The commissioners of Clark County – where Las Vegas resides – approved 25 medical marijuana dispensary special use permits allowing them to sell recreational marijuana beginning July 1.
Adam Denmark Cohen of Jardin Dispensary said, “We believe that we’re on track for a July 1 launch. The state of Nevada, and Clark County in particular, are quite used to regulating complicated industries, and we’ve just seen a commitment and follow through on all levels to get the program implemented and launched in a timely manner,” reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The commissioners also discussed a code violation regarding Digipath Labs. The testing facility sent an email blast in April advertising for a “cannabis-infused dining experience and cannabis cocktail hour” for another company. The event was canceled.
Todd Denkin, president and founder of Digipath Labs, said, “I want to wholeheartedly apologize for my obvious lapse in judgment. We were just trying to help a friend promote her event.”
The commissioners chose not to revoke the lab’s license. Instead, they instructed the lab to create and distribute free handbooks regarding Nevada’s marijuana laws. They are also to host a dozen educational lectures about marijuana laws. In addition to these consequences, they are also ordered to make a $50,000 donation to Roseman University of Health Sciences to aid an ongoing pilot study regarding children and drug abuse.
Commissioners aren’t going to use this alternative punishment approach with future violators though.
Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said, “We wouldn’t let that happen with liquor and gaming. Then why would we do it with the marijuana industry? If we want to be the gold standard, then let’s be the gold standard.”
Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said, “I will support this motion today, but I, in the future, am not doing it this way.”
Moving forward, there will be specific violations with corresponding consequences for future violations of Clark County code.