Reports & Media > Reports > Cannabis Reform in the United States > Nevada

Nevada

1 December, 2019

Status: Legal for recreational use

Policy history:

2001: Medical cannabis legalised
2001: Possession of small amounts of cannabis for recreational use was no longer a felony
2013: Medical cannabis sales began
2016: Recreational legalised
2017: Recreational cannabis laws come into force

Policy Framework

Consumers:

  • Must be 21-years-or-older to purchase consume or possess cannabis;
  • Can possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis at one time and up to 0.8oz (22g) of cannabis concentrate;
  • Cannot consume cannabis in a public place;
  • Cannot drive (or be a passenger) under the influence of cannabis;
  • Can purchase up to 2.4oz (68g) over a two week period;
  • Home cultivation of cannabis is illegal unless the cultivator lives 25 miles (40km) away from a licensed dispensary - they may grow no more than six plants per person and a household may contain no more than 12 plants;
  • Unlicensed distribution or possession with intent to sell is still a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000;
  • Cultivation of 12 plants or more is a felony punishable by up to life in prison and fines of up to $US200,000.

Expungement: Manual record-sealing as of June 2019

  • Suppliers must be licensed;
  • 15% excise tax on wholesale sales (paid by the cultivator);
  • 10% excise tax on retail sale;
  • Employees of cannabis businesses must be over the age of 21.

Outcomes:

  • Youth emergency room (ER) visits for “cannabis poisoning” are down;
  • Sales of marijuana products rose to $US639 million in 2019;
  • In 2019, the state generated $US99.2 million of tax revenue from marijuana sales;
  • Driving a vehicle under the influence of cannabis is illegal and may be penalised with a $US400 fine, two days in jail, or 48–96 hours of community service depending on if it is a first, second or third offence;
  • Adult ER visits for cannabis poisoning are up;
  • Cannabis-related crashes have increased;
  • Youth cannabis expulsion rate decreased;
  • Between 2005 and 2017, cannabis use disorder in people over the age of 12 decreased from 2.0% to 1.6%.

 Nevada3

Source: https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/explorer/state/nevada/crime

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