(Photo Courtesy: Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana)
Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana (NMM) is gearing up to collect signatures and place the subject of medical cannabis before voters in 2024.
The ballot committee leading the effort will host their signature drive kickoff event at Duffy’s Tavern in Lincoln, tonight from 5:00-8:00pm. NMM Campaign Manager Crista Eggers says everyone is welcome to the free event.
Attendees will have a chance to sign the petitions during the event, take materials to help collect signatures, and hear from State Lawmakers.
“State Senator Anna Wishart of Lincoln and Former Senator Adam Morfeld will be in attendance and making some remarks,” Eggers told KLIN News, “They are both co-sponsors for this ballot initiative and have been spearheading this effort along with all his volunteers and grassroots supporters.”
This is the third time the group has attempted to put this issue on the ballot. The first time in 2020 the campaign collected enough signatures (over 196,000) and met the 38 of 93 county qualification requirements, only to be thwarted by a split court decision due to the single subject requirements. The second initiative in 2022 collected over 180,000 signatures, but failed to meet the county qualification requirements.
Eggers told KLIN News about this years campaign approach, “Having a year to collect is going to set us up to be successful. Our main and first goal is qualifying at least 38 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. We know we can’t just come in with the required amount. We need to come in far over with far more counties qualified.”
The petition language consists of two petitions, both statutory – one to set up the doctor patient system and one to regulate the industry. The campaign will be required to collect approximately 87,000 valid signatures per petition and signatures are due for turn in on July 3, 2024. If NMM is successful, the legalization of medical cannabis will go before Nebraska voters on the November 5, 2024 general election ballot.
For more information on the event and sponsorship please go to nebraskamarijuana.org/2024fundraiser