Nebraska activists are putting out an urgent call for voters to sign petitions to place a pair of medical marijuana legalization initiatives on the state’s November ballot. With just under four weeks left, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) needs to collect about 30,000 more signatures to qualify each measure. The campaign emphasized the need for statewide signatures after prioritizing gathering signatures from at least five percent of voters in a minimum of 38 counties.
Focus on Statewide Signature Threshold
“We made the counties our main focus because they require a great deal of time and resources that cannot wait until the last minute,” said Crista Eggers, NMM’s campaign manager. “We have the counties, but we have an urgent need to collect bulk signatures.” Despite being ahead compared to past petition drives, the campaign still needs a significant push to gather over 30,000 signatures on each petition over the next 27 days to ensure success. The total requirement is 87,000 valid signatures for each measure by July 3.
Previous Efforts and Setbacks
NMM has previously attempted to put medical cannabis on the ballot for two election cycles but faced setbacks, including the loss of critical funding and intervention by the state Supreme Court. “There is no doubt Nebraskans want to see this on the ballot, so we need them to step up and help make that happen,” Eggers stated. She emphasized the personal stakes, asking voters to react as if their child’s life depends on it because, for many, it does.
Details of the Ballot Initiatives
The first initiative would require lawmakers to codify protections for doctors recommending cannabis and patients purchasing and possessing it for medical purposes. The second initiative would create the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate and register individuals involved in medical cannabis activities. The campaign urges voters to sign petitions at locations like Wine, Beer and Spirits in Omaha and Lincoln.
Opposition and Legislative Efforts
Governor Jim Pillen opposes the reform effort, citing potential harms to children and the need for FDA approval of medical cannabis. Despite this, NMM remains determined, with Eggers expressing the campaign’s resolve: “We can’t stop until we get that done. That’s where we’re at, and that’s how our campaign feels.” Previous efforts in 2020 were invalidated by the state Supreme Court, and the 2022 attempt fell short due to funding loss. Legislative attempts have also stalled in the conservative Nebraska legislature.
