On Monday, Nebraska lawmakers introduced two bills to legalize and regulate marijuana. Now, these bills have been assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee, marking a crucial step in the legislative process.
Senator Terrell McKinney’s Legislature Bill 71 and Senator Justin Wayne’s Legislature Bill 52 both aim to establish a regulated cannabis market for adults aged 21 and older, albeit with different frameworks. For example, LB 71 sets the possession limit at 2.5 ounces of dried marijuana and 15 grams for concentrates. LB 52, on the other hand allows for possess of just one ounce, and no concentrates. Both, however, allow for the personal cultivation of up to six plants.
Legislature Bill 71, named the Nebraska Cannabis Legalization and Revenue Allocation Act, proposes a comprehensive regulatory system, including establishing the Nebraska Cannabis Control Commission to manage its cultivation, processing, and sale. The bill includes social equity measures, mandating that a portion of licenses go to individuals from communities disproportionately affected by prior cannabis laws.
Legislature Bill 52 similarly aims to legalize cannabis, with a focus on regulatory oversight. The two bills differ in how they allocate tax revenue and structure licensing. While both direct marijuana tax revenue towards education and public health, LB 71 places additional emphasis on community reinvestment in areas disproportionately impacted by past drug policies. It also ensures a portion of licenses are reserved for social equity applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
For the full text of LB 52, click here. For the text of LB 71, click here.
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