Bruning said his office talked to attorneys general in Wyoming and Kansas, but they chose not to join in the lawsuit. In the end, it came down to priorities, he said.

"Nebraska has many priorities, from education to economic development. We can't afford to divert resources to deal with Colorado's problem," he said.

To him, Bruning said, it's a moral issue. Marijuana is a gateway drug to stronger substances, he said, adding that he is adamantly against the spread of marijuana across the country and thinks it's worth pushing back.

"To me this is a critical issue for our state. I don't want it to be a legal option for my children ... or anyone's children," he said.

At the same time, Bruning admitted that his opinion about marijuana has changed over the years. Asked if he had tried it, he answered, "Yes ... when I was in college."

That's not really relevant, he said.

"This is whether or not Colorado's law conflicts with the Controlled Substances Act and whether or not that should be thrown out," he said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature.

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