Nebraska residents are currently unable to use marijuana for recreational or medicinal purposes. To some, this may be frustrating as they watch people in many other states be able to benefit from medical marijuana. Some can even enjoy pot recreationally thanks to state laws. However, this may be changing soon.
The federal government may actually be involved in legalizing medical marijuana across the nation, including in Nebraska. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency manages which drugs can be legal and which remain illegal. It identifies schedules based upon medical validity and abuse potential. Schedule I drugs are deemed to have a high chance of being abuse with minimal medical benefit, if any at all. Schedule II drugs are proven to have medical benefits but are only available via prescription. Currently, marijuana is a Schedule I drug.
If a recent report is accurate, the DEA will change pot to a Schedule II classification. This could be effective as of August 1, 2016. This would make the drug legal for medical purposes with a prescription in every state. However, this action could also have additional ramifications. For states that have legalized recreational use, those laws could be overturned as the drug would only be able to be obtained with a prescription.
As Nebraska residents wait to see the outcome of the DEA decision, marijuana remains illegal for all uses. People who have questions about the drug, its use and the state laws may wish to talk to an attorney for help if needed.
Source: A New Domain, “UPDATED: DEA To Reclassify Marijuana, Effectively Legalizing Medical Cannabis, Report Says,” Gina Smith, June 19, 2016