Carson City Board to discuss outlawing cannabis lounges within city limits
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Tue, 07/13/2021 - 10:15am
At the upcoming Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting, which will be held Thursday, July 15 beginning at 8:30 a.m., the board will hold a discussion and possible action regarding banning cannabis consumption lounges within city limits.
On June 4, 2021, Assembly Bill (AB) 341 was signed by Gov. Steve Sisolak following its adoption during the recent legislative session.
Cannabis was made legal throughout Nevada in 2016, but with certain provisions, such as the fact that cannabis can only be consumed on private property, which made it illegal for tourists and residents alike to partake in hotel rooms, dispensaries, vehicles, or in the public streets.
AB 341 sought to correct this oversight by providing designated lounges for cannabis consumption.
However, Carson City lobbied for a provision that would allow local governments to decide whether or not they wanted to allow cannabis lounges within their city or county limits.
Agenda item 15.C for the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting covers two subitems: the first, a discussion and possible action regarding a business impact statement concerning a proposed ordinance prohibiting the licensing of a cannabis consumption lounge as a business and prohibiting the consumption of cannabis and cannabis products in a public place.
According to the agenda, NRS 237.080 requires a business impact statement to be prepared whenever an ordinance by the adoption of which the governing body of a local government exercises legislative powers.
The business impact statement finds that the proposed ordinance will not impose a “direct and significant” economic burden upon any existing business, but will directly restrict the formation, operation or expansion of a business, according to the agenda.
15.C also will introduce, on first reading, a proposed ordinance prohibiting the licensing of a cannabis consumption lounge as a business and prohibiting the consumption of cannabis and cannabis products in a public place.
According to the agenda, if enacted the ordinance would prohibit the Business License Division of the Carson City Department of Community Development from issuing to any person a license to operate a cannabis consumption lounge in Carson City.
It would also make it unlawful for any person to consume cannabis in a public place in Carson City.
Because the proposed ordinance would codify the public consumption provision within CCMC Chapter 8.04 - which governs prohibited conduct and also establishes a penalty as set forth in CCMC 8.04.130 - a conviction for a violation of this ordinance provision could result in punishment by a fine not exceeding $1,000 or by imprisonment in the City jail for a term not exceeding 6 months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
In Carson City, there are currently two cannabis dispensaries, RISE and Sierra Wellness, with SOL just outside the city limits in Washoe Valley.
Carson City’s dispensaries currently serve the surrounding regions as well as the capital city, as there are no cannabis dispensaries in Gardnerville, Minden, or Dayton.
The State of Nevada and Carson City are currently in a declared State of Emergency in response to the global pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) infectious disease outbreak. In accordance with the applicable Directives issued under authority of the Governor’s Declaration of Emergency, including Directive 045, and subject to any potential changes in state or federal mandates or guidelines, face coverings are no longer required to be worn when attending this meeting in person if you have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you are not currently experiencing symptoms of illness and you have not tested positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the date of this meeting. If you do not meet all of the foregoing requirements, you must wear a face covering when attending this meeting in person.
Members of the public who wish only to view the meeting but do NOT plan to make public comment may watch the livestream of the Board of Supervisors meeting at www.carson.org/granicus and by clicking on “In progress” next to the meeting date, or by tuning in to cable channel 191.
The public may provide public comment in advance of a meeting by written submission to the following email address: publiccomment@carson.org. For inclusion or reference in the minutes of the meeting, your public comment must include your full name and be submitted via email by not later than 3:00 p.m. the day before the meeting.
Members of the public who wish to provide public comment via telephonic appearance in lieu of physical attendance may do so during the designated public comment periods indicated on the agenda by dialing the numbers listed below. Please do NOT join by phone if you do not wish to make public comment.
Join by phone:
Phone Number: +1-408-418-9388
Meeting Number: 187 264 2397
To view the agenda in its entirety, click here.
