LINCOLN, Neb. — The Omaha Tribes Medical Cannabis Commission Board convened for their monthly meeting to discuss application licenses and lab testing.
Attorney General John Cartier mentioned the potential addition of a new drop-down link for the Cannabis Commission on the tribe’s website before their January meeting. “Under that, you know we’ll have information when we meet before we can get a permanent Zoom link and posted there. Then that will have a link where you can download the applications and then email it to myself or the group or whatever email we designate,” Cartier said.
Board member Allison Stockman highlighted the financial constraints of partnering with a large lab for testing. Consultant Dr. Andrea Holmes suggested focusing on cannabinoid testing initially.
“You have to have very highly qualified experienced people to make sure the tests are reliable, but she said by focusing THC that is something that could be done in a very high quality way with a lot of reliability and without millions of dollars on the table,” Stockman said.
Regarding cultivator application licenses, applicants can choose between commercial or non-commercial licenses, with a background check required. However, the frequency of these checks remains undecided. Stockman proposed that applicants only disclose felony-level charges, not misdemeanors.
“All that stuff will come up, but I have found that a lot of people, I know it sounds strange, but can’t quite find the details of misdemeanors. They often happened a long time ago, it’s likely hard to track it down, and become also a little confused on was that a misdemeanor? Was it not? I think it can become discouraging maybe to some people,” she said.
To apply, 51% of cultivator land must be owned by a tribal member. The board noted interest from individuals across the nation.
Google AI
- Chairwoman Amanda Hallowell: A registered nurse and enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe.
- Secretary Jayzon Hundley: A grant accountant for the tribe and enrolled member.
- Allison Stockman: Brings experience in public safety, public health, and the cannabis sector.
- Arthur Isagholian: Brings experience in agriculture and the cannabis sector.
- John Cartier: Omaha Tribe Attorney General, who serves as a non-voting member on the panel.
- Authority: The Commission operates as an instrumentality of the Tribe, exercising delegated sovereign powers, and is independent in its regulatory decision-making.
- Regulations: The Tribe passed its own comprehensive rules and regulations (Title 51 of the Omaha Tribal Code) which cover licensing, advertising, testing, and enforcement. These regulations are designed to be a direct contrast to the state of Nebraska’s more restrictive approach.
- Licensing: The commission is actively addressing licensing and testing challenges. They recently awarded the Tribe itself a vertical license, allowing for cultivation, manufacturing, and sale.
- Contact/Information: The Attorney General mentioned the potential addition of a dedicated section for the Cannabis Commission on the official Omaha Tribe website where applications and information can be accessed
