Nevada Legalization Initiative: Tax and Regulate Cannabis

[Skip]

A new initiative to tax and regulate the sale of legal cannabis in Nevada has just been filed. This is the fourth try to legalize cannabis in Nevada.

The measure would limit the number of retail stores to 120 statewide, with numbers determined locally by population, Schwartz said. Store operators would pay a $2,500 licensing fee, according to the initiative.

Additionally, Schwartz said "cultivators" would be limited to 50 and that they would have to pay a $5,000 licensing fee and collect a tax at the wholesale level of $50 per ounce. It also would allow personal possession of up to 1 ounce.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9500241

 

[Voodoo]

DO IT! Vegas trips will be sooooo much better...

 

[ChronJohn]

It took some digging but here's the full text of the law, as found on the Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws website:

http://www.sensiblemarijuanalaws.org/home/content/initiative

There will be no personal growing allowed. The amount of "unrestricted" cultivators (cultivators who are not limited to supplying one establishment) will be 50. And if there are more than 20 unrestricted suppliers, they cannot "produce or cultivate more than 10 percent of the total amount of marijuana that is sold annually to retail marijuana stores in this State." The license to become an unrestricted supplier costs $5000, the license to be a restricted supplier costs $2500.

In short, they're going to make you jump through a lot of hoops. I didn't see anything about plant limits, only that line up there aimed at unrestricted suppliers. Here's what I don't like about the initiative:
-The age limit. the NSML's sole argument is that cannabis is safer than alcohol, yet they equate it as such by making the age limit 21. It should be 18, no need to make adults criminals before they're even in college.
-The $50 tax is likely to become prohibitive, and keep the cost high in a legal market, thus maintaining the black market. As production goes up, cost will come down and $50 an oz will likely become a 100% or higher tax.
-Personal possession limits. Really? I can buy as much liquor as I can carry at 21 but I can only keep an oz of cannabis on me? puuhleeez.
-No home growing? tisk tisk. You can't even throw us a bone and let us grow some bullshit amount like 10 mature plants? Thanks a lot.

So basically I see this law as being aimed at businesses, not consumers. If you want cannabis, you HAVE to buy it from the store, since you can't grow your own, at the price that their restricted market sets (there's a limit on growers and retail establishments, that's just ASKING to keep a falsely inflated price). It will be illegal to smoke in public, and cost you a $600 fine if caught doing so. You have a one oz possession limit at any given time. Call it legalization if you want, I suppose anything is better than what you have now. It's a step forward, so go get em Nevada. 4th times a charm!

Edit: You can't even advertise your retail cannabis business! I wonder if that goes for suppliers too (hey, if Budweiser gets ads why not Budtender?). Or seed companies. As much as I know everyone here on the board loathes them, I'd love to see a Greenhouse Seed Co ad on TV with all their lovely strains on display for all viewers to see, slow motion macro shots of the White Widow resin oozing out of the buds

 

[Skip]

Wow! That is the most comprehensive marijuana law I've read to date! It covers a lot of issues. I can't believe the harsh penalties are reserved for those who would sell "counterfeit" marijuana (as well as those violating the law in the initiative).

Yeah, that's a drag about personal growing. But you know what? I doubt they're gonna do much about it. Are they going to let the police go around busting small time grows just to protect the biz of the big legal growers? Maybe, but it will reflect badly on the state, the police, the big cannabizes to see small timers get busted while the big guys rake in millions every year... It won't stand.

But at least they are making laws to provide for massive grows and charging good money for them. Those who grow on a large scale should be held accountable for quality control, so requiring big bucks to sign up may help guarantee more professional, quality grows.

However, we are talking Nevada here. Despite what ppl think, it's still run like a mafia fiefdom, except the mafia are all in politics now. So the decisions on who would be allowed to grow massive amounts will be subject to the usual bribery and coercion. Instead of putting a horse's head in bed with the politician, they can place a kilo of dank...

