter signatures to put the measure on the ballot.

Whether the cannabis measures make the cut remains to be seen. Voters approved legalization on the 2016 ballot, and sales began two years later. And in the last decade the market has evolved and expanded. In August, Massachusetts officials reported more than $8 billion in adult marijuana sales.

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
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Regulators are also working to finalize the rules allow a new type of lounge license to consume cannabisthey hope to finish by October.

Separately, in May the CCC launched an online platform helping people find work, on-the-job training and networking opportunities in the state’s legal cannabis industry.

The House Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy approved the bills in August protect employment for marijuana users and expand the state’s medical cannabis programin part by adding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.

State legislators have also been pondering imposing stricter restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived products and a plan allowing individual entities to control a greater number of cannabis establishments.

Also in Massachusetts Legislators working on state budgets butted heads with CCC officialswho said critical technology improvements can’t be made without more money from the legislature.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts lawmakers have just passed a bill establishing a pilot program for the regulated therapeutic use of psychedelics. And two committees have held hearings to discuss additional measures related to psilocybin.

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