This bill amends Nebraska law concerning the regulation of medical cannabis, specifically limiting permissible forms to pills or liquid tinctures and redefining related terms. It reduces the allowable amount of cannabis a qualified patient may possess from five ounces to three hundred milligrams of delta-9 THC. The bill also removes medical cannabis from the marijuana and controlled substances tax, eliminates obsolete provisions, and harmonizes existing laws. New definitions, such as "permissible cannabis products," are introduced, clarifying that cannabis does not include hemp as defined in Nebraska law. The bill emphasizes compliance with the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act, aiming to streamline regulations while ensuring accessibility for qualified patients under stricter guidelines.

Additionally, the bill establishes a tiered penalty system for individuals under eighteen who violate drug-related statutes, including license impoundment and mandatory drug education classes. It specifies varying penalties for first, second, and third offenses, along with requirements for drug assessments for repeat offenders. The bill also restructures the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission to include responsibilities as the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, prohibiting individuals with certain criminal convictions from being appointed. It imposes a tax on marijuana and controlled substances while exempting those lawfully in possession of cannabis under the medical cannabis acts. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage, reflecting the urgency of its provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 28-416, 28-439, 28-476, 53-105, 53-106, 53-110, 53-111, 77-4303