ReportWire

Tag: Mike Hilgers

  • NE Medical Cannabis Commission Approves New Rules Restricting Patient Access

    [ad_1]

    Members of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission have approved additional regulations limiting patients’ ability to access medical cannabis products. The passage of the new rules, which await final approval from Republican Gov. Jim Pillen, mark the latest effort by regulators to undermine the state’s 2024 voter-approved medical cannabis access law, which Nebraskans supported by a margin of more than 2 to 1.

    Previous rules approved by the Commission in July repeal patients’ access to botanical cannabis, limit the total number of state-licensed dispensaries to no more than twelve, and require physicians to specify which cannabis formulation, potency, and dose is appropriate for each individual patient. On Tuesday, commissioners approved additional regulations limiting the total number of state-licensed cultivators to no more than four and requiring doctors to undergo ten hours of medical education training prior to discussing medical cannabis therapy with their patients, among other changes.

    Crista Eggers, Executive Director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the advocacy group that led the successful 2024 ballot effort, criticized the Commission’s decisions.

    “By approving rules that pile on new barriers and unlawfully restrict forms of cannabis, they are dismantling what the people demanded at the ballot box,” Eggers said in a statement. “This is a direct assault on patients, families and the democratic process itself. Nebraskans voted for access to medicine. Instead, the commission delivered defiance, obstruction and betrayal.”

    In public testimony provided to the Commission, NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano similarly described regulators’ actions as “a slap in the face to Nebraska voters.”

    The Commission is required to begin licensing medical cannabis establishments by October 1, 2025. However, state Attorney General Mike Hilgers has threatened to sue regulators if they move forward with licensing. “The sale of marijuana — medicinal or otherwise — is not lawful, and therefore, is unconstitutional,” Hilgers opined in April. “So as the attorney general, my job is to enforce the Constitution.”

    NORML’s Deputy Director said that elected officials in Republican-led states have become increasingly hostile to voter-approved laws, despite their bipartisan public support. Lawmakers in Mississippi and South Dakota successfully sued to nullify election results in those states legalizing cannabis. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued several cities in order to overturn voter-initiated marijuana depenalization laws. In Ohio, GOP leadership are considering a pair of bills to significantly roll back the state’s voter-approved adult-use legalization law.

    “In a healthy democracy, those with competing visions on public policy vie for voters’ support and abide by their voting decisions. However, it is becoming clear that those who oppose marijuana policy reform would rather take voters out of the equation altogether,” Armentano said. “Whether or not one personally supports or opposes cannabis legalization, these undemocratic tactics ought to cause of deep concern.”

    Additional information is available from Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. A summary of the Commission’s August 4th meeting is available from the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission.

    [ad_2]

    NORML

    Source link

  • NE AG Continues Push Against Adoption of Voter-Approved Medical Cannabis Law

    [ad_1]

    Republican Attorney General Mike Hilgers continues to lead legal efforts to nullify a pair of voter-approved initiatives legalizing patients’ access to medical cannabis.

    During a recent appearance on Nebraska Public Radio, Hilgers reiterated his opposition to the measures — which were passed in 2024 by more than 70 percent of voters.

    “On medical marijuana, …I don’t think it’s good public policy,” he said. “The federal government has said, and has not changed their position, that marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, which means it has no, according to the federal government, no medicinal upside at all. Highly addictive, leads to lots of downsides. In that world, it has been my view consistently for years, and by the way, the view of this office, even before I became attorney general, that the sale of marijuana — medicinal or otherwise — is is not lawful, and therefore, is unconstitutional. So as the attorney general, my job is to enforce the Constitution.”

    The Attorney General also said that he believes that state regulators erred when counting the number of validated signatures turned in by medical cannabis proponents, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. Although a district court judge has rejected that claim, the AG is appealing the ruling to the state’s Supreme Court. (A separate lawsuit arguing that the state’s medical cannabis measures should be preempted by federal law is also pending.)

    In March, AG Hilgers and former Governor (now US Senator) Pete Ricketts circulated an op-ed urging lawmakers not to enact legislation to facilitate the adoption of the voter-approved law.

    Legislation to fund and regulate the medical cannabis access program stalled earlier this month after lawmakers on the General Affairs Committee tabled the bill. Lawmakers are attempting to revive the legislation before the close of the 2025 legislation session. [5/2/25 UPDATE: Members of the General Affairs Committee amended and advanced LB 677 to the floor. As amended, it prohibits patients from smoking cannabis and imposes a limited list of qualifying conditions, among other restrictions.] Legislators had previously sought to amend the law by banning patients’ access to botanical cannabis and by restricting the ability of physicians to use their own discretion when issuing medical cannabis recommendations.

    NORML’s Deputy Director said that elected officials in Republican-led states have become increasingly hostile to voter-approved laws, despite their bipartisan public support. Lawmakers in Mississippi and South Dakota successfully sued to nullify election results in those states legalizing cannabis. In Texas, Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued several cities in order to overturn voter-initiated marijuana depenalization laws. In Ohio, GOP leadership are considering a pair of bills to significantly roll back the state’s voter-approved adult-use legalization law.

    “In a healthy democracy, those with competing visions on public policy vie for voters’ support and abide by their voting decisions. However, it is becoming clear that those who oppose marijuana policy reform would rather take voters out of the equation altogether,” Armentano said. “Whether or not one personally supports or opposes cannabis legalization, these cynical and undemocratic tactics ought to be a cause of deep concern.”

    [ad_2]

    NORML

    Source link

  • Nebraska AG & US Senator Urge Lawmakers To Ignore Medical Marijuana Legalization Vote

    [ad_1]

    Nebraska’s Attorney General and former Governor are urging state lawmakers to halt efforts to adopt a pair of citizen-initiated measures regulating the possession, use, and production of medical cannabis. Some 70 percent of Nebraska voters approved the measures on election day.

