Its time for this state to join the 21st century. Its time for the state to stop pretending that its 1939, the age of Reefer Madness. Its time for this state to pull its big dumb head out of its big dumb ostrich hole and establish a sane, civilized, and eventually lucrative system of dispensaries for medical marijauna.
The citizens of Nevada approved the use of medical marijuana many years ago (2000 was the second time the MM initiative was passed, and it did so with 67 percent of the vote). But the legal reality that has evolved in the years after the initiatives passage is a typically murky one: Nevadans with a medical marijuana permit may grow their own pot (7 plants max), but they may not buy it. And no entity is allowed to sell weed to those with permits.
What this does is basically ensure that the state of Nevada will in no way participate in what would be, if only slightly encouraged, a helpful new industry. That a state in desperate need of new streams of revenue has successfully and most unbrilliantly gone out of its way to guarantee that it will not make a nickel from an industry thats waiting to bloom. Its a policy thats both moronic and nutless.
The issue needs to be addressed. Now. The state should allow and regulate pot shops. Since there arent any here in the Reno area, you might think thats the way it is throughout Nevada. Wrong. In Vegas, there have been a few brave souls whove tried to operate dispensaries. Its not been pleasant. They were raided by DEA agents in September, victims of goon-squad vibes that made it clear their continued operations were not going to be tolerated. And on Nov. 18, many of those dispensaries were raided again, this time relieved of their business licenses and informed they had 24 hours to close shop or face legal consequences. Unfortunately for the shop owners, the law isnt on their side.
This is the legislatures cue. The new session, which will convene again in February, needs to recognize that the current situation sucks, that theres a real and pressing need for guidance and clarity here, and that that guidance and clarity must come from the lawmakers themselves.
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