Restrictions adopted by Nebraska’s Medical Cannabis Commission violate the will of voters and could lead to voters approving recreational marijuana, Sen. John Cavanaugh said Thursday.

Cavanaugh’s complaints are contained in a letter calling for a hearing on the subject. Among his objections are that the commission has restricted the forms of cannabis that can be used, not including smokable flower; restricted practitioners who can recommend cannabis, limiting that to only people who practice primarily in Nebraska; restricted the amount of cannabis available to five grams every 90 days as opposed to the five ounces specified in the law, and hasn’t begun issuing cultivator licenses by the statutory deadline of Oct. 1.

The letter says voters overwhelmingly approved medical cannabis in 2024, adding “If the Commission, the Governor, and some state senators fear recreational marijuana is the next step, I can only say that the surest way to guarantee the voters take that next step is by frustrating their clearly expressed will in favor of medical cannabis.”

Cavanaugh asked the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee to hold a hearing on the complaint Oct. 31. The office of Sen. Rick Holdcroft, who chairs the committee, said a hearing on medical cannabis is already scheduled that day. The hearing will be addressed by invited testifiers only, but it’s on a resolution introduced by Cavanaugh, so he will be able to present his complaint then.