Pillen signs amended medical cannabis regulations with plant limit for cultivators

Gov. Jim Pillen approved the amended emergency regulations submitted by the Nebraska Medical Cannabis commission this week.

The new regulations place a limit of 1,250 flowering plants that can be possessed by each cultivator. A maximum of four cultivator licenses can be awarded in the state.

Pillen requested the limit be added after declining to sign regulations submitted last week.

“Leaving the cultivators without a limit would increase likelihood of an over-abundance of cannabis product that creates an unregulated, unintended black-market supply,” he wrote.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana executive director Crista Eggers said the limits won’t be adequate for the needs of patients in the state.

“What we've seen in states across the nation when you too narrowly restrict the cannabis product or the ability for people to grow it or manufacture it or to sell it on the shelves in the dispensary, we unfortunately see the black market just skyrocket,” she said.

The next scheduled commission meeting will take place on Sept. 30.