Nebraska
Nebraska Attorney General’s campaign to oust Delta-8 from state sees pushback
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Nebraska’s hemp industry is sprawling and a major aspect of it is the sale of Delta-8, which is now in the crosshairs of the Attorney General Mike Hilgers. He said he’s within his rights and the law to shut it down, but opponents said he’s way out of bounds.
It’s almost impossible to miss them: the countless stores slinging all sorts of THC products: gummies, chocolates, pre-rolls. And they’re all pretty new to Nebraska.
“In 2018 with the passage of the Farm Bill at the federal level, essentially that created hemp products, they carved out an exception for their legality so long as the hemp plant itself doesn’t weigh more than 0.3% THC on a dry weight basis,” John Cartier, a lawyer for the Nebraska Healthy Alternatives Association, said.
Hilgers launched a campaign against the substance known as Delta-8 last year.
“No one buying these products understand what it is that they are getting,” Hilgers said in October 2023.
Since then, his efforts have only escalated.
“If there are retailers at this point, they are fully aware and have full notice that the state of Nebraska and this office believes that what they’re doing is illegal,” Hilgers said. “And it’s harming kids and it’s harming others in their communities.”
Hilgers said LB 999, a bill put forth in this year’s regular legislative session, would’ve clarified that reality—that Delta-8 is illegal—but it stalled in committee.
Cartier said Hilgers wouldn’t have needed that bill if Delta-8 was truly illegal.
“It boils down to that under Nebraska law and statutes, Hilgers cannot point to where it says that hemp and hemp products are outlawed,” Cartier said.
And as the the Nebraska state government pinches penny, hunting for property tax relief, hemp industry advocates say state leaders should be looking to taxation, not prohibition. They point to the hemp’s positive economic impact in the state. Overtime, they said, it’s created more than 15,000 jobs, paid out more than $60 million in wages and generated $8 million in sales taxes.
Cartier said the industry is willing to find common ground in higher taxation, but as Hilgers scores settlements with some THC retailers, he said the window is closing for Delta-8 sellers to come to the table.
“We are currently working on additional lawsuits that will be filed this year,” Hilgers said. “And we’re going to continue this campaign to be able to get this back to where it was, which is these products not being sold, not being put in the hands of Nebraskans.”
Cartier said he’s prepared to defend access to Delta-8.
“We view it as an absolute necessity to stand up for their rights to have access to these products that give them a higher quality of life,” Cartier said.
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A Nebraska quarterback commit is making headlines heading into his senior season. Five-star prospect Trae Taylor has been named by Rivals as one of the ‘five high school football transfers that will make a big impact this 2026 season.’
Taylor heads into 2026 after a strong 2025 season at Carmel Catholic (IL). In 11 games, he threw 3,571 yards, 38 touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also ran 77 times for 633 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The five-star quarterback is transferring to Millard South (NE) this offseason and will join a team that went 12-1 this past season and won back-to-back Class A State championships. He is taking over as the starting quarterback, replacing Jett Thomalla, who signed with Alabama.
Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power writes that the transfer quarterback is well-rounded and one of the stronger arms in the 2027 cycle. He also believes that the development he has shown this late in his career should be seen as a positive.
“Brings a combination of high-end arm talent and refinement to the table. Has a whippy release that uncoils quickly to generate fast arm action. Added arm strength in the off-season prior to his senior year. Can drive the football to all areas of the field with palpable zip. Rips throws out to the far hash and up the seam. Throws a tight spiral that cuts through the wind. Has proven to be accurate in multiple settings. Hyper-trained and plays with a good level of consistency as a passer.”
Taylor is also the first Cornhusker commit to ever hold the title of Elite 11 MVP. He was named the Most Valuable Player at the conclusion of The Opening Finals at Nike’s World Headquarters last month.
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College football programs would rather not play true freshmen. Programs would rather give the kids a year to mature, get reps and get stronger. Learn behind experienced players, learn the system, grow mentally and physically. Make inevitable mistakes on the practice field, not in games.
Nebraska is no exception.
But Huskers true freshman running back Jamal Rule might be an exception.
Rule, one of the stars of Nebraska’s spring game, recently was cited by CBS Sports as one of 11 Big Ten true freshmen to watch who could have an immediate impact in 2026.
There is buzz around the Nebraska program regarding Rule, a 6-foot, 205-pound, three-star recruit from Charlotte, N.C. In the spring game, Rule scored on a 75-yard touchdown sprint and had 119 yards on 10 carries. He also caught a pass for 15 yards.
Nebraska coach Matt Rhule certainly has noticed. The early enrollee has them talking around the Huskers’ program and around Lincoln, too.
What Rhule said about Rule
“Jamal had a really good spring,” Rhule told reporters after the spring game. “What he looked like today, he looked like all spring long. He’s very conscientious. He’s big, he’s tough, he’s fast, he’s got home run ability.”
Rule comes along at an opportune time for himself and Nebraska, which lost 2025 Big Ten Running Back of the Year Emmett Johnson to NFL Draft and the Kansas City Chiefs. Without Johnson, who gained a conference-leading 1,451 yards on the ground last season, the Huskers’ running back room was a serious question mark coming into the season.
Now, Nebraska is dealing with the arrest of presumed starting running back Mekhi Nelson in Key West, Fla. Nelson was arrested last week, charged with aggravated battery, as first reported by Pete Nakos, of On3.
Nelson’s legal ramifications are unknown as well as how this will affect his football status.
What CBS Sports said about Jamal Rule
CBS Sports writer Brad Crawford wrote this about Rule in selecting him as a Big Ten freshman to watch: “Some would say he was overlooked a bit by the elite programs during the recruiting process, but this three-star out of Charlotte, North Carolina, was identified early as a must-have for the Huskers and checked every box for coach Matt Rhule and his staff.
“Virginia Tech, Michigan State and Syracuse were in on Rule as well, but Nebraska won his commitment and may have grabbed an unexpected freshman starter as a result.
“Hoping to prove a point during spring camp, Rule showed aggression and ran hard on every rep. The expectation is that the Huskers will take a by-committee approach in the run game this season following the departure of leading rusher Emmett Johnson, and Rule should get some totes along with Isaiah Mozee and Mekhi Nelson.”
Rhule, whose Huskers face a brutal schedule in 2026, said after the spring game that Rule is “certainly preparing to play this year as a freshman.”
What it could mean for the offense
An established running attack certainly could help new quarterback Anthony Colandrea and the offense. If Rule is the real deal, Nebraska’s now uncertain running back room could become a much-needed strength.
A running back who can break a big play would add a dimension to the Huskers’ offense that could allow them to run on obvious passing downs and keep defenses off-balance.
Opponents might be forced to specifically game-plan for that aspect of the Huskers’ offense. That added defensive focus on the running game could mean less attention paid to the passing attack — a potential Nebraska advantage.
A strong passing game begins with a strong ground game. That was a go-to, bread-and-butter Nebraska strategy for years.
Everyone will know soon enough, as the season begins in a mere two months.
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