Robert Celt
New Member
Making medical marijuana legal in the state of Nebraska could one day be in the hands of the voters and not lawmakers.
After lawmakers shot down LB 643 this week, a bill to legalize medical cannabis, advocates said they're going to pursue a ballot initiative they had temporarily put on hold.
"The majority of our lawmakers obviously failed us and now we've decided to take the next step," Shelley Gillen, whose son - Will - battles seizures, said.
However, Gillen said it is probably too late to put the measure on this November's ballot.
"We would need someone to come forth like right now with a million dollars for us to get it done in three months," Gillen said.
"So, more realistically, it would be 2018."
Gillen said several advocacy groups are joining together to see this initiative pass, including Nebraska Families 4 Medical Cannabis. They would have to get 160,000 signatures in order to put it to an eventual vote.
"All we have gotten is a governor and attorney general who have lobbied against sick children and sick Nebraskans ever since day one," Gillen said.
"Right up until the bitter end. And, now, they have their way."
Though Gillen's family said they like their chances on a ballot measure, some state officials want to follow a different path.
"We have a process for making dangerous drugs like marijuana illegal," Gov. Pete Ricketts said in a press conference last week.
"It's called the FDA."
Ricketts said he is sympathetic towards the families and knows this is painful.
"However, we also have to think about the larger risks out there for society if we start deciding the legislature and governor know more than the FDA," Ricketts said.
Nationally, the Drug Enforcement Administration is reportedly planning to decide in the next few months if they will reschedule marijuana from a schedule 1 substance to something lower like a schedule 2 or 3.
Doing so could make legalizing medical marijuana easier, and could make it more simple for research entities to evaluate medical marijuana.
However, for people like Gillen, she believes they may not have a long time to wait.
"I just hope he'll be here in two years," Gillen said, referencing her son.
"That's the biggest thing."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Nebraska Medical Marijuana Advocates Eye Ballot Initiative
Author: Josh Kellams
Contact: 1011now (none found)
Photo Credit: None found
Website: 1011now
After lawmakers shot down LB 643 this week, a bill to legalize medical cannabis, advocates said they're going to pursue a ballot initiative they had temporarily put on hold.
"The majority of our lawmakers obviously failed us and now we've decided to take the next step," Shelley Gillen, whose son - Will - battles seizures, said.
However, Gillen said it is probably too late to put the measure on this November's ballot.
"We would need someone to come forth like right now with a million dollars for us to get it done in three months," Gillen said.
"So, more realistically, it would be 2018."
Gillen said several advocacy groups are joining together to see this initiative pass, including Nebraska Families 4 Medical Cannabis. They would have to get 160,000 signatures in order to put it to an eventual vote.
"All we have gotten is a governor and attorney general who have lobbied against sick children and sick Nebraskans ever since day one," Gillen said.
"Right up until the bitter end. And, now, they have their way."
Though Gillen's family said they like their chances on a ballot measure, some state officials want to follow a different path.
"We have a process for making dangerous drugs like marijuana illegal," Gov. Pete Ricketts said in a press conference last week.
"It's called the FDA."
Ricketts said he is sympathetic towards the families and knows this is painful.
"However, we also have to think about the larger risks out there for society if we start deciding the legislature and governor know more than the FDA," Ricketts said.
Nationally, the Drug Enforcement Administration is reportedly planning to decide in the next few months if they will reschedule marijuana from a schedule 1 substance to something lower like a schedule 2 or 3.
Doing so could make legalizing medical marijuana easier, and could make it more simple for research entities to evaluate medical marijuana.
However, for people like Gillen, she believes they may not have a long time to wait.
"I just hope he'll be here in two years," Gillen said, referencing her son.
"That's the biggest thing."
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Nebraska Medical Marijuana Advocates Eye Ballot Initiative
Author: Josh Kellams
Contact: 1011now (none found)
Photo Credit: None found
Website: 1011now