 

[resinryder]

It will be relatives of the politicians and police that get to do the grow ops. Nevada business as usual. Legalization on a restricted basis. Why not just legalize it, let the people grow it themselves and be done with it??? 50.00 and oz tax my ass.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

A new initiative to tax and regulate the sale of legal cannabis in Nevada has just been filed. This is the fourth try to legalize cannabis in Nevada.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9500241

Typical Mafia B.S. here. LOL Some things never change in Nevada.
120 stores statewide.... wonder who gets to 'grant' those licenses. Check out what kind of house/car/boat they get next year. LOL

I hope it passes anyway.

Stay Safe!

 

[mpd]

I see it differently. Twenty years ago a proposal like this would only be talked about in a state penitentiary and we all know it. The law isn't perfect and it would be good to point out here that few laws are perfect. Once you get past "thou shalt not kill" it starts to get into degrees and opinions and then the wheels come off the bus and everyone is sitting in the ditch wondering how they managed to let the lawyers "do it to them again".

Here's a proposal for legalizing marijuana possession for the average Joe Q. Public and you people are counting the teeth in the mouth of the gift horse. I would think it would be cause for a great celebration and the community would unite and encourage the lawmakers with all manner of emails, letters and donations to their campaigns for showing such bravery and guts (comparatively speaking).

Get the camel's nose under the tent and we'll eventually get the camel, the saddle and the entire herd in there.

Rome wasn't built in a day. Prohibition became the law of the land in 1919 and it wasn't until Roosevelt got elected and entered office in 1933 that we got rid of that and that was for liquor for goodness sakes.

If you want to strike a blow for our cause contact a lawmaker and thank them for authoring this legislation; put a cork in your complaints and continue the mission.

 

[Bacchus]

I agree the small scale home grower will not be bothered if this passes. Also, advertising will be allowed after somone challenges it in court, right to free speach and all.

A start is what it is...... And one where the public will not have to pay anything and instead generate a new tax stream. Which most joe-public can accept.

 

[mayorofthdesert]

I think "Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws" should re-think their name if they can't come up with a better proposal than this. A law that makes it illegal for someone to plant a plant is anything but sensible, especially if we claim we're using The Constitution as our guide.

I understand the viewpoint that any move toward legalization is good and I think that's perfectly reasonable. But personally I don't see it that way. In my opinion, regardless of how decrim starts, the government and coorperations with money will steadily push for more control & revenue from it. Individuals who just want to take care of themselves will have to fight for that right unless it is clearly & explicitly written into law that they are "allowed" (quote marks there for sarcasm) to do so. Look how constant the fight for individual rights is even on the issues that are layed out clearly in the Bill of Rights. This proposal is not coming from the government to us, it's going from us to the government. It should contain what we feel to be good and just. As soon as the government is involved, ie if this proposal were to pass, we will steadily have to contend with more rules and regulations added and not for our benefit.

 

[HUGE]

I think "Nevadans for Sensible Marijuana Laws" should re-think their name if they can't come up with a better proposal than this. A law that makes it illegal for someone to plant a plant is anything but sensible, especially if we claim we're using The Constitution as our guide.

I understand the viewpoint that any move toward legalization is good and I think that's perfectly reasonable. But personally I don't see it that way. In my opinion, regardless of how decrim starts, the government and coorperations with money will steadily push for more control & revenue from it. Individuals who just want to take care of themselves will have to fight for that right unless it is clearly & explicitly written into law that they are "allowed" (quote marks there for sarcasm) to do so. Look how constant the fight for individual rights is even on the issues that are layed out clearly in the Bill of Rights. This proposal is not coming from the government to us, it's going from us to the government. It should contain what we feel to be good and just. As soon as the government is involved, ie if this proposal were to pass, we will steadily have to contend with more rules and regulations added and not for our benefit.

