{"id":82059,"date":"2025-07-01T07:09:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T15:09:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/nebraska-governor-approves-medical-marijuana-rules-banning-flower-access-for-patients\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T19:48:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T03:48:11","slug":"nebraska-governor-approves-medical-marijuana-rules-banning-flower-access-for-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/2025\/07\/01\/nebraska-governor-approves-medical-marijuana-rules-banning-flower-access-for-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Nebraska Governor Approves Medical Marijuana Rules Banning Flower Access For Patients"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\u201cLet me be clear: This blatant disregard of their duty and the law will not be tolerated.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) has officially approved emergency rules and regulations for a regulatory commission to begin licensing medical cannabis establishments<\/a> no later than October 1.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0regulations\u00a0had to go into effect Tuesday, based on deadlines overwhelmingly imposed by voters last November when Nebraskans legalized medical cannabis up to 5 ounces with any health care practitioner\u2019s recommendation. Voters also approved a new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to have the \u201cexclusive\u201d power to regulate the new medicine.<\/p>\n

After\u00a0reviewing the emergency regulations, Pillen signed them Sunday. That means the commission narrowly meets its July 1 deadline to impose criteria to accept or deny licensing applications.\u00a0Licensing must begin by October 1, under state law.<\/p>\n

Pillen on Tuesday pointed to a legal agreement the Medical Cannabis Commission also entered into<\/a> Thursday with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Pillen\u2019s Policy Research Office, the governor\u2019s lobbying arm. At least some advocates have voiced concern about the\u00a0involvement of DHHS\u00a0for broad \u201clegal services,\u201d including general rulemaking.<\/p>\n

Pillen\u2019s office said the agencies \u201cwill ensure Nebraska\u2019s new cannabis industry is properly regulated as outlined in the ballot initiatives passed by voters and signed by him into law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The emergency guidelines go into effect for up to 90 days, through September 28, and can be extended, if needed, for one more 90-day period. However, Pillen and members of the Medical Cannabis Commission plan to move forward with formal regulations by October 1.<\/p>\n

The commission is soliciting public feedback on the emergency regulations by July 15 at\u00a0lcc.frontdesk@nebraska.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Dr. Monica Oldenburg, an anesthesiologist who chairs the Medical Cannabis Commission, sent a letter to Pillen relaying the emergency regulations and stating that the \u201cfailure\u201d to adopt them by the July 1 deadline \u201cwould force Nebraskans to seek medical cannabis or similar products from unregulated and potentially harmful sources.\u201d<\/p>\n

Justification for emergency regulations under\u00a0state law\u00a0can include \u201cimminent peril\u201d to public health, safety or welfare.<\/p>\n

Application requirements<\/h4>\n

Under the emergency guidelines, anyone could apply for a cultivator, product manufacturer, dispensary or transporter license. An individual or business could be awarded only one license type, which would each also have strict record-keeping requirements.<\/p>\n

Licenses could be granted for two years with a chance for renewal and would be non-transferable. Licenses may be denied for \u201cgood cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

Applicants would need to meet the following criteria for all license types:<\/p>\n