Nebraska Moves Forward with Medical Cannabis Legalization Vote

Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Campaigns Qualify for November Ballot

Officials in Nebraska announced last week that the state’s campaigns to legalize and regulate medical cannabis have successfully qualified for the November ballot, according to a report by the Associated Press. This marks a significant milestone for advocates who have been pushing for medical cannabis legalization in the state for years.

Ballot Initiatives Make the Cut

Two separate initiatives—one aimed at legalizing medical cannabis and another focused on establishing a regulated medical cannabis industry—have both met the necessary requirements to be included on the ballot. According to Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, both initiatives surpassed the threshold of 89,000 verified signatures. Additionally, they fulfilled the legal requirement of achieving at least 5% support in 51 of the state’s counties.

The qualification of these initiatives is the result of years of persistent advocacy by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, a group dedicated to expanding access to medical cannabis treatments in the state.

Advocates Celebrate the Achievement

Crista Eggers, campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiatives’ success. “After years of hard work, we are beyond excited that Nebraskans will finally have the opportunity to have their voices heard on this issue in November,” Eggers said. “Our fight has been long, it has been hard, but we have never given up. Today we celebrate that very soon, patients in this state will have access to medical cannabis treatment.”

A Long Road to the Ballot

This is not the first time that advocates have attempted to bring medical cannabis legalization to a vote in Nebraska. In 2022, a similar petition fell short of the required signatures. Two years earlier, in 2020, a petition was rejected by the Nebraska Supreme Court on the grounds that it improperly addressed two separate issues—legalization and regulation—within a single initiative.

Learning from past setbacks, this year’s campaign strategically divided the issue into two distinct petitions, one focusing on legalization and the other on regulation. This approach appears to have paid off, as both initiatives are now set to be decided by Nebraska voters in the upcoming election.

What’s Next for Nebraska?

With these initiatives now on the ballot, Nebraska could potentially join the growing list of states that have legalized medical cannabis. The outcome of the November vote will be closely watched, both within the state and across the country, as it may signal a significant shift in the legal landscape for cannabis in the Midwest.