Chair Of Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission Steps Down

“Nebraska needs to seize the opportunity to be slow and deliberate in the manner in which we determine how best to designate appropriate conditions for medical cannabis.”

By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner

The chair of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission resigned from her post Monday, about nine months after Gov. Jim Pillen  (R) appointed her to the post.

Pillen appointed Dr. Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln, an anesthesiologist, to the commission April 24 as one of two at-large members. They serve with the three members of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Beyond a brief statement announcing the resignation, commissioners did not address Oldenburg’s tenure.

Lawmakers confirmed Oldenburg to the post May 30 in a 34-11 vote. She had told lawmakers she was “not a prohibitionist” of cannabis but was “pro-research.” Oldenburg also said cannabis has “a place in pain management” for certain ailments that cause suffering.

“Nebraska needs to seize the opportunity to be slow and deliberate in the manner in which we determine how best to designate appropriate conditions for medical cannabis and regulate those entities that will dispense medical cannabis in our state,” Oldenburg said last May. “I look forward to working with various parties to ensure that we in the State of Nebraska get this right.”

At that same hearing last year, Oldenburg said she had been encouraged to apply by State Sen. Jared Storm of David City, a member of the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee, which considered her appointment.

Oldenburg was not present at her commission’s monthly meetings in December or January.

Pillen’s office had no immediate comment and didn’t immediately make a copy of Oldenburg’s resignation available.

Oldenburg’s leadership had guided commissioners through strict regulations seeking to prevent future licensed dispensaries from selling medical cannabis that could be smoked or vaped. The regulations would also require that patients only be able to access licensed dispensaries if they secure a recommendation from health care practitioners who sign up as part of the program.

Patients and advocates have detested the regulations and said the 2024 ballot measures expressly allow smoking and vaping cannabis and don’t give the commission power over patients.

With Oldenburg’s absence, the remaining four members voted unanimously to name Commissioner Lorelle Mueting of Gretna as the “interim” chair. Mueting, a prevention director at Heartland Family Service in Omaha, was confirmed alongside Oldenburg in a 27-16 vote.

Oldenburg and Mueting met stiff opposition to their appointments as both had opposed multiple advocate-backed medical cannabis bills between 2018 and 2025.

Pillen last year had described the women as “experienced, well-qualified individuals” who would ensure strong regulations “to the letter of the law the people of Nebraska enacted.”

Since July, Pillen has appointed all three Liquor Control Commission members. They will face legislative confirmation this spring, as could Oldenburg’s successor if Pillen appoints one.

This story was first published by Nebraska Examiner.