The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) is now responsible for regulating the state’s cannabis industry, having taken over from the Nevada Department of Taxation. The CCB began accepting applications for recreational marijuana retail licenses in 2018, initially limited to holders of medical marijuana dispensary licenses. Each marijuana establishment owner, officer, board member, employee, volunteer, and contractor must obtain an agent registration card by applying through the CCB.
The application fee remains $75, and the card is valid for one year from the date of issue. Upon approval of your application, you will receive a provisional letter and must pay the initial licensing fee, which is $20,000 for a recreational cannabis dispensary and $30,000 for a medical cannabis dispensary in Nevada.
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CANNABIS LEGALIZATION HISTORY IN NEVADA
Cannabis is nothing new in Nevada. In 1998, voters in Colorado passed an initiative to legalize medical cannabis, but stipulations in the state constitution required that it undergo a secondary approval two years later.
For the next 16 years, multiple organizations strongly advocated for the legalization of recreational cannabis. In 2016, the state took the additional step of legalizing recreational marijuana through a voter-approved initiative. Since January 1, 2017, adults aged 21 and over have been allowed to possess and use marijuana for personal use. The law permits the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or one-eighth of an ounce of marijuana concentrate, and allows for the cultivation of up to six plants per person or 12 plants per household.
In 2021, Nevada passed AB 341, which legalized cannabis consumption lounges and placed them under the regulation of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (NCCB). There are two types of consumption lounges allowed under the law: one that is associated with existing cannabis retailers, and the other that is standalone.
LAST UPDATED 9/4/2024 – It’s important to remember that laws can be revised and updated frequently, so please keep this in mind.