Douglas County, NE Cannabis Regulations: Home Cultivation (2026)
Key Facts
- Recreational
- Illegal in NE
- Medical
- Approved 2024: pending
- Home Grow
- Not authorized
- State Statute
- NE §28-416
- Hemp
- Licensed via NDA
Summary
Home cannabis cultivation is illegal in Douglas County. Nebraska law prohibits recreational marijuana cultivation. Medical marijuana was approved by voters in November 2024 (Initiatives 437/438) but implementation is pending and does not clearly authorize home grow. Penalties include felony charges for larger grows.
28-416. Prohibited acts; violations; penalties.
(1) Except as authorized by the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, it shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally: (a) To manufacture, distribute, deliver, dispense, or possess with intent to manufacture, distribute, deliver, or dispense a controlled substance; or (b) to create, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute a counterfeit controlled substance.
(12) Any person knowingly or intentionally possessing marijuana weighing more than one ounce but not more than one pound shall be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor.
(13) Any person knowingly or intentionally possessing marijuana weighing more than one pound shall be guilty of a Class IV felony.
(14) Except as provided in section 28-1701 , any person knowingly or intentionally possessing marijuana weighing one ounce or less or any substance containing a quantifiable amount of the substances, chemicals, or compounds described, defined, or delineated in subdivision (c)(28) of Schedule I of section 28-405 shall:
(a) For the first offense, be guilty of an infraction, receive a citation, be fined three hundred dollars, and be assigned to attend a course as prescribed in section 29-433 if the judge determines that attending such course is in the best interest of the individual defendant;
(b) For the second offense, be guilty of a Class IV misdemeanor, receive a citation, and be fined four hundred dollars and may be imprisoned not to exceed five days; and
(c) For the third and all subsequent offenses, be guilty of a Class IIIA misdemeanor, receive a citation, be fined five hundred dollars, and be imprisoned not to exceed seven days.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Home cannabis cultivation in Douglas County, Nebraska remains illegal as of 2026. Nebraska is one of the few remaining states without a recreational cannabis program. Nebraska voters approved medical marijuana with Initiative 437 (use) and Initiative 438 (regulation) in November 2024, but implementation through the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission is ongoing and the initiated statutes do not clearly authorize patient home cultivation: the framework contemplates a dispensary model. Growing cannabis for personal use without specific authorization remains a criminal offense under Neb. Rev. §28-416. Possession and cultivation penalties scale with quantity: small amounts can be a misdemeanor (Class IV or Class III), while cultivation of larger quantities or intent-to-distribute charges are Class IIA or higher felonies.
Douglas County Attorney's office prosecutes cases in the 4th Judicial District. Federal law under the Controlled Substances Act continues to classify marijuana as Schedule I. Omaha Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff enforce state law. Hemp cultivation is distinct and governed by the Nebraska Hemp Farming Act (Neb. Rev. ) requiring licensing through the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.
Violations & Fines
Cultivation of cannabis plants: Class IV misdemeanor to Class IIA felony depending on quantity. Fines $500 to $25,000. Jail time 5 days to 20 years depending on classification. Property used for cultivation may be subject to asset forfeiture. Federal penalties additionally possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow marijuana at home in Omaha now that medical is legal?
What's the penalty for growing a few plants in Nebraska?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Douglas County
Compare Douglas County to another location·View the Nebraska cannabis regulations overview
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