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Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Commission steps ahead with new funding, faces criticism for pace

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Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Commission steps ahead with new funding, faces criticism for pace


Nebraska’s medical cannabis commission continued to face emotional testimony from patients and advocates frustrated with what they describe as a slow and restrictive rollout of the state’s program on Monday. “The question is, is your empathy real? Do you even care?” said Tiffany Tex Gustafson, a medical cannabis advocate.Patients and industry representatives argued that the four-member commission has not moved quickly enough to meet demand. Troy Burgess, a cannabis cultivator, urged officials to accelerate their work.“I implore you because of the patients behind me, let’s move the ball forward,” Burgess said. “I feel like we’re delayed or stalled.”The commission has taken steps to build out the program. It has launched a website, begun hiring staff and is preparing to expand operations after lawmakers approved legislation providing funding and fee-setting authority.Commission Chair Lorelle Mueting said the agency recently hired an administrative specialist, who is expected to begin work April 20.The commission is seeking changes to its legal representation, which is currently handled by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who has been critical of medical cannabis.”This motion is in no way to be considered a negative reflection on the legal services and provided to the commission so far by the Attorney General’s office,” Commissioner J. Michael Coffey said. “My problem is, I think we’re subject to the appearances and impropriety and the appearances of conflict.”The commission has also awarded four licenses to cannabis cultivators, with planting expected to begin in the coming weeks.Still, several key components of the program remain unfinished. The commission has yet to establish licensing processes for manufacturers and retailers.And since no health care practitioners are recommending marijuana yet, there are technically no patients in the state. Lawmakers recently declined to pass protections for health care providers who recommend cannabis, and current commission rules do not allow recommendations from out-of-state practitioners.Lawmakers and cannabis advocates alike have questioned the legality of that rule, but it has not been challenged in court yet.As a result, it is unclear when patients in Nebraska will be able to access the program.“When will this program actually be accessible to the people who need it?” said Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. “In the last six months, this commission has awarded just four licenses at that pace, with approximately 18 more individual licenses that could be given out; we could be two years in the future before this program actually can start.”Mueting said she expects the recommendation process to be in place once the program is finalized later this year and said she didn’t have a comment on further action the commission would take to ensure practitioners feel legally safe recommending medical cannabis.”We’re not in that position yet,” Mueting said. “If we get everything up and running and nobody’s coming in the doors, then do we need to look at what’s going on? Probably. There’s absolutely nobody on this commission that wants this to fail.”

Nebraska’s medical cannabis commission continued to face emotional testimony from patients and advocates frustrated with what they describe as a slow and restrictive rollout of the state’s program on Monday.

“The question is, is your empathy real? Do you even care?” said Tiffany Tex Gustafson, a medical cannabis advocate.

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Patients and industry representatives argued that the four-member commission has not moved quickly enough to meet demand. Troy Burgess, a cannabis cultivator, urged officials to accelerate their work.

“I implore you because of the patients behind me, let’s move the ball forward,” Burgess said. “I feel like we’re delayed or stalled.”

The commission has taken steps to build out the program. It has launched a website, begun hiring staff and is preparing to expand operations after lawmakers approved legislation providing funding and fee-setting authority.

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Commission Chair Lorelle Mueting said the agency recently hired an administrative specialist, who is expected to begin work April 20.

The commission is seeking changes to its legal representation, which is currently handled by Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, who has been critical of medical cannabis.

“This motion is in no way to be considered a negative reflection on the legal services and provided to the commission so far by the Attorney General’s office,” Commissioner J. Michael Coffey said. “My problem is, I think we’re subject to the appearances and impropriety and the appearances of conflict.”

The commission has also awarded four licenses to cannabis cultivators, with planting expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Still, several key components of the program remain unfinished. The commission has yet to establish licensing processes for manufacturers and retailers.

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And since no health care practitioners are recommending marijuana yet, there are technically no patients in the state. Lawmakers recently declined to pass protections for health care providers who recommend cannabis, and current commission rules do not allow recommendations from out-of-state practitioners.

Lawmakers and cannabis advocates alike have questioned the legality of that rule, but it has not been challenged in court yet.

As a result, it is unclear when patients in Nebraska will be able to access the program.

