Nebraska Officials Scrutinize Medical Cannabis Petition Signatures

LOS ANGELES- Nebraska state officials are questioning the validity of signatures supporting two medical cannabis ballot initiatives, sparking a legal battle over whether the measures should remain on the upcoming November ballot. Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers have raised concerns about the legitimacy of roughly 49,000 signatures on each petition, alleging widespread “notary malfeasance” and other procedural issues.

Evnen certified the measures for the November ballot on September 13, confirming nearly 90,000 valid signatures for each petition—just over the required threshold of 86,499. However, a lawsuit brought forward by former state senator John Kuehn has since challenged the legal sufficiency of the signatures, leading to a broader investigation by Hilgers.

While only a few circulators and notaries face criminal charges, Hilgers’ office argues that these irregularities cast doubt on tens of thousands of signatures. In response, the petition sponsors, Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, claim that these allegations threaten Nebraska’s initiative process and aim to “disenfranchise” voters. They argue that any errors made by third-party notaries should not invalidate legitimate signatures collected in good faith.

The court’s decision will determine whether the medical cannabis initiatives will remain on the ballot and whether the election results could potentially be voided if there are insufficient validated signatures. Voting for the November election is already underway.

This case highlights the tension between state officials’ duty to ensure electoral integrity and the rights of citizens to advocate for changes through ballot initiatives.