Legislation advanced through the Nevada Assembly committee on Friday, to allow on-site marijuana consumption lounges. Another measure also passed in separate legislation that will change the rules for driving and consumption. The measure will make it so the concentration of THC in a person’s blood cannot be solely used to determine impairment while driving
Speaker Pro Tempore Steve Yeager (D) is the sponsor for the social use legislation. The legislation will create two licensing categories for cannabis businesses. As a result, the first, will be for “retail cannabis consumption lounges”. The second, will be for an “independent cannabis consumption lounge”.
Current retailers will be able to apply for the second option. They can sell products that would be able to be consumed on-site by those over the age of 21. The key difference is that the independent lounges cannot sell cannabis on their own. So, they will need to have the products delivered to consumers from a different source.
One option would be to submit a request to regulators to sell their cannabis products and or create a contract with a retailer to sell their products at your marijuana consumption lounges.
The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board will be responsible for creating regulations for on-site facilities and setting the fees for licenses. Social equity applicants will have reduced fees.
To qualify as a “social equity applicant”, the following needs to be met. A person that was adversely affected by previous laws that criminalized activity relating to cannabis. Including, but not limited to, adverse effects on an owner, officer, or board member of the applicant or on the geographic area in which the applicant will operate.
Amendment to the Proposal
Yeager made some amendments to the proposal before the Assembly Judiciary Committee gave their approval. In the proposed amendment it expands on the definition and system for social equity applicants. Revises public safety requirements for the lounges and puts systems in place to ensure the products that people buy at lounges do not leave the facility. Along with a few other changes.
Separate legislation, the impaired driving bill, also cleared the committee on Friday. The blood test for THC will no longer determine impairment. Advocates argue that there is a lack of evidence demonstrating a link between the number of THC metabolites in the blood and active impairment.
Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.