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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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6 months ago

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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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EU regulators say Charlotte’s Web hemp CBD safety “cannot be established”

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15 hours ago

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May 12, 2026

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The growing tension between international scientific findings and US health policy has raised questions about whether Medicare beneficiaries are being exposed to cannabinoid products whose safety profiles have not been fully established.

In March 2026, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) carried out a formal scientific evaluation of a shipment of Charlotte’s Web hemp product, concluding that the safety of a carbon dioxide extract derived from Cannabis sativa L. “cannot be established”. The agency identified several gaps in the available data, including significant portions of the product remaining uncharacterized, a lack of reliable toxicological studies on the actual material, a lack of human clinical data, and an unknown allergenicity and long-term safety profile.

At the same time, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Substance Access Beneficiary Engagement Incentive (BEI) program. The initiative allows participating healthcare providers to discuss and supply certain hemp and marijuana-derived cannabinoid products to Medicare beneficiaries under the authority of the Center for Innovation, and does not require approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. That distinction is at issue in a pending federal case: Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), et al. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. et al., Case 1:26-cv-01081 (U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia).

Under the FDA’s standard framework, products intended for therapeutic use typically undergo controlled clinical trials, dose standardization, safety and toxicology evaluation, and manufacturing and stability validation. The BEI program operates outside of this structure. Some observers point out that this could introduce products into federally funded care settings before those benchmarks are met, while proponents of the program characterize it as a legitimate model of innovation.

Medicare beneficiaries represent a medically complex population, with many patients managing multiple medications, chronic conditions, and increased susceptibility to drug interactions. Cannabinoid compounds, including THC, interact with metabolic pathways such as CYP450 enzymes, which process many common medications. The safety profile of these products in this population has not been fully characterized through controlled studies.

Following the launch of the program, several companies publicly announced their positioning within the emerging healthcare supply chain. Charlotte’s Web highlighted alignment with CMS drivers and Cornbread Hemp announced institutional distribution through a national group buying organization, reflecting broader commercialization activity in the category.

SAM v. In Kennedy, the court is evaluating whether CMS overstepped its statutory authority by introducing avenues for the supply of cannabinoids without formal regulations, public notice and comment, or FDA validation standards. A resolution will determine whether the program is scaled back, modified, or stopped pending further review as implemented.

The EFSA’s conclusion does not ban the marketing of CBD products, but indicates that the scientific evidence necessary to fully establish their safety remains incomplete. The political debate reflects a broader question in health care regulation: how to balance the pace of innovation for therapeutic products with the standards of evidence typically required in federally funded systems of care.

Source: MMJ International Holdings

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Trump’s Medical Marijuana Move Focused On Helping Ailing Seniors, But Lack Of Coordination Could Cause Backlash (Op-Ed)

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15 hours ago

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May 12, 2026

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“The rush to provide medical marijuana to the elderly will require substantial legal, scientific, and commercial infrastructure, which in an ideal world would avoid repeating historical mistakes with clarity and coordination.”

By Emily Dufton

Everyone knows that the last month was historic for cannabis. There are big changes coming with the rescheduling of medical marijuana and federal Medicare coverage of hemp.

But what many have misunderstood is why.

For the first time in 56 years, a type of marijuana has finally escaped Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Cannabis was placed there in 1970, and despite previous attempts at legalization – including 40 states that legalized medical access and 24 states that legalized recreational use – for more than half a century, cannabis continued to be defined as a substance with no approved medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Until last month, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche moved medical marijuana to Schedule III, a drug category with some medical uses approved and “moderate-low” addiction potential.

This review includes four cannabis products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in all 40 states and Washington DC. These products are now Schedule III, which means that dispensary owners don’t have a heavy tax burden like 280E.

Medical marijuana became a much more legitimate industry.

But what makes this change even more historic is who it is intended to benefit: the elderly.

Previous legalization movements all focused on young adults. The decriminalization movement of the 1970s painted cannabis as an “adult right” for a mature baby boomer. Activists in the 1980s and 90s argued that medical marijuana was needed for young people struggling with HIV/AIDS. And in the 2010s and 2020s, social justice movements promoted legalization as a means to end the mass incarceration of Black youth.

