Nebraska lawmakers have advanced the appointment of Lorelle Mueting to the Medical Cannabis Commission, allowing the full Legislature to consider her nomination. This decision followed a tied vote last week, which prompted a legislative committee to revisit the nomination. State Senator Stan Clouse, who had previously opposed Mueting, changed his stance during a brief meeting on Tuesday, stating he wanted the entire Legislature to evaluate her appointment rather than leaving it in the General Affairs Committee.
Mueting, who serves as the prevention director at Heartland Family Service in Omaha, is part of the voter-approved Medical Cannabis Commission responsible for establishing regulations and rules. These guidelines are expected to be finalized by July 1, enabling the licensing of medical cannabis dispensaries to commence by October 1. Senator Clouse initially expressed hesitance regarding Mueting’s confirmation hearing, where she did not perform strongly according to some supporters of medical cannabis. In contrast, he backed Dr. Monica Oldenburg, an anesthesiologist from Lincoln, because of her medical background.
Both nominations passed with a 5-3 vote, reflecting party lines between Republicans and Democrats. The two appointees now require at least 25 votes in the Legislature for confirmation. They will join three members from the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to form the new regulatory body overseeing medical cannabis in the state. Clouse indicated he remains open-minded about his final vote on these appointments. The legislative session is set to conclude on June 9, 2023, which adds urgency to the confirmation process.
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