Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana by large margins in 2024, but legal challenges threaten to invalidate the measures based on petition signature disputes. If the measures survive court challenges, Nebraska would become the 39th medical marijuana state with a program starting in 2025. However, the legislature is already attempting to restrict the voter-approved program through bills like LB 483 and LB 677, which would significantly limit patient access compared to what voters approved. Recreational cannabis remains illegal with criminal penalties. The situation remains fluid pending court decisions and legislative action.
If the program becomes operational, qualified patients would access medical cannabis through state-licensed dispensaries with a medical marijuana card and valid ID. The ballot measures require the commission to begin granting licenses to operators by October 1, 2025, if legal challenges are resolved.
If the 2024 ballot measures are upheld, qualifying conditions would include: cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, seizure disorders, PTSD, Crohn's disease, and other conditions that produce cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, or seizures. The specific list would be established by the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission if the measures take effect.
If the ballot measures take effect, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission would oversee the medical marijuana program, including patient registration, dispensary licensing, and regulatory compliance. The commission would need to establish regulations and begin operations by specific deadlines set in the initiatives.
Yes, if the program becomes operational, patients would need to register with the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to receive a medical marijuana identification card. This would be required to legally possess and purchase medical cannabis from licensed dispensaries.
If the program becomes operational, qualified patients would access medical cannabis through state-licensed dispensaries with a medical marijuana card and valid ID. The ballot measures require the commission to begin granting licenses to operators by October 1, 2025, if legal challenges are resolved.
Registration costs and renewal schedules would be established by the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission if the ballot measures take effect. The voter-approved measures don't specify exact fees, leaving those details to be determined through the regulatory process.