Nevada lawmakers sent the Governor a comprehensive marijuana reform bill. The bill would double the limit on personal possession, consolidate licensing regulations and expand eligibility to participate in the market for people with previous felony convictions.
On Monday, the cannabis omnibus bill from Sen. Dallas Harris passed the Assembly with a vote of 28-14. This was just a few short days after the Senate approved it.
The measure would revise the existing state marijuana laws in a number of ways, including increasing the limit on cannabis possession and purchases from an ounce to two and a half ounces. Adults will also be able to possess twice as much cannabis concentrate, from an eighth of an inch to a quarter of an ounce.
It would also mean that adult-use marijuana retail stores would not need a separate license for medical cannabis to serve their patients. Retailers who sell recreational marijuana would be automatically granted dual licensing.
After January 1, 2024, regulators will no longer be able issue or renew licenses for medical marijuana unless the applicant is in a jurisdiction which has chosen to not allow adult-use facilities. Patients who use medical cannabis would not be subject to the state excise taxes at recreational retailers.
The legislation also reduces the fees for renewal and application of licenses.
A major change in the bill is that regulators will have discretion to decide whether or not to issue marijuana business licenses for people who have prior felonies.
Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board could grant licenses to key shareholders of a cannabis firm who had such convictions, if they “determine that this would not be a threat to public safety or health or negatively impact on the cannabis industry within the State.”
The board must also “impose any conditions or limitations on the grant of an exemption, that it determines are necessary to preserve public health and safety and to mitigate the impact on the cannabis industry of this State.”
The bill also requires the state Cannabis Advisory Commission (CAC) to conduct a study on the effects of removing cannabis from the federal Controlled Substances Act and the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
A county court has ruled that the state’s classification of cannabis as Schedule I controlled substances despite its legalization last year is unconstitutional. The state Board of Pharmacy has appealed the ruling.
The legislation is also headed to the governor. Joe Lombardo’s (R) proposal would have regulators determine whether any proposed rule changes for the industry would “have an adverse impact on the environment” and, if they did, whether or not there were any ways to reduce or eliminate this adverse effect that would not impose a financial burden on holders an adult-use marijuana establishment license or a medical cannabis establishment licence.
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The Nevada legislature recently passed a resolution that calls on Congress to legalize marijuana at the federal level.
Separately, on Sunday, legislators approved a bill which would establish a new group of experts to study psychedelics as well as develop a plan for regulated access to therapeutic purposes. The bill now heads to the governor.
Recently, Nevada’s law enforcement regulators also proposed that the state’s employment policies be revised so that prior convictions of marijuana possession for amounts now legal will no longer disqualify police recruits.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted separately to submit a proposed regulatory amendement to the Governor which would protect athletes against being penalized for using or possessing cannabis in compliance with state laws.
NSAC , the body that regulates unarmed combat in the state, voted unanimously for 2021 to end the punishment of professional fighters who test positive for marijuana. However, the policy is not yet incorporated into the code. The new amendment will change that.
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