Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
Nebraska could join 23 states and the District of Columbia in legalizing forms of marijuana use under proposed legislation.
Two bills dealing with the substance have been introduced and are scheduled for hearings on March 6.
LB 390, introduced by Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue, would create a pilot project allowing the University of Nebraska Medical Center to conduct medical marijuana research for seizure and intractable epilepsy patients.
LB 643, introduced by Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue, takes medical marijuana use a couple steps further. His bill would allow the use of medical marijuana across Nebraska.
"This is all about being compassionate and caring about people," Garrett said.
Garrett said he's seen people experience a medical need for marijuana as a last resort, including his father-in-law, who dealt with pancreatic cancer.
Garrett co-sponsored one of Crawford's bills last session that dealt with legalizing the medical use of hemp oil extract. The bill was withdrawn less than a month after being introduced.
"I was really heartbroken last session when she (Crawford) pulled the bill," Garrett said.
He said he never planned to go further with marijuana legislation until a man talked to him about the use and benefits of medical marijuana. Garrett said one day he had a group of distraught family members in his office because nothing was available for people, such as epilepsy patients, who need the substance for effective treatment.
"I thought, 'You know what? It's time to have a serious discussion about this,'" Garrett said.
He said his father-in-law was prescribed medical marijuana for his pancreatic cancer and it treated his pain. He spoke with an epilepsy patient whose prescription bill is about $35,000 a year, which Garrett said the state pays for. However, Garrett said the patient told him the prescription drugs aren't working.
"I'm fed up with it," Garrett said about people not taking action on medical marijuana.
Garrett said the benefits of medical marijuana have been known for a long time and his bill would give people who really need it an opportunity for relief. He said some people are concerned with the substance abuse that might evolve from medicinal use of marijuana.
"People abuse everything," Garrett said. "Why deprive those who need it?"
LB 390, which Garrett co-sponsors, is Crawford's bill that would take more cautious steps with the medical use of marijuana.
The bill focuses on medical marijuana research through UNMC specifically for people with intractable epilepsy, a disorder in which seizures are uncontrollable under normal treatment.
"I want a way for these patients who are in desperate need of help, to get help," Crawford said.
She said the medical marijuana that would be researched has a low THC level. THC is the main constituent in marijuana.
The pilot project would be allocated $250,000 for two years, totaling half a million dollars.
Crawford, who isn't a co-sponsor of Garrett's bill, said she's not opposed to wider medical use of marijuana in Nebraska. However, she said she doesn't fully support it either.
Crawford said LB 390 is narrow in order to be as federally compliant as possible. She said it would try to provide a common sense and cautious tool to provide care to intractable epilepsy patients in desperate need.
Garrett supports both medical marijuana bills and said he sees them as an opportunity to make life better for Nebraskans. He said his bill is narrowly written, as is Crawford's bill, to eliminate the possibility of abuse, with strict standards for prescription and use of medical marijuana.
To those who are worried about marijuana abuse as seen in some states, Garrett said, "We're not Colorado. We're Nebraska. We get to decide what this law says."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana a growing legislative interest - starherald.com: Regional/Statewide
Author: Kelli Rollin
Contact: steve.frederick@starherald.com
Photo Credit: Matthew Staver
Website: starherald.com: Pride in the Panhandle
Two bills dealing with the substance have been introduced and are scheduled for hearings on March 6.
LB 390, introduced by Sen. Sue Crawford of Bellevue, would create a pilot project allowing the University of Nebraska Medical Center to conduct medical marijuana research for seizure and intractable epilepsy patients.
LB 643, introduced by Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue, takes medical marijuana use a couple steps further. His bill would allow the use of medical marijuana across Nebraska.
"This is all about being compassionate and caring about people," Garrett said.
Garrett said he's seen people experience a medical need for marijuana as a last resort, including his father-in-law, who dealt with pancreatic cancer.
Garrett co-sponsored one of Crawford's bills last session that dealt with legalizing the medical use of hemp oil extract. The bill was withdrawn less than a month after being introduced.
"I was really heartbroken last session when she (Crawford) pulled the bill," Garrett said.
He said he never planned to go further with marijuana legislation until a man talked to him about the use and benefits of medical marijuana. Garrett said one day he had a group of distraught family members in his office because nothing was available for people, such as epilepsy patients, who need the substance for effective treatment.
"I thought, 'You know what? It's time to have a serious discussion about this,'" Garrett said.
He said his father-in-law was prescribed medical marijuana for his pancreatic cancer and it treated his pain. He spoke with an epilepsy patient whose prescription bill is about $35,000 a year, which Garrett said the state pays for. However, Garrett said the patient told him the prescription drugs aren't working.
"I'm fed up with it," Garrett said about people not taking action on medical marijuana.
Garrett said the benefits of medical marijuana have been known for a long time and his bill would give people who really need it an opportunity for relief. He said some people are concerned with the substance abuse that might evolve from medicinal use of marijuana.
"People abuse everything," Garrett said. "Why deprive those who need it?"
LB 390, which Garrett co-sponsors, is Crawford's bill that would take more cautious steps with the medical use of marijuana.
The bill focuses on medical marijuana research through UNMC specifically for people with intractable epilepsy, a disorder in which seizures are uncontrollable under normal treatment.
"I want a way for these patients who are in desperate need of help, to get help," Crawford said.
She said the medical marijuana that would be researched has a low THC level. THC is the main constituent in marijuana.
The pilot project would be allocated $250,000 for two years, totaling half a million dollars.
Crawford, who isn't a co-sponsor of Garrett's bill, said she's not opposed to wider medical use of marijuana in Nebraska. However, she said she doesn't fully support it either.
Crawford said LB 390 is narrow in order to be as federally compliant as possible. She said it would try to provide a common sense and cautious tool to provide care to intractable epilepsy patients in desperate need.
Garrett supports both medical marijuana bills and said he sees them as an opportunity to make life better for Nebraskans. He said his bill is narrowly written, as is Crawford's bill, to eliminate the possibility of abuse, with strict standards for prescription and use of medical marijuana.
To those who are worried about marijuana abuse as seen in some states, Garrett said, "We're not Colorado. We're Nebraska. We get to decide what this law says."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana a growing legislative interest - starherald.com: Regional/Statewide
Author: Kelli Rollin
Contact: steve.frederick@starherald.com
Photo Credit: Matthew Staver
Website: starherald.com: Pride in the Panhandle
