Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) has officially approved emergency rules and regulations for a regulatory commission to begin licensing medical cannabis establishments no later than October 1.
The regulations had to go into effect Tuesday, based on deadlines overwhelmingly imposed by voters last November when Nebraskans legalized medical cannabis up to 5 ounces with any health care practitioner's recommendation. Voters also approved a new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to have the "exclusive" power to regulate the new medicine.
After reviewing the emergency regulations, Pillen signed them Sunday. That means the commission narrowly meets its July 1 deadline to impose criteria to accept or deny licensing applications. Licensing must begin by October 1, under state law.
Pillen on Tuesday pointed to a legal agreement the Medical Cannabis Commission also entered into Thursday with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and Pillen's Policy Research Office, the governor's lobbying arm. At least some advocates have voiced concern about the involvement of DHHS for broad "legal services," including general rulemaking.
Read more at Marijuana Moment