Nebraska Governor Candidates Face Questions on Medical Cannabis Policy

5 May, 2026

Key Points:

• Sheila J. Korth-Focken backs a regulated medical cannabis program tied to the voter initiative.
• Supports physician-certified access and limited pardons for non-violent offenses.
• Calls for balanced rules on safety, hemp policy, and illegal sales.

As Nebraska’s 2026 gubernatorial primary approaches, cannabis policy remains an issue for voters following the state’s medical cannabis debate. We reached out to gubernatorial candidates to ask where they stand on Nebraska cannabis laws, medical cannabis access, criminal justice reform, hemp policy, and future marijuana business regulation.

So far, Sheila J. Korth-Focken is the only candidate who has submitted a response. This article will be updated as additional candidates provide answers.

Korth-Focken Backs Medical Cannabis Access

Korth-Focken said Nebraska should respect the voter-approved medical cannabis initiative and move forward with a comprehensive program. She said patients should be able to access medical cannabis with a physician’s certification if a regulated system is established.

She also said Nebraska should reconsider how it handles marijuana-related offenses. Her response supported pardons for some marijuana charges, as long as they were not connected to violent convictions or other drug offenses, framing the issue as both a criminal justice and taxpayer concern.

Korth-Focken also addressed patient protections, public safety, hemp policy, and marijuana business regulation. She said Nebraska should use common-sense rules for employment, housing, parental rights, impaired driving, and youth access, while reducing overly strict hemp regulations and preventing illegal marijuana sales.