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Nebraska Medical Marijuana Supporters Slam Restrictive Rules Proposed By Governor-Appointed Panel

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4 months ago

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“I feel like Nebraska wants to make it as uncomfortable and unbearable as possible.”

Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner

The green shirts filled a hearing room in Lincoln full of Nebraskans who support the legalization of medical cannabis but oppose the state’s new Medical Cannabis Commission’s proposed regulation of the product.

Thirty-two people testified against the proposed regulations on Wednesday. No one spoke up. Witnesses argued that the regulations would not be feasible for most people who need medical cannabis, and roughly half called on commissioners not to attend the hearing to hear their concerns.

“I feel like Nebraska wants to make it as uncomfortable and unbearable as possible,” said whistleblower Nathan Brown.

In the 2024 general election, 71% of Nebraska voters voted to legalize medical cannabis, and 67% voted to create a new regulatory commission. Since December, Nebraskans can legally possess up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis, as long as they have a prescription from a health care professional.

However, medical cannabis cannot yet be purchased legally in the state. Last week, again The Medical Cannabis Commission issued four of its cultivation licenses to Nancy Laughlin-Wagner of Omaha and Patrick Thomas of Raymond. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Chief Legal Officer Bo Botelho said both licenses were approved.

In September, the commission advanced stricter regulations compared to the emergency regulations approved by the group in June. Gov. Jim Pillen (R) approved the new regulations with one revision Limit cultivators to grow more than 1,250 flower plants at one time

The revised regulations would, for the first time, impose extensive testing and safety requirements and establish a “Recommended Directory of Health Care Professionals” for doctors in the state to recommend medical cannabis. If approved, the rule would remain in effect for 90 days.

Under the regulations, patients or caregivers can purchase up to 5 ounces of medical cannabis within 30 days, which is about 142 grams. But they could not buy more than 5 grams of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the same dispensary within 90 days. Delta-9 THC is the part of cannabis most commonly associated with a “high”.

Several witnesses said this limit was too restrictive. Testifier Shari Lawlor said a single joint typically weighs about a gram, so limiting people with medical needs to 5 grams of THC for 90 days is impractical.

State Sen. John Cavanaugh (D) of Omaha testified at the hearing that he went a step further and named a limit. a bold voter violation of the ballot language passed in Novemberwhich allowed him to hold five ounces.

The authors, to a large extent, agreed that the proposed regulation goes against what the voters asked for. Several argued that the people responsible for writing the regulations did not understand medical cannabis.

Crista Eggers, campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana initiatives, brought a large stack of papers representing the roughly 240,000 signatures collected between the two petitions as a visual example of the level of public support for medical cannabis.

“I guarantee you every single one of them wishes they were here today,” he said. “You know what, they shouldn’t have. They did their job. The voters spoke.”

Some witnesses criticized the limits on acceptable forms of medical cannabis. The proposed regulations exclude smoking and vaping.

Edward Williams, a veteran and member of the Legal Marijuana Now Party, said smoking or vaping is the most effective treatment method for PTSD when waking up from nightmares. The key factor is that smoking and vaping work faster than other forms of cannabis, such as edibles.

“You can’t wake up with nightmares or flashbacks and expect to wait an hour or two for an edible to work,” Williams said.

Williams wasn’t the only veteran to testify. Several others spoke about how medical cannabis has benefited them and said they’ve lost friends to suicide who didn’t have the opportunity to receive the same treatment.

Most of Wednesday’s speakers offered emotional stories about how medical cannabis can ease painful ailments for them or their loved ones. Medical cannabis has been described as a safer and cheaper option than other pain relief treatments.

“Instead of having to put my mother on morphine at the end of her life, where she then went into a coma just to control her pain, we could have had a meaningful and loving last day if they had prescribed medical cannabis,” said witness Kathy Jensen.

Registered nurse Tracey Davidson, who did not testify but attended the hearing, said she first experienced the benefits of cannabis when her sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer about 12 years ago. Living in Colorado, he had access to medical cannabis, and said he reasoned that he could continue working and riding his bike days before his death.

“I see cannabis as medicine,” Davidson said. “Throughout my career I’ve seen it work in a variety of situations, from pain management to sleep to PTSD.”

