Governor Ricketts did not respond to a request for comment on Monday, but has for many years maintained a position similar to that of Mr. Peterson. In a column posted online before the 2016 statehouse debate, he called marijuana “a dangerous drug” and said any form of legalization could be a slippery slope. “You’ve got to explain to voters that medical marijuana is a question of compassion and of allowing sick and suffering people to treat their conditions without being treated as criminals,” said Mr. Schweich, who added that his organization was considering 2020 medical marijuana campaigns in Idaho and Mississippi. “You have to emphasize that medical marijuana is not the same thing as full legalization of marijuana” which has been passed in only 10 states, he added. “We are starting to get a history in Nebraska of passing ballot initiatives when the Legislature is unable to move forward on an issue.”

Source: New York Times December 17, 2018 22:07 UTC