The Omaha tribe is moving forward with its plan to bring medical marijuana to the state. The tribe officially legalized medical and adult-use cannabis in July. Since then, it has faced pushback from the state over a tobacco tax compact. The tribe and state disagree about how to best split tax dollars from tobacco sales. The tribe is asking for 90% of tax revenue from tobacco sold on the reservation; other tribes receive 75%.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen has also weighed in, holding up those negotiations due to his opposition to medical and adult-use marijuana on tribal land. A bill has been introduced in the legislature this session to push the issue forward.
The Omaha Tribe's Attorney General John Cartier said that focusing on building and operating a cannabis dispensary would go a long way toward alleviating some of the financial concerns if tobacco money dries up.
"While that would be hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue from the tobacco tax compact side," he reasoned, "we're talking millions, tens of millions of dollars in revenue from the medical cannabis side. So when you're comparing those numbers, it's obvious which is going to be better for the tribe long term."
Read more at Nebraska Public Media
