Nevada is known for being a gaming hotspot and, since recreational cannabis legalization was enacted on July 1, 2017, it has also emerged as a destination for cannabis tourism. Now, with Nevada Governor Stephen F. Sisolak signing an order to create a cannabis board advisory panel, the legal weed industry looks set to live up to Nevada’s gaming reputation.

“Nevada’s gaming industry is seen as the international gold standard and there is no reason we cannot take steps to ensure our [cannabis] industry is viewed the same way,” said Sisolak. “Today’s executive order is the first step in making sure we allow Nevada’s thriving [cannabis] industry to not just continue to grow but to represent the best in the country.”

The order to create a Nevada cannabis advisory panel constitutes various members and was signed last month. Each member will be required to develop a language for a Cannabis Compliance Board. The Legislature will consider the submission amidst the 80th session.

Examples of the topics that must be reviewed by the advisory panel include the existing regulatory structure and licensing procedures set out by the Department of Taxation. In addition to this, the advisory panel is expected to consider the possibility of introducing social cannabis consumption lounges in Nevada.

According to the policy mandates for Nevada cannabis, the federal government must focus on:

1. Preventing the distribution of cannabis to minors;
2. Preventing revenue from the sale of cannabis from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels;
3. Preventing the diversion of cannabis from Nevada, where it is legal under state law, to other states;
4. Preventing state-authorized cannabis activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity, especially financial crimes that are the lifeblood of large-scale criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels;
5. Preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation, production, and distribution of cannabis, unless used by trained security staff to protect the health and safety of cannabis establishment patrons, property, and employees; and
6. Preventing drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with cannabis use.

Cannabis in Nevada is boosting the economy

Nevada’s cannabis industry contributes greatly to the state, with much of the money being funded into public programs and educational reform systems. By 2025, Statista estimates that cannabis sales in Nevada will top $814 million.

So long as consumers are aware that their products have been laboratory tested and are cultivated, produced and distributed in accordance with the state’s cannabis regulations, Nevada’s cannabis economy will surely reap continuous success.