Cannabis Vendors In Nevada Could Participate In Temporary Retail Events Under Proposed Bill

Public consumption of cannabis in Nevada is prohibited. The famous “seshes,” a kind of weed bazaar where people buy and sell products have become a landmark of the gray market, are thriving and have caught the attention of Nevada lawmakers.

Assemblyman C.H. Miller introduced AB253 on March 7, 2023, which is intended to provide for the licensure and regulation “of certain events at which the sale and consumption of cannabis or cannabis products are allowed.”

Miller presented the bill to the Assembly Committee on Judiciary on Wednesday and testified to its purpose. He said the bill seeks to provide a controlled environment for cannabis consumption, which would be monitored to alleviate the odor of cannabis at events. He added that the bill could also boost economic prosperity for vendors who participate in these events.

What’s In The Bill?

According to the bill text, the Cannabis Compliance Board of Nevada would regulate certain events at which the sale and consumption of cannabis or cannabis products will be allowed to adults; setting forth certain requirements for the issuance of a cannabis event organizer's license, such as a temporary cannabis event permit and portable cannabis vendor license.

The bill also aims to establish requirements concerning the operation of a temporary cannabis event, including fees and excise tax on retail sales.

Cannabis event organizers and portable cannabis vendors would be contemplated within the definition of “cannabis establishment” provided in existing law, “thereby subjecting such businesses to the requirements of existing law applicable to cannabis establishments.”

Social Equity

The bill seeks to expand the definition of “social equity applicant” to include an applicant for the issuance or renewal of a cannabis event organizer license or portable cannabis vendor license “who has been adversely affected by previous laws which criminalized activity relating to cannabis.

AB253 requires the Cannabis Compliance Board to adopt regulations establishing criteria for determining whether such an applicant qualifies as a social equity applicant and to give priority to a social equity applicant in processing applications for a cannabis event organizer license or portable cannabis vendor license.

Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash.