“It’s not assumed that if I buy a 48-pack beer, it’s because I intend to do something illegal with it.”
By Dana Gentry, Nevada Current
Carson City lawmakers are looking at a measure to more than double the number of marijuana recreational users and dispensaries that can sell it simultaneously. The measure would also remove a blanket ban from the industry for certain people convicted of felony offenses, and allow regulators to make their decisions about applicants.
Dallas Harris, Democratic Senator, said Monday that “at some point you’ve served time.” Harris added that people with felony convictions often find it difficult to find work and “they to another life of criminality.”
Democratic Senator Melanie Scheible pointed out that current law doesn’t prohibit anyone with a felony conviction from working, but only those who have been convicted of the most serious offenses and those who have had more than one conviction. Scheible, who was a former prosecutor, said that drug offenses can often be stacked, which can lead to multiple convictions for the same event.
Tyler Klimas, the executive director of Cannabis Compliance Board, stated that 16 of the 40,000 applications for work cards processed over the past three years were denied and that another 164 people canceled their applications following background checks which prompted questions from regulators.
Harris stated that it is impossible to determine how many people with felony convictions have been dissuaded by the law’s restrictions from applying for work cards.
Senate Bill277 would allow dispensaries to provide medical and recreational services.
It would allow recreational and medical cannabis users to have up to 2.5 ounces. This is more than double the current limit of one ounce for recreational buyers. The threshold prevents buyers taking advantage of sales like other consumers.
Oregon, however, has a possession limit of two ounces. Registered patients may purchase up to 24 ounces.
Harris stated, “It’s not assumed that if I buy a 48-pack beer, it must be something illegal with it afterwards.”
Opposition testimony suggested that a buyer of cannabis can buy multiple ounces from more than one dispensary.
Harris replied, “Please don’t do that.” Harris replied, “That’s currently a crime…so we’re trying raise the possession limit to allow people to engage in bulk buying if that’s what they’d like, regardless of whether it’s for medical reasons or none of our damn business.”
Harris suggested that being able to stock up and take advantage of discounts is going to make it less likely for you to try to get to the corner boy.
The measure was not approved by the committee.
This story first appeared in Nevada Current.
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Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.
Marijuana Moment first published the post Nevada Lawmakers Consider Bill to Increase Marijuana Possession Limit and Remove Barriers to Industry Employment.
