10/24/2026
Last week, NMM announced our 2026 Compassionate Candidate Pledge. In that announcement, we talked about candidates lying about their stance on this issue to make themselves more electable. We have found that one candidate in particular has been particularly egregious in their lies: current State Senator Brad von Gillern.
Time and time again, Sen. von Gillern has claimed to be a proponent of medical cannabis and claims to want to support patients and caregivers. We’ve got the receipts to prove this isn’t true.
In May 2025, the Senator voted NO on LB 677 - a bill brought by fellow Republican Ben Hansen of Blair. The bill would’ve helped to establish a comprehensive and accessible medical program in Nebraska, building off the ballot language passed by voters. Then, in April of 2026, he voted NO on LB 933 amendment 3136, which would have provided protections for healthcare practitioners that recommend medical cannabis. Instead he voted YES on Sen. Kathleen Kauth’s “poison pill” that killed the bill.
In a blog post on his website earlier this week, Sen. von Gillern referred to those of us that make up NMM as “proponents of recreational marijuana.” NMM has always been about medical cannabis access for patients that need it in Nebraska. Wanting a functioning medical industry and program that upholds the intent of the voters and is accessible is not the same as a recreational program. Sen. von Gillern is lying.
As we’ve said before, NMM will never tell you who to vote for. We also know that medical cannabis is just one issue that voters have to take into account at the ballot box. However, we will not stand by as candidates continue to lie and use our issue for political gain.
See the entire list of candidates here: nmm2026.org