A-Fucking-men


First I live in Nevada & yes the comments about the old boy network are right. Second this bill is shit. If we are going to legaliz it then do it. What other industry gets a limit on outlets? Mcdonalds will kill you faster than pot but we don't limit those. Thi is fucking America. We are capitolists you fucks. The market will limit the dispensaries and quality wil limit the grows. Anyone can grow weed but only some grow dank. And now it's up to you spen thousands of bucks and months of time or go to the store and pick up a spliff. These people were the ones claiming how much safer pot was than alchohol. Then why write a bill that treats it like explosives.

 

[Hydrosun]

A new initiative to tax and regulate the sale of legal cannabis in Nevada has just been filed. This is the fourth try to legalize cannabis in Nevada.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9500241

What the FUCK this is the lamest thing in the world....

"Additionally, Schwartz said "cultivators" would be limited to 50 and that they would have to pay a $5,000 licensing fee and collect a tax at the wholesale level of $50 per ounce. It also would allow personal possession of up to 1 ounce."

So it is a 50 person license in a state of 3 million. Time to sign up for the lottery and then sell that license.

Who the FUCK is the state of NEVADA to say grower 51 can go to prision.

Land of the free may ass. Nevada Battle Bron, yeah really you pussies? Thanks for the collectivist extortion and immoral initiative NV, who put that inititive together? I bet that jerk off already thinks he or she will get some number of dispensery or grow licenses, again TOTAL SHIT!

 

[SpasticGramps]

This is why I don't believe the price is going to fall off the map whenever legalization comes. Government holds too much interest in keeping the prices high.

Pretty lame bill. Every step counts, but this is right there with Oakland. F'ing grubby fingers. This will be our new fight IMO. At least we have the thought process rolling. The dominos will eventually fall.

 

[el machico]

okok

 

[Billy Burroughs]

well im a patient here in necada and we moved to vegas from eugene oregon and personally oregon and california have the best medical laws and id lean more towards oregons beings there law is a statewide law not varying county to county in oregon you can posses 24 ounces of dry marijuana and have 6 in flower per card and you can be a patient and caregiver in oregon having up to 3 patients and yourself or 4 patients if your only a caregiver unlike nevada's where here your only allowed 2 cards per household you cannot be a patient and caregiver um your only allowed one ounce of driable marijuana and 3 in flower and 4 in veg so really what is there to jump up and down about with the way the law is now if your jumping up in down it should be in outrage theers 1000 patients in this state maybe 1200 tops where as many other states have numbers in the 10,000's so before anyone goes patting anyone on the back saying good job because as far as i can see the work to make the law here more reasonable hasn't even begun it appears to me that the citizens of this state are to red to make anything happen all just smoke and mirrors and government legalizing pot here will never happen i dont care how many times the voters vote for it the government here has to tight of a hold of the medical marijuana law as it is they're collecting 150 dollars from each patient and they got it set up so that really your forced to grow your own with the limits as strict as they are the price of weed will never drop in this state this states patients need to say ok enough is enough and setup an organization similar to oregon green free they more less when oregon passed there law told norml get the hell out of our state and our medical bill and then oregon green free took it upon themselves to police there own until patients come together things will never change in nevada period

 

[Billy Burroughs]

What the FUCK this is the lamest thing in the world....

"Additionally, Schwartz said "cultivators" would be limited to 50 and that they would have to pay a $5,000 licensing fee and collect a tax at the wholesale level of $50 per ounce. It also would allow personal possession of up to 1 ounce."

So it is a 50 person license in a state of 3 million. Time to sign up for the lottery and then sell that license.

Who the FUCK is the state of NEVADA to say grower 51 can go to prision.

