Nebraska Secretary of State, Robert Evnen, announced on Friday that the medical marijuana ballot initiatives and the school choice referendum are likely to be included on Nebraska ballots in the upcoming November elections. Although the petitions have not been officially certified yet, they have met the required signature counts, ensuring their consideration. The verification process is ongoing until the state reaches 110% verified signatures for each of the initiatives before the September 13 deadline.

Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana successfully turned in over 114,000 signatures on July 3 for their proposed initiatives, surpassing the minimum requirement of 86,499 signatures per petition. Currently, the state has confirmed more than 89,000 valid signatures for each petition, fulfilling the 5% requirement in at least 51 counties, which is 13 counties more than required.

If approved by voters, one of the initiatives would grant patients the ability to purchase medical marijuana, while the other would allow businesses to sell it. The campaign manager for Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana, Crista Eggers, expressed excitement and gratitude, stating, "After years of hard work, we are beyond excited that Nebraskans will finally have the opportunity to have their voices heard on this issue in November." The initiatives offer hope to patients seeking medical cannabis treatment and its availability would provide an alternative to the current limited pharmaceutical options in Nebraska.

The impact of these initiatives is deeply personal for families like that of Colton, a fourth-grader suffering from severe epileptic seizures. The only available treatment options in Nebraska currently involve multiple pharmaceuticals with significant side effects. The passage of the ballot initiatives would grant families like Colton's access to medical cannabis treatment, offering a potentially more effective and safer alternative.

In addition to the medical marijuana initiatives, the school choice referendum is also expected to be included on the November ballot. Support Our Schools Nebraska submitted over 86,000 signatures in mid-July, exceeding the required 62,000 signatures. The Secretary of State confirmed that the petition met the minimum signature count and represented at least 5% of signatures from 57 counties, surpassing the requirement by 19 counties.

The verification process for all three initiatives is currently underway as county election offices meticulously check the remaining signatures. Secretary of State Evnen assures voters that the petitions will be verified before the September 13 deadline, ensuring their inclusion on the November ballot.

This is an ongoing story, and 6 News will provide updates as the verification process continues. Stay connected with the latest breaking news by signing up for 6 News email alerts.