“When will this program actually be accessible to the people who need it?” said Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. “In the last six months, this commission has awarded just four licenses at that pace, with approximately 18 more individual licenses that could be given out; we could be two years in the future before this program actually can start.”

Mueting said she expects the recommendation process to be in place once the program is finalized later this year and said she didn’t have a comment on further action the commission would take to ensure practitioners feel legally safe recommending medical cannabis.

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“We’re not in that position yet,” Mueting said. “If we get everything up and running and nobody’s coming in the doors, then do we need to look at what’s going on? Probably. There’s absolutely nobody on this commission that wants this to fail.”



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Nebraska cops respond to gunfire at store and find a dog accidentally shot someone

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Nebraska cops respond to gunfire at store and find a dog accidentally shot someone


Police in Nebraska were called to a convenience store after reports of gunfire — only to find a dog accidentally shot a person with a shotgun.

Officers with the Scottsbluff Police Department were called to Short Stop, a gas station and convenience store, after receiving a report that someone had been shot with a BB gun just after noon on Saturday, KNOP News 2 reported.

However, while on their way to the scene, police were informed that the incident actually involved a shotgun.

At the store, police found a truck with damage consistent with a shotgun blast to the passenger side door.

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The driver of the truck had pulled into the parking lot to shop, but a dog in the back seat of their vehicle moved from one side of the car to the other — and managed to cause the loaded shotgun to discharge.

Police in Nebraska were called to a report of a shooting, only to find that a dog accidentally triggered a loaded shotgun
Police in Nebraska were called to a report of a shooting, only to find that a dog accidentally triggered a loaded shotgun (Google Maps)

The shotgun fired off into the passenger side panel of the car. A pellet also struck a woman who was stopped at a nearby traffic light and had her right arm dangling out of the car’s open window.

The pellet from the shotgun struck her in the upper arm, police said.

The woman’s injury was not believed to be life-threatening. She was taken to a nearby hospital by a family member.

It is against the law in Nebraska to travel with a loaded shotgun in a vehicle, according to the report.

The incident is being investigated by the Scottsbluff Police Department.

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Nebraska State Track (5/23): KMAland lands 23 state medals on final day in Omaha

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Nebraska State Track (5/23): KMAland lands 23 state medals on final day in Omaha


(KMAland) — Twelve girls and 11 boys KMAland athletes/events were state medalists on Saturday at the final day of action at the Nebraska State Track & Field Championships in Omaha at Burke Stadium.

Check out the area rundown below and full results linked here. 

BOYS CLASS C 

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Seven KMAland athletes won state medals in Class C with Johnson-Brock’s Calvin Benham (discus throw) and Deacon Bernadt (300 hurdles), Palmyra’s Gannon Hubbard (1600), Owen Ramaekers (1600) and Leyton Mapson (100) and Falls City’s Tanner Jackson (pole vault) all taking individual medals. The Palmyra 4×100 meter relay team also snagged a medal.

Check out the area rundown below.

10. Johnson-Brock (18.33 points)

•5th Place: Calvin Benham, discus throw (162-07)

•7th Place: Deacon Bernadt, 300 hurdles (40.61)

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18. Palmyra (14 points)

•5th Place: Gannon Hubbard, 1600 meters (4:28.92)

•7th Place: 4×100 meter relay (43.71) & Owen Ramaekers, 1600 meters (4:29.68)

•8th Place: Leyton Mapson, 100 meters (11.28)

•10th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:29.08)

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•17th Place: Tyler Jensen, pole vault (12-00.00) & Grady Vasa, 800 meters (2:01.68)

23. Falls City (11 points)

•6th Place: Tanner Jackson, pole vault (13-06.00)

•9th Place: Caleb Offner, discus (158-11)

34. Johnson County Central (5 points)

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•12th Place: Trevin Huskey, 1600 meters (4:35.69)

Louisville (0 points)

•10th Place: Keegan Witte, 800 meters (2:00.34)

•11th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:29.29)

•24th Place: Lincoln Heins, 800 meters (2:06.83)

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BOYS CLASS D 

Humboldt-TRS had another solid Saturday with Kameon Dettmann taking second in the 800, and Emmett Glathar finishing in fourth place in the discus. Weeping Water added a pair of medals with Tucker Bickford taking sixth in the 800 and their 4×400 finishing in seventh.

