By Peter Rice

Medical cannabis supporters brought their statewide town hall tour to Grand Island on Friday, aiming to update residents on the status of Nebraska’s voter-approved program.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana announced the tour earlier this week, with stops in Scottsbluff, North Platte and Grand Island and more.

Executive Director Crista Eggers says the meetings are designed to explain where the state’s medical cannabis program currently stands and how ongoing legislative and regulatory decisions could impact patients and families.

“Nebraskans voted clearly in support of medical cannabis, but many questions remain about implementation, access, and patient protections,” said Eggers. “These town halls are about education, transparency, and accountability — and about reminding decision-makers that Nebraskans already spoke at the ballot box.”

Voters approved medical cannabis in November 2024. However, supporters say implementation has moved slowly and that patients are still waiting for clear guidance and access.

“There was a very, very clear mandate made at the ballot box,” Eggers said during the Grand Island meeting. “The people spoke. They were very clear with what they voted on. And the responsibility is to the voters — the people that put them in office.”

Eggers also raised concerns about a recent federal appropriations amendment known as the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) rider.

The provision has historically prohibited the U.S. Department of Justice from using federal funds to interfere with state-approved medical cannabis programs.

She said Nebraska was not included in the latest version of that rider, despite newly adopting a medical cannabis law — something she believes could leave the state without the same federal protections other medical cannabis states receive.

Supporters say they plan to continue holding town halls across Nebraska as legislative and regulatory discussions continue at both the state and federal levels.