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Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative (2016)
| Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative | |
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 | |
| Type | Constitutional amendment |
| Origin | Citizens |
| Topic | Marijuana |
| Status | Not on the ballot |
| Voting on Marijuana | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Ballot Measures | |||
| By state | |||
| By year | |||
| Not on ballot | |||
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A Nebraska Medical Marijuana Initiative did not make the November 8, 2016 ballot in Nebraska as an initiated constitutional amendment. The measure, upon voter approval, would have legalized personal noncommercial cultivation, distribution and possession of marijuana for any patient with a debilitating medical condition as determined by a licensed physician.[1]
Text of measure
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article III, Nebraska Constitution
The proposed initiative amendment would have added a Section 31 to Article III of the Nebraska Constitution. The new section would read:[1]
Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with laws prohibiting persons from engaging in conduct that endangers others.
If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, that invalidity shall not effect other provisions or applications of this section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and this this end the provisions of this section are severable.[2]
Support
The initiative was sponsored by NORML Nebraska and Omaha NORML.[3]
Supporters
- Nebraska Families 4 Medical Cannabis[3]
Opposition
Opponents
- Gov. Pete Ricketts[4]
Path to the ballot
Nebraska's signature requirement for ballot initiatives is unique among the states. The number of required signatures is tied to the number of registered voters in the state as of the deadline for filing signatures. For initiated constitutional amendments, the number of signatures required is equivalent to 10 percent of registered voters at the time of the deadline. The deadline was four months prior to the general election date of November 8, 2016, which meant the signatures were due around July 8, 2016.
The groups sponsoring the petition put their campaign on hold in hopes that a bill to adopt the Cannabis Compassion and Care Act would pass in the legislature. LB 643, sponsored by Sen. Tommy Garrett (R-3) failed to win enough votes to end a filibuster on April 5, 2016. As a result, the support campaign faces the task of gathering the required 115,909 signatures by the July deadline. The support campaign suspended their efforts for getting the measure on the ballot in 2016, citing a shortage of money and time to meet the July deadline.[3][5][6][7]
See also
- Nebraska 2016 ballot measures
- 2016 ballot measures
- Laws governing the initiative process in Nebraska
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nebraska Secretary of State, "Nebraska Medical Initiative," accessed June 2, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lincoln Journal Star, "Groups ready to push for medical marijuana petition drive," April 6, 2016
- ↑ 1011 Now, "Medical marijuana advocates eye ballot initiative," April 7, 2016
- ↑ Argus Leader, "Medical marijuana bill fails in Nebraska," April 6, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "LB643 - Adopt the Medical Cannabis Act," accessed April 7, 2016
- ↑ Lincoln Journal-Star, "Groups will delay initiative petition drive for medical marijuana," May 23, 2016
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