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Nebraska Advocates Push for Medical Marijuana Legalization

The TDR Three Key Takeaways regarding Nebraska Advocates and Medical Marijuana Legalization:

  • Nebraska’s campaign for medical marijuana gains momentum under Crista Eggers’ leadership.
  • Nebraska’s medical marijuana campaign collects 2,500 signatures in Omaha and Lincoln blitz.
  • The future of Nebraska’s medical marijuana initiative hinges on upcoming verification steps.

Medical marijuana advocates in Nebraska are making another concerted effort to get their issue on the ballot. The campaign is led by Crista Eggers, a statewide campaign manager driven by her son Colton’s struggle with epilepsy and severe seizures. Nebraska advocates are aiming for the legalization of medical marijuana.

Crista Eggers is at the forefront of this movement, motivated by her nine-year-old son Colton’s need for medical cannabis to manage his epilepsy. Eggers’ leadership has been a cornerstone of the campaign, which has faced significant hurdles in its previous two attempts. The campaign, initially launched in 2019 by former State Sen. Adam Morfeld and State Sen. Anna Wishart along with Eggers, is now in its third iteration.

The recent push saw the campaign conducting a final blitz at Wine, Beer, and Spirits locations in Omaha and Lincoln, collecting an impressive 2,500 signatures for each petition on the last day. Despite this strong effort, the verification process remains a challenge. The campaign requires signatures from at least 5% of voters in 38 of the state’s 93 counties, and it is typical for 15% to 30% of signatures to be rejected during verification.

Public support for medical marijuana in Nebraska remains strong, with polling indicating widespread backing across various demographics. However, political opposition is also fierce, with Governor Jim Pillen and Attorney General Mike Hilgers voicing concerns about potential harm to children and the lack of FDA approval.

The next steps for the campaign involve the Nebraska Secretary of State’s Office distributing signatures for verification, followed by a review of the petition language by the Attorney General’s Office. This rigorous process underscores the challenges that the medical marijuana legalization campaign faces, even in the face of strong public support.

Nationally, the context is also evolving. The U.S. Department of Justice is considering reclassifying marijuana, and 38 states have already legalized medical marijuana. This broader trend could influence the outcome of Nebraska’s efforts, providing a more favorable environment for the campaign.

Crista Eggers hopes future parents won’t need petition drives for medical cannabis, stressing its importance. The campaign’s founders remain committed, and the Nebraska Secretary of State and Attorney General’s Office will decide if voters can address medical marijuana legalization in the next election.

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