Former Senator sues to block medical marijuana ballot in Nebraska
- John Kuehn, a former Republican senator, filed a lawsuit to prevent the certification of two medical marijuana petitions in Nebraska.
- The petitions have exceeded the required valid signatures but face challenges regarding procedural compliance and signature verification.
- Public support for medical marijuana legalization is high, with 81% of Nebraskans in favor, highlighting the contentious nature of the ongoing legal battle.
On Thursday, a former Republican state senator, John Kuehn, filed a lawsuit in Lancaster County District Court to block the certification of two medical marijuana petitions in Nebraska. The petitions, supported by Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, aim to legalize medical cannabis in the November 2024 election. Kuehn, who has a history of opposing cannabis reform, cited several reasons for his lawsuit, including claims of insufficient valid signatures and procedural violations by the Secretary of State's office. The two initiatives, the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Initiative and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Initiative, have reportedly surpassed the required threshold of 87,126 valid signatures. The first initiative seeks to protect patients and caregivers from legal issues, while the second proposes the establishment of a Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee the regulation of medical marijuana businesses. Despite meeting the signature requirements, Secretary of State Bob Evnen has requested that county election offices continue verifying signatures until they reach a 110% threshold, a move that has raised concerns among supporters of the initiatives. Kuehn's lawsuit names Evnen, campaign manager Crista Eggers, and state senators Anna Wishart and Adam Morfeld as defendants, arguing that the measures violate state constitutional rules. Public sentiment appears to favor the legalization of medical marijuana, with recent polls indicating that 81% of Nebraskans support the initiative. This legal challenge could significantly impact the future of medical cannabis in Nebraska, as advocates continue to push for reform amid ongoing opposition.