Nicole Goodrich ~ KETV Omaha
LINCOLN, Neb. —Both sides of a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Nebraska squared off at a Judiciary Committee hearing in Lincoln on Friday.
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Two bills before the Judiciary Committee would allow for some use of medical marijuana in Nebraska.
The bill by state Sen. Tommy Garrett, of Bellevue, has drawn strong support from people with debilitating medical conditions and sharp criticism from law enforcement.
The bill would allow marijuana in the treatment of certain seizures, disease symptoms and other medical ailments. [Read more about the bill]
Nebraskans suffering from AIDS, cancer, Crohn's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses shared their stories and urged lawmakers to provide access to medical marijuana through LB643, otherwise known as the Cannabis Compassion and Care Act.
Many waited for hours to speak or spoke early because their medical conditions made it too difficult to sit and wait for the bill to be heard.
"LB643 must go through not only for myself, my sister-in-law, but everyone who is sick behind me and at home," said one person who supported the measure.
Immediately prior to discussion on Garrett's bill, the Judiciary Committee heard testimony on LB326, which defines the term "ingestibles" as it applies to marijuana.
LB326 would also add penalties for possessing and making edibles with THC.
Attorney General Doug Peterson, who supports LB326, cautions lawmakers to wait and watch when it comes to legalizing marijuana.
"We need to wait three to five years and carefully watch what happens in Colorado. This includes reviewing increased crime rates as well as educational and health impacts," Peterson said. "There is a historical progression from opening the door to marijuana to pushing for legalization. In the end, we don't want to find out that we have joined a failed social experiment."
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