Lawmaker challenges medical cannabis regs he says 'override' Nebraska voter intent

Source: Nebraska Examiner

‘The Legislature must act to ensure that the will of the voters is observed,’ says State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha
By: Zach Wendling - October 2, 2025 3:00 pm

LINCOLN — A state lawmaker is formally challenging regulations from the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission that he says “override the clearly expressed will of Nebraska voters.”

A Thursday complaint led by State Sen. John Cavanaugh of Omaha, a lawyer, narrows in on a handful of issues Cavanaugh cites in emergency regulations passed by the commission this summer. Commissioners hope to make the regulations final and have scheduled a 1 p.m. public hearing at the Nebraska State Office Building in Lincoln on Oct. 15 to receive feedback.

Among Cavanaugh’s complaints are that the regulations would:

Restrict the availability of medical cannabis products that could be sold at licensed dispensaries to a narrow list, while the law has no restrictions.
Only allow in-state health care practitioners to recommend medical cannabis, while voters approved allowing any physician to do so.
Prohibit smoking or vaping of medical cannabis, while the law expressly allows any device used for vaporization or inhalation.

“All without the benefit of a public hearing or public scrutiny, the commission and the governor have chosen to override the clearly expressed will of Nebraska voters,” Cavanaugh wrote to State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, chair of the Legislature’s Executive Board.


State lawmakers hosted a series of three public forums in eastern Nebraska on medical cannabis, including one in Lincoln on May 5, 2025. From left, State Sens. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue, Jane Raybould of Lincoln, Tom Brandt of Plymouth, John Cavanaugh of Omaha, George Dungan of Lincoln, Myron Dorn of Adams, Danielle Conrad of Lincoln, Jana Hughes of Seward, Margo Juarez of Omaha and Merv Riepe of Ralston. State Sens. Ben Hansen of Blair, Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha and Terrell McKinney of Omaha attended earlier forums. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)

Read more: https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/10/02/lawmaker-challenges-medical-cannabis-regulations-says-they-override-nebraska-voter-intent/

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Our first 5 links for the 2026 mid-term cycle are in (Omaha) the Blue Dot.

Both Cook Political Report and Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, two of the leading election forecast publications, have upgraded their ratings for Nebraska’s 2nd District from toss-up to leans Democratic. Making it a likely candidate for big spending as the GOP attempts to maintain or bolster its small majority, and Democrats try to take back control.

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https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/2026-house/

The Cook Political Report wrote: “If Democrats don’t win Nebraska’s 2nd District next year, it’s almost impossible to see them taking control of the House.”


There will be at least 6 Democrats that will be running in the primary next May. The DU is neutral in all races between Democrats. That said, here are the five DU ActBlue links we have so far for the NE-2 primary Blue Dot race.

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