OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Skateboarding can take a toll on the body. Mark Elworth Jr. has been doing it for decades.
“My knees and my ankles hurt really bad because I skateboard. I’m 48 years old, and so I’m in a lot of pain.”
For pain management, Elworth said he turned to medical marijuana, despite it being illegal in Nebraska.
“I’m taking edibles and I’m rubbing on oils and salve,” said Elworth.
It’s cost him a clean record, having gotten caught multiple times with the drug.
“It’s kept me from getting good jobs. It’s kept me from meeting my full potential.”
But he preferred the use of cannabis over prescription pain killers.
When voters approved legalizing the possession and distribution of medical marijuana, Elworth was ecstatic.
“I’m excited that I’m no longer a criminal,” said Elworth.
Last week, Gov. Jim Pillen signed a proclamation which removes penalties for having up to five ounces of cannabis for medical purposes with a written recommendation from a health care practitioner. That proclamation states the measure is now “in full force and effect.”
Elworth went to the nearest place he could think of to get his letter: Colorado.
He feels like it’s enough to protect him.
“I believe it is. And I feel like if I get pulled over and if I was ticketed in Nebraska, the law is there and I would take the law to the judge.”
Does a written recommendation from Colorado count? He got it from a nurse practitioner. Is that okay?
These are questions First Alert 6 asked local law enforcement.
Specifically, what will they do if they find someone with medical marijuana and a written recommendation?
First Alert 6 received this response from OPD: “Omaha Police doesn’t have all the answers yet on how they will proceed. We have to work with the city prosecutor’s office and even the Douglas County Attorney’s Office.”
Omaha City Prosecutor Kevin Slimp echoed the same sentiment.
“We’re in the process of trying to figure that out,” Slimp said. “I don’t have anything definitive.”
OPD and Slimp said they know people have questions and pointed First Alert 6 to Attorney General Mike Hilger’s Office. Despite several efforts to reach the AG, First Alert 6 never heard back.
This is the same office that’s been fighting against medical marijuana in court.
Legalizing medical marijuana has been coming down the pipeline for years. It’s been more than a month since voters approved it, but Hilgers is still pushing back.
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Questions about the new medical marijuana laws. First Alert 6 investigates how they’ll go into effect here in Nebraska. Read More
