Summary

<p>We are asking that the Nebraska Medical Association (NMA) lends their support to LB933 to help support healthcare practioners as they begin to make reccomendations for patients.</p> <p>LB933&nbsp;(<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/AM/AM2602.pdf">click to read bill</a>)&nbsp;was introduced by Senator John Cavanaugh to provide basic protections for health care practioners who choose to reccomend medical cannabis to patients. It says that they cannot be prosecuted for simply making a reccomendation or speaking with their patient about the subject.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em>Why LB933 Is Needed:</em></strong></span></p> <p>*This type of protection cannot be done except by the Legislature</p> <p>*The Medical Cannabis Commission is attempting to set up a program, however they have NO authority over healthcare practitioners, and will have no health care practitioners in program</p> <p>*There are currently NO practitioners recommending which means no patients</p> <p>*Health care practitioners in Nebraska have expressed concern and fear over moving forward in recommendations</p> <p>*This fear is valid after comments from AG (May 2025) and because Nebraska was left off federal protections&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>What LB933 Does:</strong></em></span></p> <p>*This is a foundational infrastructure provision that aligns with all other medical cannabis states (933 mirrors the most conservative states language)</p> <p>*Provides a simple protection to health care practitioners who make a recommendation of medical cannabis to a patient</p> <p>*Establishes that a health care practitioner cannot be arrested, prosecuted, penalized, or disciplined solely for giving a written recommendation for medical cannabis, stating that cannabis may provide therapeutic or palliative benefit to a patient, or offering a professional opinion that cannabis could help a patient&rsquo;s condition.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>What LB933 Does NOT Do:</strong></em></span></p> <p>*Does NOT protect negligent or improper medical care. Providers remain fully accountable for evaluating patients and meeting the professional standard of care</p> <p>*It does NOT protect bad medical practice</p> <p>*Does NOT require practitioners to recommend</p> <p>*Practitioners can still face discipline if they fail to properly evaluate a patient, violate the standard of care, or engage in negligence or misconduct</p>

Amy Reynoldson Executive Vice President

Paul Henderson Vice President

Eric Sutton Director of Health Policy