Nebraska Medical Marijuana Vote Amid Fraud Allegations in Petitioning

Nebraska voters will have the opportunity to vote on two initiatives regarding the legalization of medical marijuana on November 5. This follows the certification of the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Medical Cannabis Patient Protection petitions by Secretary of State Bob Evnen, despite ongoing investigations into the validity of the signatures collected. The certification was announced on September 13, just hours after Attorney General Mike Hilgers revealed that Michael Egbert, a petition circulator, faces felony charges for allegedly forging signatures, including those of deceased individuals. The Hall County Election Commissioner, Tracy Overstreet, identified irregularities in the signatures submitted for both petitions, prompting the investigation. Egbert is charged with false swearing to a circulator’s affidavit, which carries penalties ranging from probation to two years in prison and fines up to $10,000. The allegations suggest that he may have used names from a phone book to falsely represent support for the initiatives. Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, the group behind the petitions, expressed their support for the investigation, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the petitioning process. They view the upcoming vote as a significant step toward providing safe and regulated access to medical cannabis for patients in Nebraska. Currently, marijuana remains illegal in Nebraska, although over 30 states have legalized it for medicinal use, with some allowing recreational use. The outcome of the vote could potentially change the legal landscape for marijuana in the state, depending on the results and the ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the petitions.