Short answer: Nebraska does not issue a medical cannabis card, runs no patient registry, and has no licensed dispensary open yet. Voters approved medical cannabis in 2024, and the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Patient Protection Act now makes certain patient possession and use protected under state and local law. That protection is a legal shield, not a card and not a store. This guide covers what the law says today, who qualifies, what the state commission has scheduled, and what you can do now.
Is there a Nebraska medical marijuana card?
No. Nebraska does not issue a medical cannabis card and does not run a patient registry. The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission’s commission application page lists only manufacturer applications as open, and it says no other applications are open at this time.
Be careful with any service that sells a “Nebraska medical marijuana card.” It is selling something the state does not issue.
Did Nebraska pass the medical marijuana law, and when?
Yes. According to the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, the commission was created in 2024 through two voter-approved measures. Initiative Measure 437 legalized up to five ounces of marijuana for medical purposes by qualified patients, and Initiative Measure 438 established the commission to regulate the program. Initiative 437 received 71% approval.
A 2025 bill, LB1 (2025), was approved by the Governor on February 25, 2025. It amended the definitions in both initiatives to fix an incorrect subdivision reference. It did not change who qualifies.
Is medical marijuana legal in Nebraska now?
For qualified patients, yes, in the narrow sense the statute uses. Under Nebraska statute 71-24,105, it is not an offense under state or local law for a qualified patient to use, possess and acquire an allowable amount of cannabis and cannabis accessories for the alleviation of a medical condition, its symptoms, or side effects of the condition’s treatment. A caregiver may also possess, acquire and deliver that amount on the patient’s behalf. The same section says this protected conduct is not subject to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
Buying is a separate question. No licensed dispensary is open in Nebraska, Omaha included, so the protection does not come with a place to purchase.
What qualifies you for a recommendation under Nebraska law?
The statute does not issue a card. It sets out who counts as a qualified patient and what a written recommendation must be. Under Nebraska statute 71-24,104, the rules are:
| Who or what | What the statute requires |
|---|---|
| Adult patient (18 or older) | A written recommendation from a health care practitioner |
| Minor | A written recommendation from a health care practitioner, plus written permission from a legal guardian or parent with authority to make health care decisions |
| Health care practitioner | A physician, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner licensed under the Uniform Credentialing Act, or licensed in any state and practicing in compliance with it |
| Written recommendation | A valid signed and dated declaration stating that, in the practitioner’s professional judgment, the potential benefits of cannabis outweigh the potential harms for the alleviation of a patient’s medical condition, its symptoms, or side effects of the condition’s treatment |
| How long it lasts | Valid for two years after the date of issuance, or for a period the practitioner specifies on it |
The statute text does not list specific qualifying conditions. It ties eligibility to a recommendation about a medical condition, its symptoms, or side effects of its treatment. Keep in mind that a recommendation is legal access, not proof that cannabis will help you.
Do I need a doctor, and can a minor qualify?
You need a written recommendation from a health care practitioner, and the statute names four kinds: physician, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, and nurse practitioner. Practitioners licensed in another state also count if they practice in compliance with the Uniform Credentialing Act.
A minor can qualify, but only with both a written recommendation and the written permission of a legal guardian or parent with authority to make health care decisions. The same rule applies to caregivers for minors, as the table below shows.
How much can a patient have, and who can help?
The allowable amount is up to five ounces of cannabis. The statute does not count the weight of other ingredients in topical or oral administrations, food, drink, or other preparations, so the five-ounce limit covers the cannabis itself. Both points come from Nebraska statute 71-24,104.
Caregivers are defined in the same statute:
| Patient | Who can be a caregiver |
|---|---|
| Adult patient not under a legal guardian | A person at least 21 years old, designated in a signed affidavit by the patient |
| Minor, or patient under a legal guardian | The legal guardian or parent with authority to make health care decisions, or a person designated in a sworn affidavit by that guardian or parent |
| Any qualified patient | A health care facility or home health agency, if designated in a sworn affidavit and if it agrees in writing to serve as caregiver |
Can I smoke marijuana legally in Nebraska?
The statute protects use of an allowable amount and its accessories, and it does not name smoking or any other method. If you plan to use cannabis in any particular way, ask the commission first.
Does Nebraska have dispensaries, and can a card be used at one?
Not yet. The commission application page says the application period for dispensaries has not yet opened and is pending legislative action. Nebraska issues no card, and no dispensary is licensed, so there is nowhere to buy yet.
When will dispensaries open, and when do the rules take effect?
The commission has not set a date for dispensary applications. It has set these dates for the rules and the manufacturer process, as listed on its commission application page and its commission meeting schedule:
| Date | What the commission says |
|---|---|
| September 4 to 23, 2025 | Cultivator application period |
| October 15, 2026 | Public hearing on the proposed regulations |
| November 16, 2026 | Public meeting, 1:00 to 3:00 PM; the commission is scheduled to consider the rulemaking package |
| December 14, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CDT | Manufacturer application period closes |
| December 14, 2026 | Public meeting, 1:00 to 2:00 PM |
| Early 2027 | The new regulations and a revised manufacturer application are anticipated to take effect |
| Dispensaries | Application period has not opened; pending legislative action |
If the commission adopts the rulemaking package on November 16, it goes to the Attorney General and then the Governor. The regulations take effect five days after the Governor approves them. Early 2027 is the commission’s anticipated date for the regulations, not a date for stores. The commission also says meeting dates and times are subject to change.
What can you do now?
Work through these steps in order:
1. Talk with a health care practitioner about whether a written recommendation fits your situation. The practitioner can be a physician, osteopathic physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner.
2. If you get one, keep the signed and dated document. It is valid for two years unless the practitioner writes a different period on it.
3. Follow the commission’s public meetings. The next are November 16, 2026, and December 14, 2026, both at 301 Centennial Mall South, first-floor hearing room.
4. Contact the commission at mcc.contact@nebraska.gov or 402-471-1531 with questions. Its Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission page also lists its members.
What the Nebraska rules do not settle
The statute speaks only to state and local law. It does not reach federal law.
For workplace drug tests and what they mean for your job, read our medical marijuana card at work guide.
Nebraska statute 71-24,105 does not address driving. Check the rules for driving before you rely on the protection.
The statute does not address whether a card from another state works in Nebraska. For how another state’s program is moving, see our NC medical marijuana 2027 status guide. For Nebraska, ask the commission before you travel with a card from elsewhere.
Comparing penalties across states is outside this Nebraska guide.
By HealthDataConsortium.org Research Team
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult your doctor or qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.
