Nebraska is officially the 39th state to legalize medical cannabis following a Nov. 26 court ruling—well, as long as no appeals are made.
Lancaster County District Court Judge Susan Strong dismissed prohibitionist John Kuehn’s legal challenge to a pair of complementary legalization initiatives that Nebraska voters passed with decisive supermajorities during the Nov. 5 election.
The statutory measures to legalize medical cannabis and provide for a regulated commercial marketplace attracted 71% and 67% support at the polls, respectively.
“We are grateful that the vote of the people will be upheld, and Nebraska patients will soon have access to safe and regulated medical cannabis treatment,” Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) Campaign Manager Crista Eggers said in a public statement.
Eggers co-led the NMM legalization committee with Democratic state Sen. Anna Wishart and former Democratic state Sen. Adam Morfeld.
“We have long been committed to seeing this day through, and we are pleased with Judge Strong’s decision,” Eggers said. “Many years of hard work have gone into this effort—from volunteers, patients and families across the state. Knowing that another mother will soon have an option for her suffering child makes it all worthwhile.”
Eggers’ son, Colton, battles severe epileptic seizures.
While Nebraska voters left little doubt on Election Day regarding their stance on medical cannabis legalization, Kuehn’s legal challenge in Lancaster County left the election results in peril until now.
H/T: www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com
