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Chair Of Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission Steps Down

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“Nebraska should take the opportunity to be slow and deliberate in deciding how to designate the appropriate conditions for medical cannabis.”

Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner

The chairman of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission resigned Monday, about nine months after being appointed to the position by Gov. Jim Pillen (R).

Pillen appointed Dr. Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln, an anesthesiologist, to the board on April 24, as one of two members. They serve with three members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Beyond a brief statement announcing his resignation, commissioners did not address Oldenburg’s tenure.

Members of Parliament confirmed Oldenburg’s position on May 30, in a 34-11 vote. He told MPs that he was not a “prohibitionist” of cannabis, but was “pro-research”. Oldenburg also said cannabis has “a place in pain management” for certain ailments that cause suffering.

“Nebraska needs to seize the opportunity to be slow and deliberate in the way it decides what the appropriate conditions are for medical cannabis and how it regulates the entities that will provide medical cannabis in our state,” Oldenburg said last May. “I look forward to working with multiple parties to make sure we get this right in the state of Nebraska.”

At the same hearing last year, Oldenburg said he was encouraged to apply by state Sen. Jared Storm of David City, a member of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee, which considered his nomination.

Oldenburg was not present at his board’s monthly meetings in December or January.

Pillen’s office had no immediate comment and did not immediately make a copy of Oldenburg’s resignation available.

Oldenburg’s leadership guided commissioners through strict regulations to prevent future licensed dispensaries from selling medical cannabis that could be smoked or vaporized. The regulations would also require that patients be able to access licensed dispensaries if they obtain referrals from health care professionals who enroll in the program.

Patients and advocates have criticized the regulations, saying the 2024 ballot measure specifically allows for the smoking and vaping of cannabis and does not give the commission authority over patients.

In Oldenburg’s absence, the remaining four members voted unanimously to name commissioner Lorelle Mueting of Gretna as “interim” president. Mueting, director of prevention at Heartland Family Service in Omaha, was confirmed along with Oldenburg in a 27-16 vote.

Oldenburg and Mueting faced fierce opposition to their nominations, as both advocates opposed the 2018-25 medical cannabis bill.

Pillen last year described the women as “experienced and qualified individuals” who would ensure strong rules “under the law established by the people of Nebraska.”

Since July, Pillen has appointed all three members of the Liquor Control Commission. They will face legislative confirmation this spring, as will Oldenburg’s successor, if Pillen appoints him.

This story was first published by the Nebraska Examiner.

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Speakeasy Dispensary announces opening of newest Kentucky location

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Speakeasy Dispensary will officially open its newest medical cannabis location in Kentucky at 108 E. Main St., Princeton, KY 42445, further expanding access to patients in Caldwell County and surrounding communities.

The dispensary will open at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 10 for registered medical cannabis patients.

Located in the heart of downtown Princeton, the space reflects Speakeasy’s vision to blend local character and a comfortable, patient-first experience. The carefully designed environment provides a welcoming entrance before patients enter the main sales floor, where trained team members provide personalized guidance and education tailored to the individual’s needs.

“Each new location is an opportunity to meet patients where they are,” said Casey Flippo, CEO of Gold Leaf Management. “Communities like Princeton are an important part of Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, and expanding access here means more patients can explore safe and regulated options closer to home. As the program continues to take shape, our focus remains on building something reliable, accessible and rooted in long-term care.”

Opening weekend will feature a low-cost patient drive, offering new and existing patients an affordable and streamlined way to obtain or renew their Kentucky cannabis license.

© Speakeasy Dispensary

In partnership with the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Association and LexMed & Wellness, patient tours will be held Friday, April 10th from 11:00am to 7:00pm and Saturday, April 11th from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Appointments will be made with a licensed provider in a mobile unit on site, so patients can complete the entire process, including assessment, notary and state filing, in one visit.

Patients can register for an appointment by clicking here. The appointment fee is $25, and an additional $25 state fee must be paid when submitting documents to the state portal. The $25 state fee is waived for anyone who received a valid medical card in 2025.

