Nebraska Family Celebrates Victory in Medical Marijuana Lawsuit
After years of advocating for medical marijuana legalization in Nebraska, a Bellevue family is breathing a sigh of relief following a major court ruling. The family, who has been fighting for the right to access medical marijuana for their 22-year-old son, Will, who lives with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, has been met with numerous setbacks along the way.
Will’s parents, Shelley and Dominic, first began pushing for medical marijuana legalization in Nebraska when Will was just 11 years old. Despite their efforts, the family faced numerous setbacks, including a petition being removed on a technicality in 2020 and bills narrowly failing.
However, on Tuesday, the family received a major victory when a Lancaster County District Court ruling declared that the decision by Nebraska voters to legalize medical marijuana should stand. The ruling brings hope to the family that they may finally be able to access medical marijuana as a treatment option for Will’s daily seizures and behavioral issues.
“We’re ecstatic,” said Dominic, Will’s father. “We’re hoping that this ruling brings peace to our volunteers who have worked tirelessly for this cause. We’re grateful that our hard work has paid off and that we’re one step closer to being able to access medical marijuana as a treatment option for Will.”
Will’s parents hope that medical marijuana could help reduce his seizures and improve his ability to communicate, as he is nonverbal. The family is waiting to see if there will be an appeal before assuming the matter is finally resolved.
The family’s journey has been long and arduous, but they remain optimistic that their efforts will ultimately lead to a better quality of life for their son. As Dominic said, “We’ve always wanted our doctors to have the option to try medical marijuana as a treatment option for Will. We’re hopeful that this ruling brings us one step closer to achieving that goal.”
