Nebraska
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.”
LINCOLN, Neb. —
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.”
Zach Pluhacek has been appointed as the new inspector general of the Nebraska Correctional System.
Pluhacek replaces former Inspector General Doug Koebernick, who resigned to work for the legislative audit office.
The office of inspector general for corrections was created in 2015 following a scandal involving the early release of some prisoners and a killing spree by released prisoner Nikko Jenkins.
Its duties include conducting investigations, audits, inspections, and other oversight of the Nebraska correctional system for the Legislature.
Pluhacek has worked for the office of inspector general since 2020. Before that he was as a legislative aide after working as a reporter and editor for the Lincoln Journal Star.
Voters across south-central Nebraska’s sprawling Legislative District 38 will soon choose a replacement for State Sen. Dave Murman, who is leaving the Legislature due to term limits.
Five candidates are running for the open seat in District 38 in the May 12 primary election. The district covers Clay, Franklin, Furnas, Harlan, Nuckolls, Red Willow and Webster counties, as well as part of Phelps County.
The candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds, including local government, business, community advocacy and agriculture:
Tim Anderson is serving his fourth year as mayor of Sutton and also runs a farm south of town. He is married and a father of five. “I absolutely enjoy the process of problem solving, bringing people together and the community together to solve the issues that come up,” Anderson said.
Anderson decided to run because he wants to build on what he has learned as mayor. “There’s a lot of problems out there when it comes to taxes, daycare, and economic development, population expansion,” Anderson said. “I want to try to help out in Nebraska in my best way.”
Janelle Anderson Ehrke of Orleans is the founder and CEO of GROW Nebraska, which she describes as a nonprofit that creates “marketing venues and avenues for Nebraska businesses” globally.
“That’s mainly been my experience as far as working directly with rural communities in Nebraska: small businesses,” she said.
Anderson Ehrke explains that she has an agriculture background and that her family is involved in cattle feed yards.
She said she entered the race because she is focused on creating opportunities for rural communities and is concerned with dwindling main streets. “We needed a strong candidate that checked those boxes. And I just didn’t really see [that], especially [a candidate with] a strong economic development and ag base. So that’s why I decided to step in there.”
Jon Capps of Blue Hill owns an apartment complex and runs a consulting business that involves traveling and helping companies implement computer systems. Capps said he has not served on local boards. However, he said he is a veteran who has served as Commander of Legion Post 176.
“I have done several different things,” Capps said. “I’ve owned several companies, so bouncing in and out of that. But I’m primarily a businessman.”
He said his decision to run was influenced by his late wife. “My wife and I were married for 29 years. She passed away in February, but she would have loved this,” Capps said. “She wanted to do this. And so, we put our heads together and decided that we could.”
Capps said his main interest is “fixing some of the problems that are affecting businesses.”
Melanie Knight of Clay Center describes herself as a homemaker and an advocate, a process that started with her child who is on the autism spectrum needing resources which the local school district couldn’t provide.
“I consider myself an advocate,” she said. “And what that means is supporting people. I first did it with my children and then my elderly parents till they passed away.”
Knight said she decided to run for the open seat out of frustration that voices like hers were not being represented in the legislature.
“Honestly, I got fed up,” Knight said. “I got fed up feeling like our representatives in our state legislature were not listening to our voices. And it’s important that our representatives represent us and listen to us.”
Wes Wilmot of Beaver City is retired after 30 years with Verizon, including work as a senior engineer with the company. Amongst other community service, he says he served on the ESU Board for District 11 in Holdrege. “And we’ve done youth ministry for years and years, and we were leaders in that.”
Wilmot says he is also an EMT in Beaver City and has been for years.
Wilmot decided to run because he believes it is his calling. “It’s always been a part of my life to give back to the people, back to the state, back to everybody that helped, you know, me be what I am. And so now I’m retired, our family’s all gone, I’ve got time to go to Lincoln and serve there.”
More coverage of the District 38 race, including each candidates’ goals and priorities if elected, will be available on the NTV website.
-
Michigan4 minutes agoBridge Michigan welcomes four interns for the summer of 2026 – Bridge Michigan
-
Massachusetts10 minutes agoWill Minogue’s Trump ties, abortion stance make him unelectable in Mass.? – The Boston Globe
-
Minnesota16 minutes agoSeveral vehicles damages by large rocks, oil thrown off I-35 bridge near Rush City, sheriff says
-
Mississippi22 minutes agoFree food, discounts, gifts for National Teacher Appreciation Week in MS
-
Missouri28 minutes agoLane of I-70 near St. Charles Road closes for emergency repairs
-
Montana34 minutes agoMontana days grow longer throughout May
-
Nebraska40 minutes agoNebraska Correctional System names inspector general
-
Nevada46 minutes agoNevada, California, Arizona propose water plan pushing cuts to 20%