OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – The Omaha Tribe Cannabis Commission heard its first cultivator license application today, marking a milestone three months after the commission officially formed.

Derek Cats and Darren Canby submitted the license application and met with the Omaha Tribe Cannabis Commission and Attorney General John Cartier during today’s meeting.

Cats explained he has been a cultivator for several years in Colorado and now in Nebraska as well. He said they would be a beneficial partner for the reservation, providing jobs and bringing money in.

Timeline comparison with state commission

The Tribe’s rapid progress contrasts sharply with Nebraska’s state medical marijuana program. The Omaha Tribe appointed commission members a few months ago, approved rules and regulations two months ago, and began accepting cultivator applications in December.

Cartier said the Tribe hopes to have everything in line with cultivators, manufacturers and distributors by the end of the year.

Nebraska voters overwhelmingly approved medical marijuana in 2024. The state’s cannabis commission met for the first time in June and has since approved two cultivator licenses while seeking four total. The state commission has faced a series of setbacks since voters approved the measure.

“It differs in transparency, and we’re willing to sit down and really listen and not shut people out,” Cartier said. “We’re coming from this from a standpoint of, we actually believe in this industry and we want it to succeed and flourish. There’s been no evidence, in fact the opposite, from the Nebraska Cannabis Commission showing that they are not actually interested in supporting the industry. They’re more so interested in prohibiting reasonable access for patients and it’s due to political choices made from state government, unfortunately.”

Application review process

The commission will not announce today whether the application will be approved. Cartier said the tribe is looking for professionalism and past experience in potential cultivators.

“Really we’re looking for professionalism, past experiences, if they’ve been licensed anywhere else that’s great, but we also want to make sure there’s been no complaints or judgment issued against them,” Cartier said. “What we really want to make sure that we have locked down is eliminating all risk of diversion or folks selling to the black market. We know we have a ton of spotlight on us, and that’s why we’re proceeding methodically, and we’re proceeding slow.”

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