2 cannabis lounges OK’d for Nye

iStock/State regulators on Tuesday tried to levy a hefty fine on a Southern Nevada marijuana dispensary that self-reported a regulatory violation, a decision that some questioned as being overly harsh.

Madeline Rubidoux, chocolatier and chef with Evergreen Organix, shows some of the Evergreen Organix products for sale at the Essence Cannabis Dispensary in Henderson June 15, 2016. Jason Ogulnik/View

Selwyn Harris/Pahrump Valley Times There was a steady flow of customers throughout the day as officials with the Grove dispensary hosted a third anniversary, all-day celebration on Saturday March 16. The event offered attendees raffles, food, music and specials on numerous products throughout the store.

Cannabis edibles. (Getty Images)

Special to the Pahrump Valley Times Pahrump's Grove cannabis dispensary, which began delivery-only sales back in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is once again open for in-store sales for customers. New safety precautions require customers to wear a mask and follow the six-feet social distancing guideline.

Grove dispensary Manager Zachary Wright provides information on medical marijuana. The facility opened its doors to Pahrump seniors last week who want to learn more about what Wright said are the positive benefits of the drug. Selwyn Harris/Pahrump Valley Times

At least two applicants have been awarded licenses to operate cannabis lounges in Nye County, according to a report issued Wednesday from the state’s Cannabis Compliance Board.

KV Group LLV and GGCPA SE Inc. both plan to launch local lounges, where adults will be allowed to smoke, vape and consume cannabis products onsite.

Specifics, including where the two cannabis lounges might operate in Nye County weren’t immediately available. A request to view the lounge applications approved by the Cannabis Compliance Board this week is pending.

However, a spokesperson for the board confirmed that one Nye County applicant will receive one of the state’s designated social-equity licenses to operate.

“The intention was to create a license that would hopefully benefit people and communities historically negatively impacted by previous drug policy,” Tiana Bohner, a spokesperson for the Nevada CBC told the Pahrump Valley Times on Thursday.

Those convicted of non-violent felony or misdemeanor cannabis offenses and who met other requirements established by the state’s cannabis board were able to apply for a social-equity license to operate a lounge and pay just $2,500 instead of the typical $10,000 fee.

While cannabis regulations vary from state to state where the drug has been legalized in the past years, growing gender, racial and social gaps exist between stakeholders in the industry.

According to a 2021 report from Marijuana Business Daily, the percentage of executive positions held by women and minorities in cannabis fell to 30 percent and 13 percent, respectively. Programs focused on social equity have responded to help marginalized communities participate in the legal cannabis industry, which is projected to top $100 billion in revenue by 2030.

Nye County currently operates two legal cannabis dispensaries, both in Pahrump. A third dispensary is located in Tonopah, just across the Esmeralda county line.

While cannabis retailers have legally been able to sell marijuana in Nevada since July 2017, regulations have largely banned the use of it in public places, both indoors and outdoors. Until now, tourists who stayed in Nevada’s hotels and purchased pre-rolled joints at dispensaries, for example, have had few places to smoke them because the only “safe havens” were privately owned homes and properties.

Nevada is the fourth state to approve cannabis lounges. California, Connecticut, and New York also have allowances for social consumption.

This is a developing story.

Contact Editor Brent Schanding at bschanding@pvtimes.com