Last week was a monumental one for cannabis legislation. Nevada became the latest state to allow for recreational marijuana sales. The city of Denver released guidelines for the nation’s first cannabis cafes. Meanwhile in Massachusetts, the voter-approved legislation making recreational marijuana legal is still the subject of political debate. Find out about that more in our weekly marijuana legislative roundup.
Nevada:
On Saturday, recreational marijuana sales began in Nevada despite a court order barring the issuance of cannabis distributor licenses. In May, a state judge based in Carson City ruled that the Department of Taxation acted improperly in determining that there was insufficient interest among liquor wholesalers to meet demand for recreational cannabis. Liquor wholesalers argue that they have exclusive rights to obtain distributor licenses under the marijuana law passed by voters in November.
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The DoT argues that it has the authority to issue distributor licenses to existing medical dispensaries if there are insufficient applications from liquor wholesalers to meet demand for recreational cannabis.
The state intends to appeal the court’s decision and issued a set of emergency regulations allowing medical dispensaries to begin selling their stock recreationally in the meantime.
Massachusetts:
On Saturday, members of the state House and Senate resumed talks after failing to meet a self-imposed deadline to pass a bill regulating the recreational marijuana law passed by voters in November.
The two chambers passed competing bills the prior week, with the House voting to “repeal and replace” the voter-approved measure with one that dramatically raised taxes on cannabis sales and imposed a stringent set of additional statewide regulations, while removing the power of voters to decide on cannabis regulations at the municipal level.
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The Senate version of the bill would leave the ballot measure intact but modify the way marijuana is regulated at the state level, while expunging prior marijuana convictions and requiring referenda on the opening of marijuana retailers at the local level.
Lawmakers hope to reach a compromise in the coming days.
Denver:
On Friday, Denver licensing officials unveiled a final set of regulations for people to consume marijuana legally in certain businesses.
Last November, Denver voters passed I-300, directing city officials to create a four-year social marijuana consumption pilot program. The ballot measure requires applicants to obtain backing from a registered neighborhood organization and comply with Colorado’s indoor smoking ban. Marijuana growers and retailers in the city will not be eligible to apply.
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The regulations closely mirror those already in place for liquor and cannabis retailers. Businesses will be required to post signs informing patrons of their responsibilities and that they cannot exchange marijuana for money. State lawmakers failed to pass legislation governing public use during the 2017 legislative session.
The city will begin accepting applications for annual and event permits at the end of August.
