LINCOLN- Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana announced on Thursday that it has likely crossed one of the two significant hurdles as they attempt to get the issue on the ballot for the third straight election year. The minimum requirement for signatures to have an issue placed on the ballot is 5% of Nebraskan voters and 5% of voters in at least 38 of the state's 93 counties. They've reached the county quota and are now shifting their focus toward getting at least 87,000 verified voter signatures before July 3.

Volunteers are seeking to surpass these requirements to provide a rebuttal against challenges. In 2020, the campaign met the requirements but was removed from the ballot because it was deemed to encompass multiple subjects. Another attempt was made in 2022, but their efforts fell short. For this reason, the campaign has been more timely and coordinated this time around. Advocates across the state made significant efforts during events held last month.

Thursday's announcement was paired with the formal advancement of a federal reclassification of marijuana as a less dangerous drug, shifting from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. Governor Jim Pillen expressed concerns over the legalization of marijuana last September noting the possible harm to children. There have been 38 states that have passed the legalization of medical marijuana and 24 that have legalized its recreational use.

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