Nevada Bill Could Delay Cannabis Lounges by 2 Years

It might be 3 years before marijuana lounges are operational in Las Vegas. An amended bill requiring a two-year moratorium on marijuana lounge licensing surfaced on May 24.

The moratorium would require the state’s Cannabis Compliance Board to research how the consumption lounges would work, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. If this new legislation passes, it takes precedence over any local ordinances. Consumption lounges wouldn’t be able to open until at least July 1, 2021, should the legislation become law.

Visitors that are renting a private home can consume marijuana as long as provisions restricting use are in that rental agreement.

Spokeswoman for Governor Sisolak, said, “The governor believes that it’s better to address the issue of consumption lounges the right way than the quick way.”

Bob Groesbeck of Planet 13 said, “I don’t have any objection to looking at how [lounges] operate – I have a strong objection to arbitrarily imposing a two-year moratorium without any guidelines on what they would study [or] what data they would look at. This is just a delay tactic.”

The legislation could have a negative impact on those visiting Las Vegas specifically for cannabis tourism purposes.