Medical Cannabis in Nebraska: Will Lawmakers Honor Voter Intent?

5 April 2025

Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis in 2024, but state lawmakers are now mired in debate over who should qualify for treatment—and their hesitation could have ripple effects across the state.

At the center of the fight is LB 677, a bill meant to create the rules for the new system by July 1, when the Medical Cannabis Commission takes over licensing. Some lawmakers, like Sen. Rick Holdcroft, are pushing for a narrow list of approved conditions, while others, including Sen. Ben Hansen, warn that restricting access could betray voters’ trust and spark a faster push toward full recreational legalization.

For medical marijuana patients, a strict approach could mean limited options, forcing many to keep crossing state lines for treatment—or turning to the grey market. For Nebraska’s cannabis-related businesses, unclear regulations threaten to stall local production, licensing, and retail, chilling what was expected to be a fast-growing industry.

If lawmakers are seen as stonewalling, public frustration could fuel broader cannabis reform efforts as soon as 2026. Meanwhile, debates over whether to ban smoking and tightly control qualifying conditions risk strangling the market before it even launches.

The clock is ticking, and how lawmakers move next will shape the future of medical—and potentially recreational—cannabis in Nebraska.