Land of the free may ass. Nevada Battle Bron, yeah really you pussies? Thanks for the collectivist extortion and immoral initiative NV, who put that inititive together? I bet that jerk off already thinks he or she will get some number of dispensery or grow licenses, again TOTAL SHIT!

pretty much exactally what i was saying total bullshit the med law here is a fucking joke it came to be because the citizens of this state voted to legalize marijuana for everyone and your state legislators took that away from the voters and slapped together a MMP with no knowledge of marijuana how much is an ounce how much does 3 plants really yield nothing they used no kinda facts to put it together they were like hmm ounce of flour ounce of weed whatever and passed it along so that the ppl that wanted legal marijuana could pay them to get it this law has yet to be challenged in WTF ALMOST 10 YEARS wake the fuck up nevada

 

[DIYer]

hey billy b,.. ever heard of a period? lol sorry man, i just have my Mac read long posts to me since i suck at reading with any speed and it was funny as hell hearing it read your post with absolutely zero periods in it
i agree with what most the people are saying here, any bill that doesn't really legalize mj and let the average Joe grow it just makes the local government the drug dealers and personally ill trust my guy way before i trust anyone in office to tell me what im smoking, let alone tax me on it to boot.

Las Vegas, which is where any law like this is going to come from, is too transient to even produce a real art scene so there's no way in hell there ever going to get this right like other states have, and with Cali doing it way better right next door too,.. its just sad. This shit hole is just one illusion of grandeur after another and this bill is no different. Props to all here and anywhere fighting the good fight but if you're fighting for this bill to pass i think you need to step back and reassess what you're really fighting for and what deep down you really would want to be the law. Compromising on this and giving any government control over what we all personally know best and they have no experience with is not a win for mj reform IMO. If you pander to local government and law enforcement on this you're basically affirming a majority of all the untrue stereotypes about mj for the last 50 years to be true. You're saying it is a drug that we the people do need others to control because we're not capable of doing it ourselves.

I don't know man, a big part of me just says fuck that ill keep growing my own.

 

[lid]

I live in nevada and will be voting NO on this!!!

 

[lid]

pretty much exactally what i was saying total bullshit the med law here is a fucking joke it came to be because the citizens of this state voted to legalize marijuana for everyone and your state legislators took that away from the voters and slapped together a MMP with no knowledge of marijuana how much is an ounce how much does 3 plants really yield nothing they used no kinda facts to put it together they were like hmm ounce of flour ounce of weed whatever and passed it along so that the ppl that wanted legal marijuana could pay them to get it this law has yet to be challenged in WTF ALMOST 10 YEARS wake the fuck up nevada

There is somebody challenging it, He's waiting for them to come bust him. He wants to be busted. Gots lawers and money already set up. I think the police know and thats why his still in business.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Here's a proposal for legalizing marijuana possession for the average Joe Q. Public and you people are counting the teeth in the mouth of the gift horse. I would think it would be cause for a great celebration and the community would unite and encourage the lawmakers with all manner of emails, letters and donations to their campaigns for showing such bravery and guts (comparatively speaking).

Sorry... this would bring crappy cannabis to the masses and cause nothing but problems. You can't have a state controlled supply of cannabis and those "50" suppliers aren't going to ensure there are even 10 different strains to purchase.

It'll still be black market cannabis for those of us that really care about how productive and healthy we are in society. I can almost guarantee the cannabis will be shitty and unhealthy.


Stay Safe!

 

[Hash Zeppelin]

What the FUCK this is the lamest thing in the world....

"Additionally, Schwartz said "cultivators" would be limited to 50 and that they would have to pay a $5,000 licensing fee and collect a tax at the wholesale level of $50 per ounce. It also would allow personal possession of up to 1 ounce."

So it is a 50 person license in a state of 3 million. Time to sign up for the lottery and then sell that license.

Who the FUCK is the state of NEVADA to say grower 51 can go to prision.

Land of the free may ass. Nevada Battle Bron, yeah really you pussies? Thanks for the collectivist extortion and immoral initiative NV, who put that inititive together? I bet that jerk off already thinks he or she will get some number of dispensery or grow licenses, again TOTAL SHIT!

normally I would disagree and say yes vote on it because it legalizes. But this bill only legalizes growing for 50 people. This bill is truly bad enough that it should fail, because even if it passes it will make no difference really at all.

I dont think I could support this one either.