    Writing in an op-ed, AG Mike Hilgers and former Governor (now US Senator) Pete Ricketts called on lawmakers to ignore the voters’ will. “The legislature has no duty to act now,” they wrote. “In fact, there are plenty of reasons to not act at all.”

    The duo opined that cannabis is “harmful, easily abused, and is not safe to consume even under medical supervision.” Ricketts, a longtime opponent of marijuana policy reform, has previously alleged: “If you legalize marijuana, you’re gonna kill your kids. That’s what the data shows from around the country.”

    During public hearings yesterday, a representative from the AG’s office warned that the state would consider filing a lawsuit if regulators moved forward with licensing medical cannabis providers, arguing that such actions are inconsistent with federal law. Opponents of the law have already filed a pair of lawsuits seeking to nullify the election outcome.

    On Monday, lawmakers also heard testimony regarding legislation, LB 483, repealing patients’ access to botanical cannabis. NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano provided testimony against the bill, stating: “Elections have consequences. Nebraskans have made it clear that they want patients to have regulated access to botanical cannabis. Lawmakers must respect their vote.”

    He added: “LB 483 is undemocratic; it is also bad public policy. … Many patients seeking rapid relief of symptoms such as pain, nausea, or spasticity will suffer by having their access limited solely to cannabis pills and other oral formulations,” which are far slower to take effect.

    In total, more than 300 witnesses testified against the bill.

    Lawmakers on Monday also deliberated over separate bills providing further clarity for regulating medical cannabis access. Those efforts were supported by initiative proponents Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, who held a rally at the state capitol yesterday morning during which they criticized the former Governor’s efforts.

    “The individuals who are continuing to be opposed are absolutely disregarding the fact that 71 percent of people in this state support safe and regulated medical cannabis,” said Campaign Manager Crista Eggers. “And I would ask them to take a look at any state that has legalized medical cannabis and I’d like them to see that their arguments hold no weight.”

    Ultimately, lawmakers did not take votes yesterday on any of the marijuana-related bills.

    NORML’s Armentano warned that elected officials’ efforts in Nebraska to undermine voters’ decisions is consistent with Republican-led efforts in several other states, including Ohio, where Senate lawmakers recently voted in favor of GOP-backed legislation rescinding much of the state’s voter-approved legalization law and recriminalizing many marijuana-related activities. Separate legislation introduced earlier this year in South Dakota that sought to repeal the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law failed by a single vote.

    “In a healthy democracy, those with competing visions on public policy vie for voters’ support and abide by their voting decisions. However, it is becoming clear that those who oppose marijuana policy reform would rather take voters out of the equation altogether,” Armentano said. “Whether or not one personally supports or opposes cannabis legalization, these cynical and undemocratic tactics ought to be a cause of deep concern.”

    A state-by-state guide to pending marijuana legislation is available from NORML’s Take Action Center.

    [ad_2]

    NORML

    Source link

  • Another State’s Leaders Want to Stop Medical Marijuana

    Another State’s Leaders Want to Stop Medical Marijuana

    [ad_1]

    The old guard is still working hard to bring back the War on Drugs – state by state.

    The cannabis industry is holding its breath until after the election. Both presidential candidates have endorsed some type of movement on marijuana but the big nail biter is how the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) will move on rescheduling.  Also, Florida is deciding on becoming the next major recreational market and other states are trying to move forward.  And while almost 90% of the general public supports it, the 10% who oppose it are still fighting to the end. Now another states’s leaders want to stop medical marijuana. Nebraska is the latest to ignore public opinion and will by trying to stop medical cannabis.

    RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality Of Life

    Legal states have seen increased tax revenues, no change on crime and a decrease in youth consumption. The American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians along with the federal agencies Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have all spoke up about the need for rescheduling additional research to unlock more medical medical benefits. But it makes no difference to Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Secretary of State Bob Evnen.

    Cornhusker state citizens started a ballot initiative to bring medical marijuana to the state.  The group, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, garnered over 115,000 signatures. This was enough for the initiative to move forward and allow the public to decided the fate. The state has almost 2 million people with 288+ being over 65. This is a group with an increasing interest in medical marijuana use to help with chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety and other issues. But after being certified, the Attorney General and Secretary of State are calling foul and say half of the signatures are invalid. Early voting has already begun, but they would use this issue to void the results if the pro marijuana group wins.

    Attorney General Hilgers’ office seeks to go further than a 1919 Nebraska Supreme Court case dealing with an anti-woman-suffrage referendum used to defeat the effort. A bench trial is set to begin Oct. 29, one week before Election Day. The case is likely to be appealed to the Nebraska Supreme Court, no matter the outcome.

    RELATED: Biden Administration Puts A Knife Into The Cannabis Industry

    Like Florida, where Governor DeSantis has worked against the public will on marijuana. Nebraska has a history. In 201 the “Cannabis Compassion and Care Act,” was proposed in the l state legislature. The legislation would have allowed certain patients with prescriptions to use marijuana in liquid or pill form (but not smoked leaf form) for medical purposes. Following an initial 27–12 vote in favor, the bill’s sponsor, Senator Tommy Garrett requested the bill be held until 2016. The the bill was blocked by a Senate filibuster, falling three votes short of the number failed to advance. The bill encountered strong opposition from Governor Pete Ricketts and  then Attorney General Doug Peterson.  In 2020, a medical cannabis ballot measure was invalidated by the Nebraska Supreme Court. So it is up to the voters to see what happens next.

    [ad_2]

    Terry Hacienda

    Source link