1 in 3 Americans Now Live in a State , Where Recreational Marijuana Is Legal. Voters in four states approved ballot measures to legalize marijuana on Election Day. 16 million residents of Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota . now join the 93 million Americans who already lived in states where cannabis had been legalized. Several other states were expected to pass similar measures, but campaigns failed due to issues created by the pandemic. Advocates say that the move toward legalization in both red and blue states demands uniform action from the federal government. Regardless of who controls the White House, the House and the Senate, we should demand landmark federal marijuana reform in 2021, Steve Hawkins, Marijuana Policy Project, via Politico. Advocates also consider the passage of marijuana legalization ballots as victories for criminal justice reform
LINCOLN — State lawmakers will debate a controversial proposal to make medical cannabis legal this year after an amended bill advanced from a committee on Tuesday.
Members of the Judiciary Committee voted 5-2, with one senator not voting, to advance LB 474 to debate by the full 49-member unicameral Legislature.
The bill, introduced and prioritized by Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, would set up a process to regulate the production, processing and distribution of marijuana for use by people with certain health conditions.
Smoking marijuana would not be allowed. The amendment that was adopted better defines what maladies can be treated with medical marijuana.
Cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, terminal illnesses and chronic pain would be among the qualifying ailments.
“It’s time for Nebraska to pass a compassionate and commonsense medical cannabis law that puts people over politics,” Wishart said Tuesday.
She introduced similar legislation two years ago, but it stalled in the face of stiff opposition from legislators and Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Last year, enough signatures were gathered to put the measure on the ballot, but it was tossed off by the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled that it violated the single-subject limit in the State Constitution.
Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, who chairs the Judiciary Committee and voted to advance LB 474, said he preferred the current version of the proposal because it treats cannabis more like a medicine.
Lathrop also said the bill allows lawmakers to regulate medical cannabis, which might not be the case if it was legalized at the ballot box.
Sens. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln and Julie Slama of Peru voted against the bill. Plymouth Sen. Tom Brandt was present but did not vote.
Backers say they should be allowed to use a natural alternative, one allowed in more than 30 states, to address pain, seizures and other disorders.
Opponents argue that allowing medical marijuana will increase use by youth and lead to full legalization of marijuana for recreational use.
Meet the current Nebraska state senators
Meet the Nebraska state senators
Nebraska has 49 state senators in the Legislature. Click through to find your state senator and others.
State Sen. Julie Slama
District: 1
From: Sterling
Party: Republican
State Sen. Robert Clements
District: 2
From: Elmwood
Party: Republican
State Sen. Carol Blood
District: 3
From: Bellevue
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Robert Hilkemann
District: 4
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike McDonnell
District: 5
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh
District: 6
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Tony Vargas
District: 7
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Megan Hunt
District: 8
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. John Cavanaugh
District: 9
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Wendy DeBoer
District: 10
From: Bennington
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Terrell McKinney
District: 11
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Steve Lathrop
District: 12
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Justin Wayne
District: 13
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
State Sen. John Arch
District: 14
From: La Vista
Party: Republican
State Sen. Lynne Walz
District: 15
From: Fremont
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Ben Hansen
District: 16
From: Blair
Party: Republican
State Sen. Joni Albrecht
District: 17
From: Thurston
Party: Republican
State Sen. Brett Lindstrom
District: 18
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Flood
District: 19
From: Norfolk
Party: Republican
State Sen. John McCollister
District: 20
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Hilgers
District: 21
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Moser
District: 22
From: Columbus
Party: Republican
State Sen. Bruce Bostelman
District: 23
From: Brainard
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mark Kolterman
District: 24
From: Seward
Party: Republican
State Sen. Suzanne Geist
District: 25
From: Lincoln
Party: Republican
State Sen. Matt Hansen
District: 26
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Anna Wishart
District: 27
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks
District: 28
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Eliot Bostar
District: 29
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Myron Dorn
District: 30
From: Adams
Party: Republican
State Sen. Rich Pahls
District: 31
From: Omaha
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tom Brandt
District: 32
From: Plymouth
Party: Republican
State Sen. Steve Halloran
District: 33
From: Hastings
Party: Republican
State Sen. Curt Friesen
District: 34
From: Henderson
Party: Republican
State Sen. Raymond Aguilar
District: 35
From: Grand Island
Party: Republican
State Sen. Matt Williams
District: 36
From: Gothenburg
Party: Republican
State Sen. John Lowe
District: 37
From: Kearney
Party: Republican
State Sen. Dave Murman
District: 38
From: Glenvil
Party: Republican
State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan
District: 39
From: Elkhorn
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tim Gragert
District: 40
From: Creighton
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tom Briese
District: 41
From: Albion
Party: Republican
State Sen. Mike Groene
District: 42
From: North Platte
Party: Republican
State Sen. Tom Brewer
District: 43
From: Gordon
Party: Republican
State Sen. Dan Hughes
District: 44
From: Venango
Party: Republican
State Sen. Rita Sanders
District: 45
From: Bellevue
Party: Republican
State Sen. Adam Morfeld
District: 46
From: Lincoln
Party: Democratic
State Sen. Steve Erdman
District: 47
From: Bayard
Party: Republican
State Sen. John Stinner
District: 48
From: Gering
Party: Republican
State Sen. Jen Day
District: 49
From: Omaha
Party: Democratic
paul.hammel@owh.com, 402-618-0009, twitter.com/paulhammelowh
Paul Hammel
Reporter - Regional/state issues
Paul covers state government and affiliated issues. He specializes in tax and transportation issues, following the governor and the state prison system. Follow him on Twitter @PaulHammelOWH. Phone: 402-473-9584.