Many witnesses also criticized the three active medical cannabis commissioners not attending the hearing, calling it “shameful” and “insulting”. The hearing was required by law.

Some witnesses also accused members of being “bought” by anti-marijuana politicians. At a commission meeting several weeks ago, witness Georganna Schroeder-Stanley said she saw “indifference, boredom and even contempt” on the faces of some of the commissioners who listened to the public’s views.

Cavanaugh interviewed nominees for the commission as part of his duties as a state senator. He said his “fears have come true” since those conversations: that members are “pursuing a political agenda” that aligns with Pillen’s.

President Monica Oldenburg did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Several other witnesses said Nebraska is losing much-needed revenue. Brown argued that this is absurd given how easy it is for Nebraskans to smuggle cannabis across state lines.

Brown said Nebraska would lose residents because of the government’s resistance to legalizing medicinal cannabis. Another witness, Dawn Weir, said she returned to Nebraska this year because she heard medical cannabis had been legalized.

After the 2024 ballot initiatives, some witnesses questioned whether they should continue to vote if the state intervenes so easily. Cavanaugh urged attendees to continue voting, but to vote “for those who really respect you.”

Supporters of medical cannabis have long argued that the issue is nonpartisan, with several witnesses identifying themselves as registered Republicans who either regret voting Republican in 2024 or are reconsidering their party affiliation.

“I don’t know how long (my Republican record) is going to last given that this situation is going the other way,” said John Reagan, the declarer.

At the end of the hearing, the committee will decide whether to formally accept the regulations or make changes. If finalized, the regulations would be sent to the office of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers (R) for legislative review. Pillen would have the final say. Hilgers’ office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This story was first published by the Nebraska Examiner.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Greenhouses and more at Fruit Logistica Berlin

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22 hours ago

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February 9, 2026

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New varieties, new concepts, new packaging, new products, new faces – there was a lot to do in Berlin last week. And, new travel schedules too: due to the black ice, many visitors traveling by plane had to extend their stay or find an alternative mode of transport – or both.

Click here for the photo report.

© Arlette Sijmonsma | MMJDaily.com

Fortunately, our bus drivers got us home safely to the Netherlands, and we were able to take all the photos of the greenhouse suppliers, growers and other related parties, so take a seat and enjoy our Fruit Logistica photo report!

There will be more updates this week, as well as extensive reports from our international Freshplaza colleagues, focused on the fresh produce industry.

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Alaska Government Task Force Recommends Legalizing Psychedelic Therapy Upon FDA Approval

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22 hours ago

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February 9, 2026

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An Alaska psychedelic task force is recommending that the state move forward with plans to provide regulated access to psychedelics if the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows medical use of substances such as psilocybin and MDMA.

According to a law approved in 2024, after working for about a year studying the issue, Alaska Legislative Task Force on Psychedelic Drug Regulation released its findings and recommendations on Thursday.

“Alaska has one of the nation’s highest rates of domestic violence survivors and combat veterans suffering from PTSD, and many Alaskans continue to struggle with traditional treatments,” Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D), the task force’s leader, said in a press release.

“Our approach to these new medical therapies must be properly and independently evaluated so that if the legislature were to make policy changes, we will do so with empirical data in a properly controlled environment,” the senator said.

The panel’s report lists a number of findings based on a review of the scientific literature and expert testimony. This includes findings that some psychedelics do indeed have “potential therapeutic uses” and that “there is a particular focus on the use of these therapies for veterans, survivors of assault and interpersonal violence, and others with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Members emphasized the importance of delivering psychedelic therapies in partnership with “multiple types of providers” to provide comprehensive treatment, rather than leaving it up to the patient.

Among its recommendations, the task force said, “If psychedelic medical therapies are approved by the FDA, the state should take steps to allow them to be used in Alaska, rather than ban their use.”

Alaska regulators should also identify clinical task forces, “whose role is to regularly review up-to-date studies and the evidence base to make recommendations, and rely on those entities to provide ongoing guidance on the use of these therapies,” he said.

“As much as possible, reserve the use of state statute for broad enabling language and essential components of a regulatory structure, and leave most regulatory decisions to the appropriate boards and agencies,” another recommendation reads. “Regulations still require a robust public process to be approved, but they are more predictable and can be updated or changed more easily than statutory amendments that require legislative action.”

