Pahrump medical marijuana establishment approved for recreational sales

Another medical marijuana establishment in Pahrump was approved for recreational sales.

Nye County commissioners approved special use permits that will allow Nye County Medical Marijuana at 340 E. Mesquite Ave. to produce and cultivate recreational marijuana in addition to medical marijuana, after a lengthy discussion at the last meeting.

Justin Mohney, manager of Nye County Medical Marijuana, told Nye County commissioners that the business paid taxes only in May and July as sales were conducted only in April.

According to government records, Nye County Medical Marijuana made just over $1,400 at its dispensary and production facilities in April. Total taxes paid for that period were $28.88.

In the documents, the company said that its accounting firm was previously unaware of the county’s reporting and taxation requirements. The company said the problem was corrected and all taxes owed were paid and reported on May 31.

Medical marijuana cultivation and medical marijuana production special use permits have been previously approved on the property.

Nye County code allows for an administrative approval process to add recreational marijuana special use permits to existing medical marijuana special use permits, if the medical facility’s special use permit is in good standing and in compliance with state and county regulations, according to the documents.

The county initially said that Nye County Medical Marijuana’s request to add recreational special use permits to the property were determined to not be in compliance.

Nye County records said Nye County Medical Marijuana was transporting medical marijuana in an un-approved transport vehicle, didn’t filing sales returns, and didn’t have on-site security and failure to have online camera access to the sheriff’s office.

Nye County Medical Marijuana representatives said that those issues had been corrected since then.

Records provide details

According to documents, the facility currently has a 24-hour security after the staff “mistakenly” believed that because no production or cultivation activities were occurring during this time on the property, a 24-hour security was not required at all times.

Records show that in one circumstance, approved vehicle was being serviced and two-eighths of an ounce was transported in a private vehicle. Nye County Medical Marijuana said that all agents and staff have been advised and trained, and are now aware that under no circumstance is any product to be transported in a non-approved vehicle.

In addition, the company said that its management “mistakenly” believed that notice could be provided after the fact of making a sale. All agents and staff have been advised and trained on the procedure that notice of product departure and arrival must be made prior to the transportation of the product, records show.

Valerie Small, agent for Nye County Medical Marijuana, said they are looking to start producing recreational marijuana within four weeks.

“We want to get the plants out there to the masses, so they can try our recreational product and see how wonderful our product is,” Small said.

Small said the business initially started producing medical marijuana because it wanted to fix the stigma associated with it.

“We want to get research going on the plants we produce,” Small said.

The county said the company failed to maintain a 24/7 on-site security with no one on site during several attempts to inspect the facility, but Nye County Medical Marijuana is currently redesigning a security plan and recently put new personnel and new procedures in place.

Nye County commissioners made to approve a conditional use permit with the condition that the applicant will come back in three months and show the proof of what they are doing and violate no laws between now and then.

Recreational marijuana became legal in Nevada on July 1. Pahrump currently has one dispensary, the Grove at 1541 E. Basin Ave., which sells recreational marijuana.

Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77