Filibuster Kills Medical Pot Bill; Backers To Push 2022 Ballot Initiative

       A filibuster in the Nebraska Legislature on Wednesday killed a bill to legalize and tightly regulate medical marijuana, setting the stage for a much less restrictive ballot measure with a good chance of passing. 

        A cloture motion to end debate and vote on the bill received a 31-18 majority, but needed 33 votes to pass.       

       The looming ballot measure could leave the with an uncharacteristically liberal medical pot law, based on the success of medical marijuana initiatives in other states including South Dakota. 

      Supporters say the dead bill would have given Nebraska one of the nation’s most conservative medical marijuana policies, and they promised to take the issue to voters.