LINCOLN- LB474, sponsored by Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, would allow for the cultivation, processing and use of medicinal cannabis as well as create a regulatory and fee structure, oversight board and enforcement department. A very similar bill was debated last year in the Legislature and did not advance. Wishart then moved to get a petition going to get the initiative on the November ballot, but was struck down by the Nebraska Supreme Court for violating the single subject rule for ballot initiatives.

Governor Ricketts chimed in on the issue saying, "This is a dangerous drug that will impact our kids, if you legalize marijuana, you're going to kill your kids." Former Husker football coach Tom Osborne called medicinal marijuana the first step in full-scale approval of recreational marijuana which would create more mental health and societal issues.

The committee overseeing this bill did not take any action Wednesday. Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln, a longtime supporter of this initiative, says he would like to see doctors come up with a list of what medical conditions could be treated by cannabis before voters have the opportunity to vote.

"This bill is not going to fail because of a lack of compromise," Wishart said. "If this bill fails to pass, it is because of political pressure from a few who wield their power to stamp out the will of the people. The people will not be silenced."

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