As Kentucky’s medical cannabis market continues to develop, product availability and selection will continue to grow along with additional growers and processors entering the space. In addition to flowers and gummies, Speakeasy Princeton plans to have an extensive menu soon after opening, which will include vapes and concentrates, along with a new variety of gummies. Speakeasy continues to focus on providing a consistent education-first experience supported by strong statewide partnerships.

For more information:
Speakeasy Dispensary
speakeasydispensaries.com/

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West Virginia Treasurer Allocates Medical Marijuana Revenue Despite Governor’s Veto

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“The issue is not whether the funds should be used, but how they are used and how we are doing it in a responsible and sustainable way.”

By Henry Culvyhouse, Mountain State Spotlight

This story was originally published by Mountain State Spotlight. Get stories like this delivered to your email inbox once a week; sign up for the free newsletter at https://mountainstatespotlight.org/newsletter.

Even with the veto he could have delayed it further $38 million spent on medical marijuana raised over the past four years, state Treasurer Larry Pack (R) now says he will release the funds during his original term.

Last week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) vetoed a bill that would have required the release of medical marijuana funds to help the homeless and expedite child abuse and neglect cases in the court system. He said the bill tied up money for future expenses.

In his veto letter, Morrisey wrote, “West Virginia needs to do a better job of planning for the future, and cannot fully pre-commit future revenue like this if it has reserves to invest more in roads, water, sewer, site selection, rail and future tax cuts.”

Morrisey said he was willing to negotiate with the Legislature on how to spend the money.

“The issue is not whether the funds should be used, but how they are used and whether we are doing so responsibly and sustainably,” Lars Dalseide, a spokesman for the governor’s office, wrote in an email.

But the money was pre-committed in state code.

Pack’s office said 100 percent of that money will go to various offices and programs mandated by the original law; more than half to the Office of Medical Cannabis, with the remaining funds split between the substance abuse treatment grant program and law enforcement grants. The move negates the governor’s desire to use future reserves to deal with infrastructure and tax cuts.

In October, a Mountain State Spotlight investigation revealed that $34 million was deposited into an account held by the Treasury Department from the state’s medical marijuana program..

Pack’s office said the money it was not spent due to legal concerns about the drug. Currently, marijuana is listed as a Schedule I narcotic under federal law, meaning it has no medical use and is illegal.

Pack is not the first state treasurer to express concern. State Treasurer John Perdue (D) said his office would not keep money in 2018 after the Medical Cannabis Act was passed. Riley Moore (R), who beat Perdue in the 2020 race, never released the money.

In the 2026 Legislative Session, Del. Rep. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, said he read a report on the funds raised and wanted to change it. He successfully led a bill that would have forced the state to spend money on a commission to help thousands of children with abuse and neglect in court and homelessness services.

Had the governor not vetoed the bill, the money would have been earmarked for one year for those things. The commission on substance abuse research, treatment, and abuse and neglect would continue for years to come.

Treasurer’s Office spokeswoman Carrie Smith said that due to the complexity of state and federal laws, the office had been working for months to release the money. He said that the money has been sent to the Department of Security and the Department of Health.

This the article appeared for the first time The focus of the Mountain State and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 4.0 International License.

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Critical updates for cannabis taxpayers as the 2025 filing deadline approaches

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With the April 2025 tax return filing deadline fast approaching, cannabis companies must once again face the burden of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 280E”). Despite significant developments over the past year — including a major executive order from President Trump and the IRS, for the first time, disclosing legal reasoning funds to keep state cannabis “within the meaning” of Section 280E — taxpayer scrutiny remains the same.

However, whether substantively or psychologically, these recent developments weigh on how taxpayers should deal with Section 280E. Below, we summarize the key developments that cannabis taxpayers should be aware of as they prepare their 2025 returns.

As discussed in previous publications, Section 280E provides: “(e) no deduction or credit shall be allowed for any amount paid or incurred in the course of any trade or business during the taxable year, if such trade or business (or the activities constituting such trade or business) is trafficking in controlled substances (controlled substance classes I and II prohibited by State or Federal law).

Because cannabis is now listed as a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the IRS has consistently maintained that Section 280E applies to state-licensed cannabis businesses, significantly increasing their effective tax rates.

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