Nevada Mulling Cannabis Lounges
by David Klemt
Nevada, Las Vegas in particular, has long been at the forefront of hospitality and guest experiences.
This includes cannabis tourism.
Two new bills seek to make public cannabis consumption legal in the Silver State.
Current Cannabis Consumption Laws
Contrary to popular belief, it’s illegal to consume cannabis in public in Nevada. Many tourists, however, seem to believe the opposite is true.
This isn’t new to Las Vegas locals; there are still people who think anything goes in Sin City. There are still people who think brothels and prostitution are legal in Las Vegas, after all. Why would weed not be subject to rumor and innuendo?
The reality of recerational cannabis consumption in Nevada—so this includes Las Vegas—is as follows:
- A person must consume cannabis on private property. The property owner must grant permission.
- It’s illegal for the driver or passenger(s) in a moving vehicle to consume cannabis.
- It’s illegal to operate a moving vehicle under the influence of cannabis.
- Adults 21 years and older may legally possess up to one ounce (28 grams) of cannabis edibles, flower, or topicals, as well as 3.5 grams of cannabis concentrates.
- Adults 21 years and older may purchase cannabis from licensed retailers or a Nevada dispensary. Nobody may purchase more than one ounce of cannabis at a time.
Currently, there is one lounge in Nevada in which a person may legally consume cannabis. The NuWu Cannabis Tasting Room sits on Paiute tribal land.
Current Cannabis Bills
Nevada Assemblyman Steve Yeager’s new bill, Assembly Bill 341, seeks to legalize cannabis consumption lounges.
The introduction of this bill makes sense given that Assemblyman Yeager is a member of the Growth and Infrastructure Committee.
Nevada’s recreational cannabis revenue is certainly growing each year:
- 2017 Tax Revenue: $70 million
- 2018 Tax Revenue: $74.7 million
- 2019 Tax Revenue: $99.18 million
- 2020 Tax Revenue: $105.18 million
If AB341 passes, dispensaries and other license holders would be able to apply for a license to operate as a “social use” venue.
Another bill, AB322, would allow for the sale and consumption of cannabis at “certain events.” In other words, festival operators could apply for such a license, as an example.
Takeaway
Nevada has been seen as the possible “Amsterdam of America” since states began legalizing recreational cannabis in earnest.
Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom sees the situation in a grander scale, particularly for Las Vegas.
“I think we’re ready to really blow the doors off this thing,” says Segerblom. “If we do soon, we can be the marijuana capital of the world.”
“The Marijuana Capital of the World.” When Nevada goes in, they go all in.
Image: JOSHUA COLEMAN on Unsplash