Nebraska regulators are proposing to eliminate a requirement that medical marijuana products carry a warning identifying them as Schedule I controlled substances, reflecting recent changes to federal marijuana policy.
The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission included the change in a package of proposed regulatory amendments scheduled for a public hearing today, October 15.
Under the state’s current regulations, medical marijuana product labels must prominently display the statement “SCHEDULE I CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE.” The proposed revisions remove that language entirely while maintaining other labeling and safety requirements.
The change follows an April decision by the U.S. Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration placing qualifying state-licensed medical marijuana products in Schedule III under federal law. Marijuana outside the scope of that decision remains subject to separate federal rescheduling proceedings.
Nebraska’s proposal would remove the Schedule I designation from product packaging rather than replace it with a Schedule III warning.
Other required warnings would remain, including statements that products are intended only for qualified medical patients, must be kept away from children and animals, and may impair the ability to drive or operate machinery. Labels would also continue to carry warnings concerning pregnancy and potential health problems.
The revised regulations include additional labeling provisions requiring a product QR code generated by the state’s inventory tracking system and a standardized symbol approved by ASTM International.
The labeling change is part of a larger regulatory package that would establish application and licensing fees, revise renewal procedures and modify certain operational requirements for Nebraska’s developing medical marijuana industry.
Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana legalization in November 2024, but the state has yet to establish a fully operational system of licensed dispensaries. Regulators have continued working through licensing and regulatory requirements.
Today’s public hearing begins at 1 p.m. Central Time at 301 Centennial Mall South in Lincoln. Written comments will also be accepted through 11:59 p.m.
The commission is scheduled to consider the proposed regulations at its November 16 meeting. Any adopted changes would still require review by the attorney general and approval from the governor before taking effect.
