Appeals court rules against Nebraska medical cannabis backers

Did you miss the webinar “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling?” Head to MJBiz YouTube to watch it now!


A federal appeals court dealt a setback to Nebraska medical marijuana advocates by granting the state a stay in a case involving signature requirements for a legalization ballot initiative.

According to Omaha broadcaster KMTV, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit granted the stay after Secretary of State Bob Evnen appealed a lower court ruling that MMJ proponents did not need to meet a threshold requiring signatures to come from at least 5% of registered voters in a minimum of 38 Nebraska counties.

The state of Nebraska had sought a stay of the lower court’s preliminary injunction.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana has been rushing to collect roughly 87,000 signatures from registered voters before a July 7 deadline to put the legalization initiative the November ballot.

Business leaders need reliable industry data and in-depth analysis to make smart investments and informed decisions in these uncertain economic times.

Get your 2023 MJBiz Factbook now!

Featured Inside:
  • 200+ pages and 50 charts with key data points
  • State-by-state guide to regulations, taxes & opportunities
  • Segmented research reports for the marijuana + hemp industries
  • Accurate financial forecasts + investment trends

 

Stay ahead of the curve and avoid costly missteps in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry.

The group claimed that the signature-distribution requirement violated the U.S. Constitution, arguing the provision gives rural counties greater power than urban counties, according to KMTV.

NMM representative Crista Eggers told the broadcaster the group would continue collecting signatures up until Thursday’s deadline.