Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission seeking input on cannabis manufacturing

Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Commission is inviting cannabis manufacturers to give input during an upcoming listening session. In a news release sent Tuesday, the commission wrote that it intends to use the input to finalize its manufacturing licensing regulations.

Manufacturers hoping to present at the hearing will need to submit a request to the commission via email, mcc.contact@nebraska.gov, before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The commission members will then select which speakers will speak at the hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 1 p.m.

The commission is looking for speakers that can discuss “best practices for ensuring patient safety in the manufacturing process for each type of cannabis product listed in the regulations.”

The release said the commission aims to hear from a “diverse group of product manufacturers” in order to finalize the commission’s regulations with industry standards.

People selected and invited to speak will have three minutes to discuss their experience with manufacturing cannabis and insight on the product manufacturing industry. The commission said manufacturers who aren’t selected can still speak during the regular comment period of the meeting.

The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission just this month declined to make any changes to its draft cannabis regulations, which drew hundreds of public comments. In an October meeting, dozens of cannabis advocates spoke out against the proposed regulations, saying the restrictions imposed by the commission essentially rejected what voters elected to pass in 2024.

More than 71% of Nebraska voters supported legalizing the use of up to five ounces of marijuana for medical purposes by qualified patients. The proposed restrictions include a limit of 1,250 flowering plants that can be possessed by each cultivator, and a maximum of four cultivator licenses can be awarded in the state.

Some advocates said that capping the number of cultivators will only produce high prices and product shortages. And others criticized bans on products administered by smoking, combustion or vaping, as well as raw plant material, such as marijuana flower.

The proposed regulations still need the approval of Attorney General Mike Hilgers and Gov. Jim Pillen before they can be filed with the Secretary of State, but legal challenges are expected against the regulations.

The further development of the regulations and manufacturing come as the five-person Medical Cannabis Commission gain two new members this week. Gov. Pillen appointed Robert “Bud” Synhorst and James Elworth to the commission. They replaced Bruce Bailey and Kim Lowe, who both resigned in September after Pillen asked them to.

Their resignations came after former Liquor Commission Executive Director Hobert Rupe was indicted on several federal charges relating to an alleged scheme between Rupe and Lincoln strip club owner Brent Zywiec, in which Rupe is accused of taking bribes, including cash, free drinks and sex acts from women who worked at the club. Zywiec was also indicted.