Nebraska medical marijuana initiative rolls on after proposed reclassification

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The Drug Enforcement Administration submitted a proposed change on Thursday to the classification of marijuana.

The new rule recognizes medical uses of cannabis and says marijuana has less potential for abuse compared with drugs like heroin.

Marijuana is currently classified as a schedule 1 drug, like LSD 0r heroin, but the DEA wants to change it to a schedule 3 drug.

It is very difficult to conduct clinical studies on drugs that are considered highly addictive.

This reclassification makes it easier to research the plant and what medical benefits it may have.

SEE ALSO: Latest push to legalize medical marijuana kicks off in Lincoln

The group Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana is trying to bring medical cannabis to the Heartland.

Campain manager Crista Eggers said Thursday’s move is a step in the right direction.

“It’s truly overdue,” she said. “You know, we’re catching up with the rest of the world, where this has been something that’s been recognized and used as a medical treatment for so long. I think this, the timeliness of this is very important.”

Nebraska is one of only three states that do not have medical marijuana.

SEE ALSO: Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana files two new petitions for 2024 ballot

Eggers said her team has been collecting signatures for ballot initiatives to get medical cannabis in front of voters in November.

The initiatives need 87,000 valid signatures overall and signatures from at least 5% of registered voters in at least 38 counties.

Eggers said the group has met that multicounty threshold; now it’s focused on the overall number.

“It’s a testament to the support for this issue here in Nebraska,” she said. “Voters overwhelmingly want the ability to vote on this.”

For now, the proposed reclassification enters a 60-day comment period, followed by a possible review from an administrative judge.

To be clear, reclassification does not change the drug’s legal status.

So Eggers and her group will keep gathering signatures ahead of a July 3 deadline, when they turn in those signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office.

“Because yes, the federal government has now had a stance on this,” Eggers said. “But at the state level, we still have to push because we know that access for patients is not going to happen overnight.”