LINCOLN — Nebraska may soon have two separate marijuana initiative petition drives.

An effort to legalize marijuana for medicinal use only is about to join an earlier petition seeking complete legalization of the drug.

John H. Smith of McCook said this week that organizers hope to be ready to hit the streets with the new petitions within a week or two.

Smith is executive director of NORML Nebraska, the state chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

NORML Nebraska filed paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office last month for the medicinal marijuana drive, which will be split into three ballot measures.

One proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the possession, distribution and use of marijuana for medical use.

The other two are proposed laws regulating the use and production of medical marijuana and of marijuana dispensaries.

Smith said he sees no conflict between the NORML effort and the drive started earlier this summer by the Nebraska Cannibis Coalition.

The coalition seeks a constitutional amendment to regulate and tax all commercial uses of marijuana and remove all laws governing private, noncommercial use of the plant.

Smith said having two petition drives would give Nebraskans choices and would increase the chances that one would pass. He said more people support medical marijuana than complete legalization.

"I just want to bring medical marijuana to Nebraska so patients can get what they really need," he said.

Supporters tout marijuana as a natural substance that helps with a wide variety of health problems, especially pain and nausea.

Littletree Oppy of Lincoln, an organizer for the full legalization drive, said she welcomed the new petition effort and doesn't believe they are in competition.

Some people might sign only one petition while others might sign both petitions, she said.

Smith said he expects that circulators might collect signatures for both petition efforts. Both groups are relying on volunteer circulators.

It takes signatures from 10 percent of registered voters to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot. In 2008 that number was more than 112,000 signatures. The target for 2012 will be determined next year.

It takes signatures from 7 percent of registered voters to put a proposed law on the ballot.

Despite the number of signatures needed and despite Nebraska's conservative nature, Smith and Oppy expressed optimism about their chances of getting something on the ballot.

"I think Nebraska's a lot more laid back than people realize," Oppy said.

Medicinal marijuana is legal in 16 states, including Colorado and the District of Columbia. In 10 of those states it was legalized through ballot measures.

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy recommended last year that marijuana be legalized for medical use, but the matter stalled in the Legislature.

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