LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska groups pushing for approval of medical marijuana in the state have decided to delay a petition drive to put the question on the ballot because of the time and expense required.

Shelley Gillen, whose son Will has epileptic seizures that might be helped by the drug, tells the Lincoln Journal Star backers are looking at the possibility of a petition drive to force a 2018 vote.

“We just can’t count on the Legislature,” she said. “We’ve been doing this since Will was 11. He’s now 14. So we’ve been through it three legislative sessions.”

A bill to allow medical marijuana failed this spring due to opposition from the governor and attorney general.

State Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue sponsored the bill. He estimates it would have cost $700,000 to nearly $1 million to pay for the petition drive and advertising. [Read more at The Cannabist at The Denver Post]