Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana celebrate turn-in day for 114,000 signatures the group gathered across two petitions to legalize and regulate medical marijuana. July 3, 2024. (Courtesy of Nebraskans for Medical Marijuana)
LINCOLN — A former state senator who is also a former State Board of Health member filed a legal challenge Thursday seeking to invalidate two Nebraska ballot petitions related to medical cannabis.
John Kuehn of Heartwell, a veterinarian and rancher who has fought any form of marijuana legalization, argued the two measures should not be placed on the Nov. 5 ballot. Kuehn — through attorneys Steven E. Guenzel, Cameron E. Guenzel and Andrew La Grone, also a former state senator — cites seven reasons, ranging from procedural violations to state constitutional and federal law infractions.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday afternoon in Lancaster County District Court.
Kuehn served in the Legislature in 2015-2019 and has been a leader in “ Smart Approaches to Marijuana ,” or SAM, a national organization that seeks to prevent “another big tobacco.” La Grone served two years in the Legislature, in 2019-2021, and is married to current State Sen. Julie Slama.