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.”
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.”