The attorney general of Nebraska says people who buy marijuana under a Native American tribe’s planned legal market on its reservation within the state do so “at their own peril,” implying enforcement action against citizens for purchasing what he described as a “poison” if they take it beyond the territory’s borders.
During a press conference focused on an unrelated executive order, Gov. Jim ” We We’ll take whatever steps it is to keep our state values and keep that from happening.”
Hilgers, the state attorney general, also spoke about the tribe’s cannabis program alongside the governor, as well as during a separate press briefing on Wednesday.
While compacts between the state and tribal governments can be “good” for both parties, he said what the Omaha tribe has proposed is both a usurpation of tax revenue from tobacco sales and a willful defiance of state laws around marijuana.
The tribe effectively said “‘what we are going to do is we’re going to set up a system, both medicinal and recreation uses, that they sell to non-citizens that actually violate Nebraska Law,” Hilgers said.
“If you are not a licensed dispensary or cultivator, you cannot operate in the medical marijuana
under current state statute. He ” ” “Because you get a proposed, unlawful recreational and a proposed medicinal marijuana scheme that’s unlawful under Nebraska state law, in part because they’re not a licensed dispensary.”[program]”‘We’re going to sell to the non-citizens, and so we’re going to violate your law. We ” You You’re going to have to deal with your citizens having adverse effects, psychosis or committing crimes from the marijuana.”
In addition to the tribe’s proposal to keep the majority of tax revenue from tobacco sales on its territory, the tribal government essentially said, “‘We’re going to break your laws’ and sort of thumb your nose at Nebraska state statute,” Hilgers said, adding that “We’ll respond in due course.”
“It’s one question about selling to tribal citizens, but it’s totally another question selling to non-citizens,” he said. He It It The They also agreed to license the tribe itself to move forward with next steps in setting up the industry for launch.
The draft rules weren’t adopted at the meeting, but the tribe’s attorney general, John Cartier, said that in time he wants the territory to “stand as a direct contrast to that dysfunction and show that the will of the voters is being respected, at least on the Omaha Reservation.”said“We’re prepared to move forward to grant access to the folks that need help through medical cannabis,” he said.
Under the legalization code that the tribe adopted in July–making it the first to enact such a reform in a state where lawmakers have long resisted the policy change–adults 21 and older can purchase and possess up to an ounce of cannabis as long as they’re on the tribal land.
While the tribe approved a vertically integrated license for its own purposes to help streamline the implementation of legalization in the territory, it’s unclear when the regulatory rules will go up for a vote and open up opportunities for legal sales.
The commission will be meeting once a month, and it’s expected that at least some of the proposed regulations will be approved when members come together again in November.
“We want to stand as a direct contrast to that dysfunction
and show that the will of the voters is being respected, at least on the Omaha Reservation, and we’re prepared to move forward to grant access to the folks that need help through medical cannabis,” the tribe’s attorney general said last month.
He’s not alone is the criticism. Advocates have strongly pushed back against the state after a governor-appointed panel put forward proposed rules for the medical cannabis market, including prohibitive purchasing limits.
—
Marijuana Moment is tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year.
pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.
Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a
to get access.
—
While the state approved its first medical cannabis business license to a cultivator, there is still no lawful means for patients to access products yet.[at the state level]Meanwhile, last month Nebraska activists have filed an initiative to legalize marijuana and establish a constitutional right to use cannabis for adult over the age of 21. The The