“The appropriate parameters for the use of these therapies are likely to change over time as the evidence base matures and FDA approval may be granted for multiple therapies,” he said.

If the FDA continues to approve any psychedelics for medical use, the panel said the Alaska State Board of Medicine should update its guidelines for prescribing controlled substances to include new therapies.

Additionally, if the FDA approves psychedelic drugs and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) federally reschedules substances such as psilocybin, Alaska “should fully reflect federal programming and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), without adding duplicative or conflicting state regulations, and follow the rules for determining whether a DEA license is required.” the report he says

“This approach respects federal science and facilitates access for patients and providers,” he continues.

Additionally, as lawmakers and regulators await a federal decision to advance psychedelic therapies, states should consider legislation to “incorporate the recommendations made in this report to encourage statewide implementation action.”

“Legislation on triggers would require addressing various process and regulatory issues, such as the role and involvement of professional licensing boards, state agencies, and the Controlled Substances Advisory Committee,” the task force said.

The report also says that psychedelic reform should include military veterans’ access to FDA-approved therapies, which could involve working with the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify opportunities to participate in clinical trials and pilot programs using new drugs.

“The grant should be considered to ensure active efforts by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop billing codes that will promote sufficient reimbursement for the provision of psychedelic therapy, which are essential to ensure patient access post-FDA approval,” the panel said.

Rep. Justin Ruffridge (R), who also serves as co-chair of the psychedelic panel, said the task force “focused on preparing Alaska for potential federal approval of psychedelic therapies.”

“These recommendations came from months of collaboration and work by medical professionals, advocates and legislators who focused on patient safety, evidence-based care and access, especially for those who have not seen progress through traditional treatments,” he said.

So far two other states have facilitated fully functioning psychedelic programs. Oregon voters legalized the therapeutic psilocybin in 2020and Colorado’s program was approved at the ballot box in 2022, with the state’s governor signing the legislation a year later to create the regulatory framework for the program

Meanwhile, a campaign in Alaska announced in December that it did not get enough signaturesAn initiative to legalize some psychedelics like psilocybin and DMT on the 2026 state ballot.– but the activists have emphasized that “the work is far from over” as they focus on putting the reform measure before the voters in 2028.

“While we won’t be on the ballot in 2026, we’re still on track for 2028, and with the determination, focus and support of our community, we’ll continue to move forward,” Natural Medicine Alaska said in December. “This movement is gaining momentum every day. In fact, 65 percent of Alaskans support this initiative, and that number continues to grow.”

A pre-campaign policy outline explained that the proposal is “under construction”. The Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 passed by Colorado votersunder last year facilitators administered the state’s first legal dose of psilocybin.

A 2024 poll found that nearly half (49.4 percent) of Alaskan adults would support a ballot measure more broadly. remove criminal penalties for the use of substances such as psilocybin mushrooms.

That support rose significantly—to nearly two-thirds (65 percent)—when participants were told that Alaska has high rates of mental illness that could be treated with psychedelics.

Photo elements courtesy of the user carlosemmaskype and Apollo.

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Anti legalization group fails to collect signatures to roll back laws

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2 days ago

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February 8, 2026

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A Maine campaign seeking to significantly roll back the state’s marijuana law failed to submit signatures this week for the November 2026 ballot, meaning anti-cannabis activists will have to move to 2027 if they hope to get the issue before voters.

Amid criticism from reform advocates, industry players and some lawmakers for allegedly deceptive signature-gathering tactics, Mainers for a Safe and Healthy Future apparently couldn’t make the cut by the Feb. 2 deadline.

“Cannabis orders were not returned yesterday,” Assistant Secretary of State for Communications Jana Spaulding told Cannabis Business Times on Tuesday. In Maine, that doesn’t mean the campaign has to start from scratch, though, because they can still put the proposition on next year’s ballot. A Republican Maine lawmaker and marijuana industry advocates raised the alarm last month that prohibitionist campaigners were using deceptive petitions to get voters to sign the petition.

A video shared by Rep. David Boyer (R) appeared to feature an image and audio recording of a person gathering signatures for the ballot measure, in which he grossly misrepresented what the cannabis proposal would accomplish, saying its main goal was to ensure the product’s safety through improved testing.

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