Medical marijuana, abortion, debate rules discussed in Legislature
By Fred Knapp , Senior Reporter/Producer Nebraska Public Media
21 de Enero de 2025 a las 17:00 ·

How to implement the voter-approved legalization of medical marijuana, how to regulate abortions, and whether to change the rules for debate were among subjects under discussion in the Nebraska Legislature Tuesday.
On the next-to-last day to introduce new bills in the Nebraska Legislature, Sen. Danielle Conrad said she and other senators were preparing to introduce legislation to implement voters’ decision last year to legalize medical marijuana. She said she has been working with the organizers of last year’s successful initiative campaign.
“The goal was really clear to put forward a measure that would ensure swift and robust implementation to effectuate the will of the people so that Nebraskans can finally have access to medical marijuana, which should be a cure, not a crime,” Conrad said.
Attorney General Mike Hilgers has argued that despite the initiative, marijuana remains illegal because of federal law.
“It has been my view pilot from a policy perspective, and it certainly is my view legally, that I do not think that one can actually sell marijuana legally,” Hilgers said during a news conference last week.
Opponents of medical marijuana sued to prevent its legalization, alleging widespread fraud in the signature-gathering process to put the initiative on the ballot. A Lancaster District Court judge ruled against them, but Hilgers has appealed that decision. Conrad criticized that approach.
“There's ongoing, ridiculous litigation that's pending before the courts in Nebraska, and we need to ensure that we have as strong as possible implementation measures before the Legislature to guard against that hostile opposition to the will of the people,” she said.
And she said even if her legislation doesn’t pass, legalization will still take place.
“If no measure in the Legislature this year can achieve the high water mark of 33 votes, which is required due to a potential filibuster and a safeguard in our constitution to prevent the Legislature from meddling with the will of the people, the will of the people will be carried out," she said. "The Nebraska constitution is clear. Ballot measures are self-executing."
Separate legislation introduced by Sen. Jared Storm would specify that medical marijuana would be available only in the form of pills or liquid. Conrad said her bill will contain no such restriction.
On the subject of abortion, Sen. Rick Holdcroft introduced a bill that he said is intended to protect the health of women getting abortions induced by pills, rather than surgery:
“This would require (doctors) to have a follow up appointments three to 14 days (after prescribing) and it would also require that they do a couple more tests,” Holdcroft said.
And on the subject of legislative rules, Sen. Loren Lippincott, chair of the Rules Committee, said that committee would not recommend some of the most controversial proposed rules changes for debate this year. Lippincott said there will be no committee proposal to lower the number of votes required to end a filibuster, to end secret balloting for committee chairmanships, or to exclude the media from committee executive sessions.
Lippincott said even though he personally favors open balloting for committee chairmanships, realistically, there is not enough support to make the change.
“We did not have the votes in order to bring it out of committee,” Lippincott said. "I checked before we convened this committee this morning. I also ran a card to check the pulse of legislators, and it would take 30 votes in order to change the rule. And (we were) a little bit shy of that."
Individual senators could still propose that and other changes when less controversial rules are up for consideration Wednesday.
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