Marijuana Laws and Policies in Nevada
If there is one place in the whole country where people would expect marijuana to be fully legal, it is definitely Nevada. In addition to housing the lively city of Las Vegas (which is known as the Entertainment Capital of the World), all the other cities and districts in Nevada offer accessibility to flowing weed supplies! However, things may not be as wondrous as they seem.
While it is true that Nevada has legalized the use of cannabis for all purposes, there are still a lot of rules to follow when using weed.
Now, it should come as no surprise that the bulk of marijuana dispensaries in Nevada can be found in the city of Las Vegas. Because of this, the place is often considered as the cornerstone of the Silver State’s weed production and distribution.
History of Cannabis in Nevada
Cannabis use has always been something of a big factor in influencing the culture of Nevada. Even before its legalization, residents of the state frequently made use of cannabis as a means of enjoyment and fun. This, of course, led to a steady rise in criminal charges and infractions throughout Nevada during the 60s up to the early 2010s.
Question 9 of the 2000 voting ballot gave residents the opportunity to approve of the Medical Use of Marijuana Act. This policy, which was supported by 65% of the voting population, legalized the use of medical marijuana in the state.
Legalization of recreational cannabis:
On November 8, 2016, another policy was presented in Question 2 of that year’s voting ballot. This was in relation to the law The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana which sought to legalize adult-use cannabis in Nevada. With roughly 55% of votes that were in favor of the bill, Nevada became one of the handful of US territories that officially legalized marijuana for adult use.
Cannabis Regulation Body
Initially, the medical marijuana program of Nevada was governed by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH). The DPBH was also responsible for operating and administering the Medical Marijuana Cardholder Registry for patients and caregivers.
Through this office, patients and caregivers would submit their application forms and other requirements (such as a physician’s prescription, valid IDs, and registration fees). However, after the legalization of recreational weed, the medical and recreational cannabis activities were assigned under the governance of the Department of Taxation.
Medical Cannabis
Medical marijuana in Nevada was legalized way back in the year 2000. The Medical Use of Marijuana Act paved the way for patients to treat their conditions through the use of cannabis.
It was a reformation of the law that allowed patients suffering from severe and serious conditions to use their own supplies of weed. This is because, in addition to forming a patient/caregiver registry system, home cultivation was the only accessible source of marijuana back then. The first sales of medical marijuana did not come until the year 2015.
There are a number of conditions and health diseases that qualify for the use of the medical marijuana program in Nevada. These include: Autism, anorexia, anxiety attacks, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease. HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, nausea, epileptic disorders and seizures, as well as any other condition that the DPBH deems qualified.
Legal Age, Purchasing, and Possession of Cannabis
Legal age:
Recreational cannabis for adult use is allowed for residents who are 21 years old and above. Medical patients must be at least 18 years old to freely choose to use medical cannabis for treatment of their health. Furthermore, caregivers may apply for such status as long as they are 21 years old and above.
Minor residents of Nevada who are below the legal age are also allowed to make use of medical cannabis as well. However, they will need their parents/guardians to fill up the Minor Release Form as well as act as the minor’s main caregivers.
Purchasing locations and possession limits:
Marijuana supplies for both medical and adult use cannabis may be obtained from registered and licensed marijuana dispensaries in Nevada. It is also important to know that if you are a medical cardholder from another state, you are still qualified to purchase marijuana from Nevada dispensaries.
All sales of cannabis for recreational purposes is limited to just one ounce of marijuana flowers and ⅛ ounce of cannabis extracts. Recreational sales are also subject to 10% to 15% excise taxes.
The purchase and possession of medical supplies is limited to 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana for a 2-week period. “Usable” marijuana refers to any cannabis products containing THC and/or CBD.
Consumption and Cultivation of Cannabis
Consumption limits:
Private consumption away from public crowds is the only acceptable way of smoking and using marijuana. There is currently one operating cannabis smoking lounge in Nevada. However, the state department plants on expanding this number in future years. Smoking or consuming cannabis while driving any vehicle is also strictly prohibited and will result in criminal charges.
Cannabis users are prohibited from smoking marijuana in any place that it is also illegal to consume tobacco. This includes public gyms, recreational centers, churches, universities, parks, and the like. Keep in mind, however, that many establishments in Las vegas follow a “smoking policy” which allows users to smoke in-site.
Cannabis cultivation:
Cultivating cannabis plants is banned and prohibited in the state of Nevada! Users of both medical and adult-use cannabis are not allowed to grow weed seeds even within their private domicile. Only licensed growers and distributors of cannabis supplies registered as such may do so.
However, there is one exception to this rule. If a medical patient lives more than 25 miles away from the nearest dispensary, then he/she is allowed to cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants.
Nevada truly is filled with fun and excitement. Along with casinos and other major events, the cannabis scene over there isn’t something to overlook! You can easily get your hands on weed in this state, especially if you are visiting the bustling city of Las Vegas.
But despite this, there are rules that you must adhere to before fully indulging yourself in the weed industry of this state. Getting in trouble is very possible if you are unaware of the rules and regulations governing cannabis in Nevada!
