Nebraska lawmakers have taken steps to advance the nomination of Lorelle Mueting to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission. On Tuesday, the General Affairs Committee voted 5-3 along party lines to send her name to the full Legislature for a vote. This decision comes after the committee approved the nomination of Dr. Monica Oldenburg last week.
Both Mueting and Oldenburg, who oppose the legalization of medical cannabis, were nominated by Governor Jim Pillen just before the Legislature debated Bill LB677. This bill aimed to implement two voter-approved initiatives that legalized and regulated medical marijuana in Nebraska. The full Legislature will discuss the nominations before the end of the 90-day session, which is currently in its 85th day.
If the full Legislature approves Mueting and Oldenburg with a minimum of 25 votes, they will join three members of the Liquor Control Commission to oversee Nebraska’s medical cannabis system for a six-year term. The committee’s action to advance Mueting’s nomination was strategic; under legislative rules, gubernatorial appointments held in committee would automatically be approved if the session ended without a vote.
Senator Rick Holdcroft, the committee chairman, emphasized the need for both nominees to receive a clear vote from the Legislature. He presented three options to the committee, and the majority opted to advance Mueting’s appointment. Senators who supported her nomination included Holdcroft, Jared Storm, Bob Andersen, and Barry DeKay, while Omaha Senators John Cavanaugh and Dan Quick opposed it.
Governor Pillen praised both nominees as experienced individuals capable of implementing regulations that align with the law and the preferences of the majority of Nebraska voters. However, the nominations have faced criticism from advocates of the medical cannabis initiatives, who argue that the Legislature disregards the will of the voters. Crista Eggers, director of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, condemned the appointments, likening them to putting ‘an arsonist in charge of the fire department.’
As the state continues its legal battle over the validity of the initiatives, which were approved by approximately 70% of voters in November, the appointment process for Mueting and Oldenburg remains contentious. Their roles in the upcoming regulatory framework will be closely watched as discussions around medical cannabis unfold in Nebraska.
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