Nebraska Supreme Court Hears Case Challenging Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative

The Nebraska Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments in a case that will decide whether a medical marijuana legalization initiative will appear on the November ballot. While the measure already qualified after activists turned in nearly 200,000 signatures in July, a legal challenge was filed against the secretary of state’s office late last month, with Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner arguing that the proposal violates the state’s single-subject rule for ballot initiatives. The state rejected that argument, but the local police official opted to take the case to court. Thursday’s hearing saw legal teams for the sheriff and the measure’s supporters—including state Sens. Adam Morfeld (D) and Anna Wishart (D)—make their respective cases about the appropriateness of including the reform proposal on the ballot. The attorney for the plaintiff contended that the various provisions in the measure on patient access, retail sale and distribution constitute multiple issues that a single ballot initiative is not legally able to cover. But the defendant’s counsel made the case that this initiative’s scope is consistent with others that have been presented to voters and the single-subject matter is not at issue. “The Nebraska Constitution provides the power of initiative is the first power reserved by the people. The power is precious,” the attorney representing the cannabis campaign said in his closing remarks. “It is one which the courts are zealous to preserve the fullest tenable measure, spirit as well as letter.” Just finished our oral argument before the Supreme Court for medical marijuana…

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Source : MJ moment
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