One year since the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission’s first meeting, delays continue to plague the program, including county restrictions for licensed growers who hope to operate.

More immediately, the commission is up against a deadline: on July 15, its temporary regulations governing licensed growers will expire. Without a vote to renew the regulations, the regulations giving growers the authority to proceed will lapse. The commission’s next meeting isn’t until July 20.

Chair Lorelle Meuting said commissioners expect Attorney General Mike Hilgers to have approved permanent regulations and for Gov. Jim Pillen to have signed off on them by July 15. Both Pillen and Hilgers have openly opposed the medical marijuana program. Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijauana, worries about what consequences growers could face should the regulations lapse.

“I think there could be legal ramifications,” Eggers said. “Litigation could obviously come at that point if these [temporary regulations] expire and [permanent regulations] are not signed into law.”

Commissioners also approved a motion to begin accepting applications for manufacturers and to hire Jarrod Boitnott as legal counsel. The commission is also soliciting applications for a commission director.

Since the commission’s May meeting, only one of the four licensed growers, cultivation company MahaMoto, held and passed an inspection of their property. The others have rescheduled their inspections.

Kent Rogert, representing KRL Med LLC., said the company is just six work hours short of being ready for the inspection. But it had to reschedule the inspection after the Washington County zoning administration banned them from their property, arguing that growing cannabis is not considered agriculture and the project can’t be permitted. As the company appeals the decision, Rogert said it will have to postpone the growing season.

“Their ordinance is broad but we’re trying to do this with honey instead of vinegar,” Rogert said, adding that he believes the grower fits well within the county’s definition of agriculture. “We remain cautiously optimistic that we can get something done, but the days are ticking away pretty fast.”

Washington County’s Zoning Administrator Ryan Sullivan was not immediately available for comment. The county’s sheriff, Mike Robinson, opposed medical marijuana bills in the Nebraska Legislature last year.

“Today’s meeting made one thing clear, the people and patients of Nebraska deserve more than delay, confusion and dysfunction currently happening under [Republican] Attorney General Mike Hilgers,” Jocelyn Brasher, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, said after observing the meeting. “As Attorney General, I will uphold the will of the people and respect NE voters on medical cannabis.”

Hilgers’ office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Advocates who hope to be part of the medical marijuana program scolded the commission in public comment, saying continual delays in starting the program have led to patients suffering. Melanie Knight said until the program is ready, patients are forced to turn to opiates for pain medication.

“By not pushing this through and doing what the people of Nebraska have told you to do, you’re actually creating more of an opioid crisis,” Knight said.

“I’m just always fascinated by the stuff that people bring in. You never know what’s going to come in. And we do our best. We can’t ever guarantee anything, but it’s always fascinating,” Kettler said. “I think for a lot of people it’s something that’s important to them. And then there’s the whole ‘I shouldn’t have to throw out everything.’”

James said the café has a way of turning a simple repair into something bigger. He mentioned one afternoon when the sewing table was backed up.

“The line was taking a little long, and the person second in line said, ‘All I wanted was a couple buttons sewed on,’ and the third in line said, ‘Well I know how to do that.’ And so, number three taught number two how to sew on a button. It’s like a sense of community teaching.”

Volunteers range from retired tradespeople to hobbyists, James said. Many, including himself, grew up fixing things out of necessity.

Repair Café International supports local chapters with a starter kit, documentation, branding and guidance.

The organization also advocates for right-to-repair legislation. James noted that Apple products and John Deere equipment were examples of items becoming increasingly difficult for owners to fix themselves.

The Lincoln Repair Café accepts new volunteers and welcomes walk-in visitors. More information is available through the group’s Facebook page.

Nebraska extended an offer to one of the top receivers in the class of 2028. Four-star receiver Malachi Lee earned the offer while competing on campus in the Battle of the Boneyard 7-on-7 Tournament, which the Huskers hosted this weekend.

Lee is the 50th overall player in the 2028 class, the eighth overall wide receiver in the class, and the top player in his class from the state of Virginia, according to the Rivals Industry Rankings. The wide receiver has an extensive offer sheet that includes Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Syracuse.

The 2028 recruiting class currently has no commitments. This is no reason for alarm, as the coaching staff is just putting the finishing touches on the 2027 class as we speak.

Nevertheless, it’s good for the Huskers to get a head start on the 2028 group, as talent is evident in the class.