Carson City could see two additional cannabis dispensaries with commission recommendation
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Thu, 06/30/2022 - 10:38am
During Wednesday's Carson City Planning Commission meeting, a lengthy discussion was held regarding whether or not the commission should recommend to the Board of Supervisors the acceptance of an additional cannabis retail store.
In Nevada, recreational cannabis was legalized in 2016, and dispensary allotments were based on population and were generally given to already established medical-marijuana dispensaries, such as Carson City's RISE and Sierra Well.
By state regulation, Carson City was allowed two medical dispensaries and up to four retail cannabis dispensaries, but Carson City soon enacted their own ordinance limiting the number to two total dispensaries.
According to Will Addler, who spoke as a representative for both RISE and Sierra Well, it was the city's position at that time that there would never be any additional dispensaries allotted in the capital city.
However, opinions may have shifted, as the Board of Supervisors asked the Planning Commission for a recommendation on allowing curbside pickup and/or drive through services, as well as to make a recommendation on how many total dispensaries should be allotted.
At the beginning of the meeting, the number being discussed was one additional dispensary, bringing the total number to three. However, following discussion, 4 of the 7 commissioners stated they would like to bring the total number into the before-stated maximum of four set by the state.
However, Commissioner Paul Esswein stated that if they were to recommend a total of four, he would like the public to be noticed of the new discussion ahead of a vote.
Addler, on behalf of the two established dispensaries, argued against the decision, due to the fact that the city had said in 2018 there would never be another dispensary allowed and therefore, not everyone who would like to apply for a license — including GTI, who owns RISE — would have enough time to do so before the ordinance would change.
However, commissioners argued against this idea, stating that similar to one applicant who has already secured a special use permit and is looking at a new location, businesses could have put in for a permit as well.
"Ordinances can change all the time," said Commissioner Nathaniel Killgore. "No one knows when they will change."
Now, the decision whether or not to recommend an increase to four total dispensaries will come back to the Planning Commission on July 27, and, if approved by the commission, will go before the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
