Cancer patient charged for pot use, SAM shares legalization concerns

MADISON -- A few weeks ago we told you the story of a couple who's been treating medical ailments with marijuana. Tuesday, they appeared in Madison County Court for the charges they were facing last time.

"My mom is a recovering drug addict. [But] This is the only drug she's ever done that shouldn't be called a drug because it improves her quality of life," said Kayla Lambley, daughter. She drove up from Lincoln to support her mother, Kelly Lambley, who said she was nervous to appear in court. 

The possession charge was dropped because Lambley did not have any on her when she was charged. But her family said the $100 fine for paraphernalia was unjust.

"If you don't have an iron in the fire, then stay out of it," the charged patient, Kelly Lambley, said. 

Lambley's husband, Luke Drozd, has been helping to circulate two petitions which pave the way for Nebraska to legalize medical marijuana, and regulate dispensaries.

"She's taking a drug you can't overdose on, you can't harm yourself," said Luke Drozd.

Still, opposition to the petitions fears the potential side effects of legalization. For example, Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) noted it can hinder brain development in youth.

"Here in Colorado the industry is selling candies, gummies, and icecreams laced with incredibly high potency marijuana. Kids under the age of 18 saw a 15% increase in marijuana these past two years," said president Luke Niforatos.

Drozd said that's why the second part of the petition is about regulation.

Niforatos also noted the most common dangers of marijuana, such as driving under the influence. When asked if he would also outlaw alcohol or tobacco use -- Niforatos noted that those legal substances are already so widely used that it would be impossible to eradicate use by criminalization. 

But, Niforatos said medicine shouldn't be political in the first place. "We think that marijuana should go through the research process, but medical marijuana is political -- and I don't know about you, but I didn't vote on approving ibuprofen," Niforatos said.

Drozd agrees it shouldn't be political or up for debate; that medical marijuana should be a right.

As for asking the professionals, the medical field is almost split -- with surveys estimating around 70% of doctors support medical marijuana.