Check out the area rundown below.

13. Weeping Water (15 points)

•6th Place: Tucker Bickford, 800 meters (2:01.40)

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•7th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:32.92)

16. Humboldt-TRS (13 points)

•2nd Place: Kameon Dettmann, 800 meters (1:58.70)

•4th Place: Emmett Glathar, discus (161-01)

•12th Place: 4×400 meter relay (3:35.78)

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•15th Place: Axton Wamsley, 800 meters (2:05.58)

36. Falls City Sacred Heart (5 points)

•15th Place: Brenden Lemerond, 1600 meters (4:50.68)

•16th Place: Bo Fletcher, 1600 meters (4:51.67)

54. Lourdes Central Catholic (1 point)

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•9th Place: Justus Kreifels, discus (145-06)

GIRLS CLASS C 

Conestoga’s Abigail Harvey led the area with wins in the 800 and 200 wheelchair events while Harley Lubben of Johnson County Central was third in the shot put. Other medalists included JCC’s Molly Webber (100 & 200), Palmyra’s Alaena Hopkins (shot put), the Palmyra 4×400 and Ayla Garrett of Conestoga (triple jump).

Check out the area rundown below.

12. Johnson County Central (22 points)

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•3rd Place: Harley Lubben, shot put (40-02.25)

•5th Place: Molly Weber, 100 meters (12.37) & 200 meters (25.52)

29. Palmyra (5 points)

•6th Place: Alaena Hopkins, shot put (39-03.25)

•7th Place: 4×400 meter relay (4:04.31)

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•15th Place: Hailey Hengtgen, 1600 meters (5:40.25)

•18th Place: Kylie Badertscher, 800 meters (2:26.73)

35. Conestoga (3 points)

•1st Place: Abigail Harvey, 800 wheelchair (3:24.73) & 200 wheelchair (50.14)

•6th Place: Ayla Garrett, triple jump (36-02.00)

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•11th Place: Chloe Bergmeyer, triple jump (35-00.25)

•21st Place: Ayla Garrett, 300 hurdles (50.45)

Johnson-Brock 

•20th Place: Rylie Beethe, 300 hurdles (50.01)

•23rd Place: Leighton Edwards, 800 meters (2:29.12)

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Falls City

•22nd Place: Jennifer Sweeney, 1600 meters (6:19.21)

GIRLS CLASS D 

Humboldt-TRS’ Lillian Bowen led the area with a runner-up in the 800 while Lourdes Central Catholic’s Lily Madison ended up third in the triple jump. The Knights were fourth in the 4×100, and Brooklyn Borer added a fifth-place finish in the 100 hurdles for LCC.

Check out the area rundown below.

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11. Lourdes Central Catholic (20 points)

•3rd Place: Lily Madison, triple jump (36-05.75)

•4th Place: 4×100 meter relay (50.89)

•5th Place: Brooklyn Borer, 100 hurdles (15.84)

•12th Place: Harper Rutt, triple jump (33-11.00) & Brooklyn Borer, 300 hurdles (49.18)

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14. Humboldt-TRS (16 points)

•2nd Place: Lillian Bowen, 800 meters (2:23.47)

•14th Place: Grayson Sherman, 1600 meters (5:44.33)2

34. Weeping Water (4 points)

•11th Place: Kallie Brack, 1600 meters (5:38.16)

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Falls City Sacred Heart (0 points)

•15th Place: Hallie Jones, shot put (34-07.25)

Thank you for reading kmaland.com

At KMA, we attempt to be accurate in our reporting. If you see a typo or mistake in a story, please contact us by emailing kmaradio@kmaland.com.





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Nebraska softball beats Oklahoma State in NCAA Super Regional; Heads to Women’s College World Series

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Nebraska softball beats Oklahoma State in NCAA Super Regional; Heads to Women’s College World Series


LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN/WOWT) – Nebraska defeated Oklahoma State a second time at the NCAA Super Regional on Saturday, 9-1.

Because of their victory, the Huskers will head to the Women’s College World Series. This is the Husker’s first trip to the event since 2013.

The Women’s College World Series is set to take place between May 28 to June 5 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, OK.

Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.

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