Activists in Arizona plan to submit petitions this week that would put a proposal to legalize the recreational use of cannabis on the November ballot, while in Nebraska a similar drive to legalize medical marijuana is also winding down. 

Without the ability to gather in person, marijuana reform efforts have stalled in multiple states across the country.

ADOPT (Adopt a Decrease in Oppressive Property Taxes), a newly-formed statewide coalition, announced today that it will partner with Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana in an effort to grow the state's economy and reduce high property tax. Together they will work to support the November ballot measure to allow medical cannabis in Nebraska.

"Our campaign is excited to partner with ADOPT, which reflects a broad coalition of Nebraskans that support access to medical cannabis and recognizes the health and economic benefits of passing this initiative," said state Senator Anna Wishart from Lincoln who co-chairs Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana. 

Throughout history, cannabis was regulated by federal law on reservations, so it was generally illegal. But after the 2013 Cole Memo, the topic of cannabis on tribal land and how it ties into the tribe’s government autonomy became increasingly prevalent.

A Nebraska hemp researcher says growing hemp can lead to an economic boom for the state.

Nebraskans are allowed to apply for a state hemp license starting Monday. Doane University professor Andrea Holmes said she sent in a request to start researching hemp products last year.

"We basically do sample prep to test our flowers," Holmes said, "As well as consumer-facing products for different cannabinoid products."

The Nebraska Department of Agriculture said it could collect as high as $236,000 from hemp licensing fees. It also could get up to 315 licenses. Of those 315 licenses, 270 are designed for cultivator licenses, 30 for processor-handler licenses and 15 for broker licenses.

Nebraska’s not wasting any time on getting started on ramping up its hemp industry after the state’s plan received the all-clear from the USDA just a few days ago.

As we mentioned yesterday, USDA recently announced the latest states to have their plans approved – Delaware, Nebraska and Texas.

Nebraska’s Department of Agriculture (NDA) is keen to get cranking.

“Now that NDA has an approved state hemp plan in place, we can begin issuing licenses for the commercial cultivation, processing, handling and brokering of industrial hemp in Nebraska,” said NDA Director Steve Wellman.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the latest states to have their plans approved under the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program.

Delaware, Nebraska and Texas all scored a guernsey, adding to the original state plans approved late last year –  those for Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio.

As well as states, a number of Indian tribes have also had their plans approved:

One of 10 growers granted hemp licenses this year from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture was forced to shred their crop Nov. 26 because of the too-high THC level it produced.

This year has been momentous for cannabis reform, from the Illinois General Assembly becoming the first state legislature to pass a bill to regulate cannabis like alcohol to the U.S. House of Representatives passing the SAFE Banking Act and forging ahead with the MORE Act. 

It’s important to celebrate these victories, but with the end of 2019 comes the beginning of 2020, which is already shaping up to be the biggest year ever for marijuana-policy reform.