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The Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, from left: Commissioners Bruce Bailey of Lincoln, Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, Dr. Monica Oldenburg of Lincoln, Kim Lowe of Kearney and J. Michael Coffey of Omaha. At right is Bo Botelho, general counsel for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services contracted to work with the commission. Sept. 2, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
LINCOLN — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen is accepting applications for a seat on the statewide voter-created Medical Cannabis Commission after its chair resigned Monday.
Pillen thanked Dr. Monica Oldenburg, a Lincoln anesthesiologist, for her work. The governor appointed her to the commission in April, and the Legislature confirmed her, 34-11, in May. Her peers named her chair at the commission’s first meeting in June.
In her resignation letter, Oldenburg wrote that she couldn’t “adequately” commit the time needed for the volunteer position with her familial and physician commitments. Lawmakers have proposed compensating the currently unpaid commissioners $12,500-a-year for their service.
Those interested in the statewide, at-large seat can submit an application online at https://governor.nebraska.gov/boards-commissions-open-positions by mail a completed application to the Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 94848, Lincoln, NE 68509-4848.
Commissioners serve six-year terms subject to legislative confirmation. The commission includes two at-large seats alongside the three members of the Liquor Control Commission, who are also appointed by the governor and serve staggered six-year terms based on the state’s congressional districts.
In 2025, Pillen asked all three former members of the Liquor Control Commission to resign. He first replaced a member for more “cannabis experience” and later removed the others in the midst of a law enforcement scandal involving the executive director. No commissioner was implicated in that ongoing controversy.
Lorelle Mueting of Gretna, a prevention specialist with Heartland Family Service, is the other remaining at-large representative. She is now the “interim” commission chair. She was appointed alongside Oldenburg and confirmed 27-16 last year.
The three Liquor Control Commission members are Bud Synhorst of Lincoln, retired District Judge J. Michael Coffey of Omaha and James Elworth of Nebraska City. They face confirmation this spring before the Legislature’s General Affairs Committee, then the full Legislature.
Pillen has said he’s directing his appointees on the Medical Cannabis Commission to govern so the program remains medical and can’t slide to recreational use. The commission has proposed restricting the number of active marijuana plants that could be cultivated, the types of products that could be sold and which physicians could recommend medical cannabis.
Commissioners on Monday delayed discussing an application time frame for product manufacturers, transporters and dispensaries pending legislative action.
A second public hearing on proposed regulations is 1 p.m. Feb. 26 at the Nebraska State Office Building in Lincoln. The commission’s next regular meeting is scheduled 1 p.m. March 16.
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