Nebraska Submits Over 114K Signatures for Medical Cannabis Ballot Measures

3 July 2024

Nebraska is one step closer to medical cannabis reform after advocates submitted over 114,000 signatures for two ballot measures. If the Nebraska Secretary of State confirms enough of these signatures are valid, voters will get to decide on these proposals in the November 2024 election.

The first measure, known as the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act, is all about protecting patients who use medical marijuana under a doctor’s guidance from being charged with a crime. The second measure, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act, lays out a framework for regulating the cultivation, distribution, and licensing of medical marijuana products.

Both measures have cleared the required 87,000 signatures, showing how much support there is for medical cannabis in Nebraska. A February 2024 poll found that 70% of Nebraskans are in favor of legalization. These proposals also meet legal requirements set by a 2020 Nebraska Supreme Court ruling, which says ballot measures can only address one issue at a time.

If these measures pass, they could bring much-needed relief to people dealing with conditions like epilepsy, cancer, and chronic pain. They would also set the stage for a regulated medical cannabis market that could launch as soon as late 2025, opening up new opportunities for healthcare providers and businesses while bringing Nebraska’s laws more in line with neighboring states.