Casino operators in Nevada are worries that new legalized marijuana laws will land them in legal hot water.
Gov. Brian Sandoval has called for clarity on where marijuana laws stand in relation to Nevada’s casinos.
This includes determining whether any circumstances would permit pot-themed events and conferences at casino venues.
The panel will seek to find answers to the many questions raised by the gambling industry in relation to Nevada’s new stance on marijuana sales, which took effect in July of this year.
Swift decision expected by policy committee
The Nevada Gaming Policy Committee will meet by December, according to reports, in response to pressure from the casino industry for more legal clarity on marijuana laws.
Panel member AG Burnett, representing the Gaming Control Board, says the industry has numerous questions relating to how cannabis retail and gambling businesses can interact within the confines of existing laws.
The decision may be too late for the Marijuana Business Conference and Expo, which could be limited in what it can promote and sell when the event comes to Las Vegas in November.
Among the questions casinos have for state officials is the issue of whether drug related items can be sold and shown at conference events.
This annual expo is scheduled to go ahead as planned, but the Las Vegas Convention Center will want clarity for future events.
The legalization law in Nevada permits marijuana use at home only, so casinos cannot allow its use on their premises or sell it themselves.
However, the two industries do have an opportunity to interact.
As well as hosting events for the pot business, casinos may well see players come through their doors who made their money through marijuana sales. Those operators will want to know where they stand in relation to money laundering and illegal marijuana transactions – and whether a pot retailer is eligible for casino financing.
The panel will open discussions on these issues later this year, with regulators and industry representatives among the committee.
They will report to Gov. Sandoval on where policy changes need implementing if gambling and marijuana sales are to coexist well.
credit:420intel.com
