LOS ANGELES- Nebraska cannabis advocates have turned in more than 114,000 signatures for their petition to legalize medical cannabis in the state, according to the Nebraska Examiner. The campaign, led by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, requires approximately 86,500 signatures from registered voters, including signatures from at least 5% of voters in 38 of Nebraska’s 93 counties, to place the issue on the November ballot.
Crista Eggers, the statewide campaign manager, emphasized the importance of collecting as many signatures as possible, saying, “We can never have enough.” The current campaign is the third attempt by advocates to legalize medical cannabis in Nebraska. In 2022, the campaign failed to submit enough valid signatures, and in 2020, the state Supreme Court rejected the ballot language for containing two subjects: regulation and legalization. This time, the campaign split the proposed reforms into two petitions to meet the court’s standards.
The Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office will now distribute the signatures to county election officials, who have 40 days to verify them. The petition language will then be reviewed by the state Attorney General’s Office.
Crista Eggers, motivated by her nine-year-old son Colton’s struggle with epilepsy, has been a driving force in the campaign, which initially launched in 2019 by former State Sen. Adam Morfeld and State Sen. Anna Wishart. The recent push included a final effort at Wine, Beer, and Spirits locations in Omaha and Lincoln, gathering 2,500 signatures per petition on the last day.
Despite strong public support for medical marijuana in Nebraska, political opposition remains significant, with Governor Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers expressing concerns about potential harm to children and the lack of FDA approval.
Nationally, the landscape is shifting as the U.S. Department of Justice considers reclassifying marijuana and 38 states have already legalized medical marijuana. This broader trend may influence Nebraska’s campaign.
Eggers hopes future parents won’t need petition drives for medical cannabis, underscoring its importance. The Nebraska Secretary of State and Attorney General’s Office will decide if voters can address medical marijuana legalization in the next election.
