Tom Osborne joined by opponents of medical marijuana legalization at state capital

The push to legalize medical marijuana is back in Nebraska.

A bill (LB 110) was introduced by senator Anna Wishart on Friday.

Before the bill (LB 110) was introduced, a press conference was held for those in opposition to it.

It featured testimony from a former huskers football coach, Tom Osborne.

Osborne is not a fan of the proposed legislation.

“This idea that marijuana is not addictive is a myth, that it’s not dangerous, is a myth, and I think the public needs to be aware of that,” said Osborne.

The former Huskers football coach was joined by Lt. Governor Mike Foley and Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Buldoc among others.

Osborne says he is concerned about the message the legislation would send to young people in particular.

He said, in his coaching experience, smoking marijuana and playing football was a recipe for failure.

Col. Bolduc, with the Nebraska State Patrol says he’s more concerned with the black market, or drugs getting into the hands of the wrong people.

“This bill, and other efforts to legalize marijuana medically in other states, have been ripe with unintended consequences, the unintended consequences that have been experienced in other states will be experienced here,” said Bolduc.

Bolduc says vehicle incidents, including traffic crashes are on the rise in states that are green already.

Currently, medical marijuana is legal in 33 states and the district of Columbia nationwide.

Governor Pete Ricketts is against the measure.

Supporters say if the bill is not passed in the legislature, they plan to put a constitutional amendment to let voters legalize it on the 2020 ballot.