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WEBVTT NEBRASKANS FOR SENSIBLE MARIJUANA LAWS. SENATOR ANNA WISHART IS LEADING THE CHARGE. >> PEOPLE NEED THIS. >> WHETHER LAWMAKERS PASS IT OR VOTERS APPROVE IT, SENATOR ANNA WISHART SAYS NEBRASKANS WANT MEDICAL MARIJUANA. >> I BELIEVE OVER 70% OF NEBRASKANS SUPPORT THIS ISSUE, WE HAVE PRETTY RECENT POLLING THAT SHOWS THAT NUMBER. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> THANK YOU FOR COMING. >> OF COURSE. >> THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM CELEBRATE THE START OF WISHART’S BALLOT INITIATIVE, NEBRASKANS FOR SENSIBLE MARIJUANA LAWS. SHE HOPES TO CHANGE STATE LAW THROUGH TWO EFFORTS, THE OTHER IS HER BILL BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE. >> WE WILL HOPE THAT WE COME OUT WITH A BILL THAT EVERYONE CAN GET BEHIND. THE REALITY IS THERE IS A BENEFIT TO PUTTING THIS IN THE CONSTITUTION AS WELL. >> VOTERS COULD CHANGE THE LAW IN 2020. WISHART’S INITIATIVE WILL NEED 130,000 SIGNATURES TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT. >> OUR PLAN HERE IN DOUGLAS COUNTY IS TO WORK, GOING DOOR TO DOOR, TALKING TO THE VOTERS, ASKING THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT ON THIS INITIATIVE. >> BEFORE PEOPLE CAN START GATHERING THOSE NAMES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE MUST GIVE THE GO-AHEAD. >> ONCE WE GET THE LANGUAGE CONFIRMED, WE WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH COLLECTING SIGNATURES. >> KETV NEWSWATCH 7 SAT DOWN WITH GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS EARLIER THIS WEEK. HE’S BEEN VOCAL ABOUT HIS OPPOSITION, SAYING THE STATE SHOULD FOLLOW THE FDA’S LEAD. >> THE PROCESS IS WORKING, I KNOW IT’S NOT FAST ENOUGH FOR SOME OF THESE FAMILIES AND I UNDERSTAND BECAUSE THEY’RE VERY SYMPATHETIC AND THEY’RE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS. WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE’RE PROTECTING THE PUBLIC SAFELY BROADLY SPEAKING. ,>> LINCOLN SENATOR ADAM MORFELD IS ALSO PART OF THE BALLOT INITIATIVE. THEY HOPE TO HEAR BACK FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE IN 10 DAYS. AFTER THAT, YOU’LL LIKELY SEE PEOPLE OUT COLLECTING SIGNATURES. SENATOR WISHART’S BILL COULD LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJ

Advertisement 130,000 signatures needed to put medical marijuana on 2020 ballot The ballot initiative, "Nebraskans for Sensible Marijuana Laws," kicked off in Omaha on Thursday night Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The ballot initiative, "Nebraskans for Sensible Marijuana Laws," kicked off in Omaha on Thursday night. Supporters hope to get 130,000 signatures to put medical marijuana legalization before voters in 2020. Sen. Anna Wishart and Sen. Adam Morfeld are leading the charge. Whether lawmakers pass it or voters approve it, Wishart said Nebraskans want medical marijuana."I believe over 70 percent of Nebraskans support this issue," Wishart said. "We have pretty recent polling that shows that number."People gathered at Legends Bar and Grill near 69th and Pacific streets Thursday night to kickoff the effort. Political action committee the Campaign for the Good Life is backing the ballot initiative and hosted the party.Wishart spoke to supporters about her efforts. She hopes to legalize medical marijuana through the ballot initiative or through her bill before the legislature."We will hope that we come out with a bill that everyone can get behind, but the reality is there is a benefit to putting this in the constitution, as well," Wishart said.Before people can start collecting signatures for the ballot initiative, the Secretary of State's Office must give the go-ahead."Once we get the language confirmed, we will hit the ground running with collecting signatures," Wishart said.The Campaign for the Good Life is ready to help with that effort."Our plan here in Douglas County is to work, going door-to-door, talking to the voters, asking them for their support on this initiative," said Crystal Rhoades, political advisor with the Campaign for the Good Life.KETV Newswatch 7 sat down with Gov. Pete Ricketts earlier this week. He's been vocal about his opposition to the legalization of medical marijuana and said the state should follow the Food and Drug Administration's lead."The process is working. I know it's not fast enough for some of these families and I understand because they're very sympathetic and they're looking for solutions, but we have to make sure we're also protecting the public safely, broadly speaking," Ricketts said.Wishart said she hopes to hear back from the Secretary of State's Office in about 10 days. After that, supporters will start collecting signatures. Wishart's bill could legalize marijuana faster than the ballot initiative, but that bill is still in committee."I'm working with some of the committee members who had concerns with the bill," Wishart said. "I'm working with law enforcement, working with medical professionals to see if we can come to some level of compromise."To learn more about the ballot initiative, click here.