The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission declined to make any changes to its draft cannabis regulations at its meeting Monday afternoon. The commission received 590 public comments as part of a public hearing for the regulations on Oct. 15.
Commission Chair Dr. Monica Oldenburg said many of the comments didn't include specific recommendations for changes to the regulations, but those that did fell into six general categories.
The commission voted unanimously to keep the regulations as written in each of the six categories. Commissioner Lorelle Mueting said the commission doesn't make medical decisions based on popular vote.
"We make medical decisions based on science and research, and although 71% of Nebraskans voted for medical cannabis, we still owe it to them to provide it in a medical form that's not going to do more harm than good," she said during discussion on whether to allow for smoking and vaping. Commissioner J. Michael Coffey did hint at the possibility of expanding limits on plants and cultivators in the future, but voted against any changes to the current regulations.
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