A bill regulating medical marijuana failed in the Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday. Lawmakers voted 23-22 to end debate on Legislative Bill 677, but it needed 33 votes. The death of the bill means that the implementation of medical marijuana, which voters approved last fall, will be left to a new commission.
One of the initiatives passed by voters created the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. Last week, Gov. Jim Pillen made his two appointments to the commission.
The remaining three spots will be filled by the members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Pillen's two picks have a hearing before a legislative committee scheduled for Thursday.
During this year's legislative session, state senators introduced four different bills providing more detailed regulations on the drug. Of those, LB677 from Sen. Ben Hansen, saw the most attention. Over the course of several weeks, the Legislature's General Affairs Committee considered several amendments to Hansen's legislation. Eventually, a compromise, AM1251, was voted out of the committee.
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