LINCOLN- A previously outspoken opponent of medical marijuana is now proposing to legalize its use in Nebraska under strict regulations.

State Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte introduced Legislative Bill 1275 on Thursday, the last day for bill introductions this year. It was among 593 bills and nine proposed constitutional amendments tossed into the hopper.

His proposal would establish a system under which people with specific medical conditions could obtain limited amounts of marijuana. The marijuana would have to be supplied by state-regulated dispensaries, which would be limited to five per congressional district.

Only patients with stage 4 cancer, uncontrolled seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis or muscular dystrophy or a terminal illness with a life expectancy under one year could qualify to obtain medical marijuana. Those patients would not be allowed to grow marijuana, and they couldn’t ingest it by smoking.

The bill is similar to one introduced last year by Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln, who has been the Legislature’s leading advocate of medical marijuana. Her proposal was blocked by a filibuster, after which she turned her attention to an initiative petition drive aimed at putting the issue before voters in November.

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