A district judge considering a challenge to void Nebraska's incoming medical cannabis laws denied a request Wednesday to block them from taking effect this week. Lancaster County District Judge Susan Strong refused to prevent Gov. Jim Pillen from signing the proclamations by the end of the day on Thursday that would legalize and later regulate medical cannabis in Nebraska. Those would be the final steps of the voter-led process.
"I do not feel that there is about to be immediate and irreparable harm to the plaintiff's interests," Strong said at a Wednesday hearing. "I also find that the public interest does not favor issuance of the injunction."
After Strong's decision, a spokesperson for Pillen confirmed that "the governor will comply with his statutory duty to sign the proclamations by the required deadline."
The broader lawsuit arguing the measures violate federal law and unconstitutionally delegate lawmaking authority away from the Legislature continues in Strong's courtroom. It was filed Tuesday against Pillen, Secretary of State Bob Evnen and the three sponsors of the ballot initiatives that voters widely adopted in November.
Read more at Nebraska Examiner