Senators schedule public forums on medical cannabis and pending Nebraska legislation
Crista Eggers of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, center, leads a news conference urging legislative support for bills to help implement a safe, fully regulated medical cannabis system. March 3, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
LINCOLN — State lawmakers scheduled three eastern Nebraska public forums this weekend to allow the public to weigh in on medical cannabis and proposed state legislation.
State Sens. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue and Ben Hansen of Blair plan to host the series this Saturday in La Vista, Sunday in Omaha and Monday in Lincoln. Attendants will be able to hear updates on the status of medical cannabis legislation, namely Hansen's Legislative Bill 677, and 'share their thoughts.'
The schedule is as follows:
Saturday, May 3, from 1-3 p.m. at the Carpenters Union Hall in La Vista (10761 Virginia Plaza, La Vista).
Sunday, May 4, from 1-3 p.m., at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Thompson Alumni Center (8800 Dodge St., Omaha).
Monday, May 5, from 5-7 p.m., at Southeast Community College (8800 O St., Lincoln).
The hosts plan to accommodate everyone who wishes to speak during the two-hour events.
In November, about 71% of Nebraskans legalized medical cannabis with a physician's recommendation, and 67% of Nebraskans voted for a regulatory scheme.
'Since the legislature has failed to act at this point, I want to give the citizens an opportunity to have their voices heard by their elected representatives,' Cavanaugh told the Nebraska Examiner.
Hansen's LB 677 seeks to help the ballot measures build better guardrails, with help from supporters who put the measures on the ballot.
His bill would delay full implementation of the regulatory law to give the new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission time to craft regulations that, without funding, officials have said is near impossible to get done by the voter-set July 1 deadline or begin licensing by Oct. 1.
LB 677 has stalled in the Legislature's General Affairs Committee that Holdcroft chairs. Cavanaugh is the vice chair.
Holdcroft, who has said he would support a narrowed LB 677, said he is looking for 'back and forth' at the public forums, such as whether to allow smoking or how many dispensaries should be permitted.
At an April 17 meeting of committee members, the committee considered a narrower committee amendment that sought to create a list of qualifying conditions, restrict who can recommend medical cannabis, exclude smoking as permissible for medical cannabis and prohibit sales of natural cannabis flower or bud.
None of the eight committee members tried to attach the amendment to LB 677. Advancing the bill as-is failed along ideological lines, 3-5.
Five days later, Hansen filed an amendment to add post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition and allow sales of flower and bud, the latter of which is a line in the sand for Hansen. Hansen also filed what is known as a 'pull motion' that would advance LB 677, with at least 25 votes in the full 49-member legislative body and start the three-round debate.
The latest Hansen amendment would not allow smoking.
Holdcroft and Hansen continue to discuss whether a path forward in the committee exists. Speaker John Arch of La Vista, who sets the daily legislative agenda, declined to say if he would schedule the pull motion as those discussions continue.
Crista Eggers, executive director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, said her team is 'very appreciative' of lawmakers' efforts to give voters a chance to voice their feelings on the issue.
'While we find it disheartening that Nebraskans are being asked to 'clarify their vote,' we hope this final effort makes it clear: Nebraskans support medical cannabis. They knew what they were voting for,' Eggers said. 'They now are demanding lawmakers to uphold the voice of the people.'
LB 677 faces a tight timeline and fiscal situation in the waning days of the 2025 legislative session. Debate on the state's budget bills — with a major hole to still fill — is set to begin May 6. The final budget must pass by May 15.
Lawmakers are set to adjourn for the year on June 9.
Also co-hosting the public forums are State Sens. Ashlei Spivey of Omaha, John Fredrickson of Omaha, Jane Raybould of Lincoln, Victor Rountree of Bellevue, Margo Juarez of Omaha, Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha, Megan Hunt of Omaha, Myron Dorn of Adams, Merv Riepe of Ralston, Wendy DeBoer of Omaha, Tom Brandt of Plymouth, George Dungan of Lincoln and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln.
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