Rick Beard

Infrastructure / Transportation We drive on rubble. It wrecks our cars and it's embarrassing when we have out of state guests. Some of these taxes are going to help fix the roads. Economy In these uncertain times, it's good to have options. We grew a lot of industrial hemp in Nebraska for WWII. A strong industrial hemp business would boost agricultural opportunity in our state. Building materials, human food, animal feed, textiles, biodegradable plastics, and biofuels are a few products we could manufacture from hemp. Drug Policy We need to quit arresting and jailing people for cannabis. Our current cannabis policy preys on Nebraskans to keep jails and prisons populated. Over half (53%) of the drug arrests in Nebraska are for cannabis when we know most actual drug problems come from meth, fentanyl, and prescription opiates. Minor cannabis arrests can add up to significant sentences and penalties. Our law enforcement needs to focus on the problem drugs and not on cannabis users. Drug Policy Full access cannabis legalization with an industrial hemp business would great roughly 15,000 new jobs for Nebraskans with a combined 500,000,000 in salaries. Taxes / Budget Full access cannabis taxation and a strong industrial hemp business are real financial solutions for Nebraska.