Recriminalization movements have been equally concerned with pot’s impact on children. Reagan’s zero-tolerance, “Just Say No” drug war of the 1980s was launched explicitly to save children. And the intoxicating hemp products accidentally legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill are slated to be made illegal again this November, after opponents warned they sent too many children to emergency rooms.

But the Trump administration’s support for medical marijuana reform is based on something new: the concern of 18 percent of Americans over 65 — nearly 1 in 6 — a number expected to rise to nearly a quarter of the population by 2050.

A new industry is emerging to service this demographic. Howard Kessler, of the Commonwealth Project, is one of the biggest proponents of medical marijuana use for seniors.

A Project video (reposted by Trump on Truth Social last September) he seemed to be addressing the president directly. “You can revolutionize healthcare for the elderly,” begins the narrator, before listing cannabis’ positive effects on pain, stress and sleep. The video ends with the promise: “You will deliver the most important senior health initiative of the century, strengthening your legacy and transforming aging care. Millions everywhere will thank you.”

As a drug historian, I did not see this coming. The historic overhaul of medical marijuana is being hailed as a victory for the elderly, a demographic that was almost never included in the conversation.

For years, prohibitionists argued that today’s cannabis products are too strong, a far cry from the tamer, weaker weed of yesteryear. But with these new products aimed at seniors, this really is your grandma’s marijuana. The baby boomers who fought for decriminalization in the 1970s are getting it, in 2026, with federal funding from Dr. Mehmet Oz’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Focusing on the health and well-being of the elderly, Kessler’s campaign successfully overturned decades of drug policy concerns about children, and this shift will have major implications for both legalization and recriminalization campaigns. The “save the kids” attitude that changed the law before may not work when marijuana users are older.

But a backlash could arise just as quickly if unregulated “medical” products start harming grandma.

Therefore, as a historian, I am concerned that this project has been rapidly expanded with vocal support but little coordination. There is a significant lack of clarity on how this transformation will work.

Given that Schedule I marijuana has been around for half a century, the science behind medical cannabis is still a work in progress. It’s also not entirely clear who is responsible, as multiple entities are involved in the change, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FDA, the Department of Justice, and the Internal Revenue Service, as well as legislative, regulatory, and law enforcement agencies at the state and local levels.

And so far no one has addressed the impact it has had on hemp/marijuana distribution. Lack of coordination doomed previous legalization campaigns, and could harm reprogramming if it unfolds in a chaotic fashion.

At the moment, the outlook does not look promising. Dr. Gillian Schauer, executive director of the Cannabis Regulatory Association, told NPR, “We’re implementing policy that’s far from where the science is… It’s like flying an airplane blind when we’re building it without parts.”

Last month’s rescheduling was historic, but it’s also incomplete. The rush to provide medical marijuana to the elderly will require extensive legal, scientific and commercial infrastructure, which in an ideal world would avoid repeating historical mistakes by providing clarity and coordination.

It may not happen yet, but it’s what grandma deserves.

Emily Dufton is the author of Grass Roots: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Marijuana in America and Addiction, Inc.: Medication-Assisted Treatment and America’s Forgotten War on Drugs.

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Kambis expands cultivation infrastructure as Thai medical cannabis facility eyes international markets

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2 days ago

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May 11, 2026

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A certified medical cannabis facility in Thailand is adding a specialized mother room and an advanced drying room as part of its capacity expansion aimed at international supply.

KAMBIS Community Enterprise Innovative Farming announced through construction LinkedIndescribing the two rooms as nearing completion and central to the roadmap for scaling up production. The company sees investment as a prerequisite for consistent production in export markets, not just for increased volume.

The expansion is accompanied by an ongoing fulfillment push. KAMBIS has been working to prepare GACP and EU GMP, a combination that reflects the standard required to supply the regulated medical markets in Europe and elsewhere. The company noted that medical expertise has been embedded in its leadership since the beginning, and it says it has kept clinical requirements at the center of cultivation decisions as the operation has grown.

The addition of the mother’s room is particularly notable in the context of the international offer. The mother-room infrastructure allows the facility to maintain genetic consistency across production cycles, which is a prerequisite for the kind of batch-to-batch reproducibility required by EU GMP frameworks. Drying room capacity, on the other hand, is often the bottleneck that limits how many post-harvest flowers a grow site can fill without compromising quality metrics.

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