Rick Beard Proposes State-Run Cannabis Program for Nebraska Governor Bid

Rick Beard, the gubernatorial nominee for the Legal Marijuana NOW party, has detailed a platform for the November 3 general election focused on government-managed medical cannabis. Beard proposes a state-run program where the government controls farming, land, and facilities, estimating that the system would generate between $100 million and $500 million in annual tax revenue.

Beard intends to use these funds to mitigate a potential $1 billion state deficit, repair roads, and lower property taxes. His broader economic agenda includes eliminating tax breaks for corporations and the ultra-rich, expanding industrial hemp for biofuel, and requiring closed-loop cooling systems for data center developments.

Running without PAC or corporate funding, Beard is competing against Republican Governor Jim Pillen and former Democratic State Senator Lynne Walz. He also advocates for a ballot measure that would raise the legislative threshold required to alter laws previously approved by voters.