Nebraska Court Upholds Medical Cannabis Petitions

A Lancaster County District Court judge has dismissed legal challenges against Nebraska's medical cannabis initiatives, affirming that the petitions met the necessary signature requirements for ballot access. Judge Susan Strong determined that the petitions exceeded the required 86,499 valid signatures despite concerns raised about potentially fraudulent signatures and notarizations. The ruling is seen as a significant victory for advocates, as over 70% of voters supported the measures in the November election. Opponents, including former state senator John Kuehn and Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen, are expected to appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. The ballot initiatives aim to legalize medical cannabis and establish a regulatory commission, despite arguments that they conflict with federal law. Proponents argue the measures are essential for providing medical treatment options based on scientific reports supporting cannabis's efficacy for chronic illnesses.