Nebraska's push for medical cannabis has been fueled by passionate advocates, including Shelley and Dominic Gillen, who have spent years fighting for treatment options for their son Will who is battling severe daily seizures.
A Nebraska Examiner article By Zach Wendling delves into the humanitarian reasons behind their fight.
The Gillens, along with dozens of other Nebraskans, spoke at a recent public hearing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, rallying support for Initiative Measures 437 and 438, which will appear on the state ballot in November.
These measures would allow legal access to medical cannabis for patients, caregivers, and medical providers, overseen by a new Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission.
For the Gillen family, the stakes couldn't be higher.
"Seizures have forced us to call 911, have landed him in the ER, and have had him admitted for hospital stays countless times," Shelley Gillen testified, describing how the condition has left her son with injuries from black eyes to broken bones.
Will’s father Dominic Gillen expressed deep frustration. He called a recent two-week hospitalization for his son terrifying. "There was a very real fear that he was going to die," he shared.
Opposition remains despite public support being measured at 70%.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson was the sole opponent to testify, expressing concern over the ballot measures' potential legal conflicts and health risks. He argued that Measure 437's five-ounce THC limit could lead to abuse and would conflict with federal guidelines that classify cannabis as a Schedule I substance.
Citing the American Medical Association's position, Hanson noted, "The entire patient-focused system is bypassed in favor of a consumer-driven commercial industry."
For Nebraska, the debate over medical marijuana legalization comes amid a growing number of states approving similar laws – 38 allow medical cannabis, with 24 permitting recreational use.
For many Nebraskans, access to cannabis represents the difference between suffering and a livable life.
Yet, the journey to the ballot has been challenging, with campaigns facing legal and financial roadblocks. The measures remain contentious, but for families like the Gillens, the hope for relief drives their determination to secure Nebraska's place among the states recognizing cannabis as a medical treatment.
