Nebraska legislators are considering Legislative Bill 933, which would grant medical cannabis-recommending practitioners immunity from civil, criminal, or disciplinary action solely for stating that a patient is likely to receive therapeutic benefit or symptom relief from cannabis for a medical condition. A majority of the state’s Health and Human Services Committee appears open to the proposal, with at least four committee members telling the Nebraska Examiner they favor advancing the bill to the full legislature.
Nebraska voters overwhelmingly legalized medical cannabis in November 2024, allowing possession of up to 5 ounces with any health care practitioner’s recommendation. The law took effect December 12, 2024. Patients or caregivers following state law are immune from criminal penalties. Voters separately created the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, which will eventually license in-state dispensaries. However, lawmakers report being unaware of any in-state providers who have recommended medical cannabis in the past 15 months.
Provider Protections and Patient Need
Of nearly 20 other states with only medical cannabis programs, each has explicit protections for recommending providers. Nebraska was also left off congressional protections for states with medical cannabis programs, typically noncontroversial additions to federal spending bills protecting 47 other states.
Five Nebraskans, including caregivers and patients, testified in favor of the bill. No one testified in opposition. Some patients have gone to other states for recommendations and medicine due to in-state provider reluctance to discuss the topic. Shannon Coryell of Omaha, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and brain rupture leaving her partially paralyzed, said she wants to continue care with an established doctor who knows her medical history rather than seeking treatment out of state.
The HHS Committee is scheduled to decide whether to advance LB 933 to the full legislature. Cavanaugh has selected it as his priority bill for the year, meaning if advanced from committee, it joins other priority bills subject to scheduling by Speaker John Arch.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.knopnews2.com/2026/02/23/bill-protect-nebraska-physicians-recommending-medical-cannabis-unopposed-hearing/