There will be no protections provided in Nebraska state law this year for doctors who refer patients to the state’s medical cannabis program after cannabis opponents blocked the legislation from state Sen. John Cavanaugh (R). NTV reports.

legislators voted to approve proposal during early review. However, in subsequent debates, opponents of medical cannabis derailed the bill with amendments that sought to change the intent of the proposal.

With the added changes, Cavanaugh eventually withdrew the bill from consideration, noting that “This bill no longer serves the purpose of ensuring that children have access to medicine.”

“Every amendment that has been introduced to that bill is hostile and an attempt to hijack that bill and go against the will of the voters.” – Cavanaugh, via NTV

Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved the state’s medical cannabis program in 2024, but rollout has been slow and, for many advocates, frustrating.

Crista Eggers of the Nebraskans Campaign for Medical Marijuana said KETV“If there are no practitioners, there are no patients in this program.”

“What seems to be the purpose of this is to make sure that Nebraska never has a functioning program,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Nebraska Legislature approved last week the first state legislation related to the medical cannabis program. This bill would allow the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to impose new fees on the industry and increase revenue.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Cannabis Advisory Council called for the legalization of adult-use cannabis in a interim report released last week, and Gov. Josh Stein (D) has endorsed the advisory group’s proposal.

North Carolina is one of the last remaining states in the US without any form of legalization of cannabis.

Notably, while most states have followed a trend of legalizing medical cannabis before enacting adult-use reforms, the advisory group has suggested moving toward full legalization, as setting up and regulating a single industry is much easier than two, and that a medical-only program “could fuel an already robust illicit market without regulation to ensure consumer safety.”

The advisory committee was appointed last year by the governor, who likened the state’s illegal cannabis market to the “Wild West” and endorsed the committee’s plan over the weekend, calling for a “safe, legal and well-regulated adult marketplace.”

“Last year, I charged this group with developing a comprehensive solution to the unregulated sale of cannabis that is based on public health and public safety, with a particular focus on keeping young people safe. This report provides guidance to the General Assembly and makes it clear that a well-regulated market, including oversight and enforcement authority, is a safer market for our state.” – Stein, in one press release

Meanwhile, cannabis remains banned in North Carolina, but the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on the Qualla Frontier legalized it for adults last year. launched retail services for all clients for enhanced use.