Jacob Redmond
Well-Known Member
It appears Nebraskans will wait at least another year for broader legalization of medical marijuana.
Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett said Tuesday he will ask to have his medical marijuana bill (LB643) tabled until 2016 so he can refine it and attempt to gain more support.
The measure advanced from first-round debate on a 27-12 vote earlier this month. But it faced an almost certain filibuster Wednesday morning, which would have raised the number of votes needed for its passage from 25 to 33.
And instead of gaining support, Garrett found himself losing votes and running out of time.
Among the senators who peeled away was one who, like Garrett, voted to repeal the death penalty and "got the stuffing kicked out of him over the weekend" because of it, Garrett said.
"Welcome to politics, you know. There's nothing uglier and grittier than politics," he said. "Politicians are the lowest form of life."
Tabling the bill will allow debate to pick up at the same place next year, instead of requiring another formal committee hearing and additional votes.
Garrett has already informed some supporters of his plans. Those include the "supermoms" of children with epilepsy who scored a win earlier this month with the passage of a more limited medical marijuana bill sponsored by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford.
Garrett's bill is more expansive, but would still prohibit smoking marijuana for any reason and would only make it available for medical purposes.
"This should really be a no-brainer," he said. "This is incomprehensible to me."
Supporters still plan to have a major presence at the Capitol on Wednesday.
"They've been tireless," Garrett said. "God bless 'em.
"Too bad that we can't come through for them this year."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana bill will need to wait a year, sponsor says : Politics
Author: Zach Pluhacek
Contact: zpluhacek@journalstar.com
Photo Credit: journalstar
Website: Lincoln, NE News, Sports : Journal Star
Bellevue Sen. Tommy Garrett said Tuesday he will ask to have his medical marijuana bill (LB643) tabled until 2016 so he can refine it and attempt to gain more support.
The measure advanced from first-round debate on a 27-12 vote earlier this month. But it faced an almost certain filibuster Wednesday morning, which would have raised the number of votes needed for its passage from 25 to 33.
And instead of gaining support, Garrett found himself losing votes and running out of time.
Among the senators who peeled away was one who, like Garrett, voted to repeal the death penalty and "got the stuffing kicked out of him over the weekend" because of it, Garrett said.
"Welcome to politics, you know. There's nothing uglier and grittier than politics," he said. "Politicians are the lowest form of life."
Tabling the bill will allow debate to pick up at the same place next year, instead of requiring another formal committee hearing and additional votes.
Garrett has already informed some supporters of his plans. Those include the "supermoms" of children with epilepsy who scored a win earlier this month with the passage of a more limited medical marijuana bill sponsored by Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford.
Garrett's bill is more expansive, but would still prohibit smoking marijuana for any reason and would only make it available for medical purposes.
"This should really be a no-brainer," he said. "This is incomprehensible to me."
Supporters still plan to have a major presence at the Capitol on Wednesday.
"They've been tireless," Garrett said. "God bless 'em.
"Too bad that we can't come through for them this year."
News Moderator: Jacob Redmond 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Medical marijuana bill will need to wait a year, sponsor says : Politics
Author: Zach Pluhacek
Contact: zpluhacek@journalstar.com
Photo Credit: journalstar
Website: Lincoln, NE News, Sports : Journal Star
