Nevada has declared a state of emergency over a shortage of legal marijuana.
Since recreational use of weed became legal in the state on July 1, Nevada’s 47 retail dispensaries have struggled to meet the high demand.
Nevada’s state Department of Taxation warned that the “nascent industry could grind to a halt” in declaring a state of emergency last week.
The state dispensary association estimated that customers in the state bought between $3 million and $5 million worth of pot in the first four days of it becoming legal.
Gov. Brian Sandoval, who at first did not support the legalization of weed, endorsed emergency regulations to increase marijuana supply.
Sandoval is supporting new reform policies to speed up the review process for cannabis companies’ transport licenses. These reforms were created by Deonne E. Contine, executive director of Nevada Department of Taxation.
“This Emergency Regulation is necessary to provide for the structure that will allow the department to, if necessary, make a determination that will maintain a flow of revenue related to the legal sale and regulation of marijuana,” Contine said in the statement of emergency.
“The problem is not growing — there are 100 in operation across the state — but in distribution and state rules on who is allowed to transport the pot,” she added.
The governor has authorized the Nevada Tax Commission to hold a hearing Thursday to establish more emergency reforms.
credit:circa.com
