Las Vegas is becoming more and more appealing by the minute. Sin City knows how to step aside and allow for progress. There was already so much to do in Las Vegas. The energy, excitement, entertainment, gambling, hockey, soon to be home of the NFL Raiders, medical reciprocity, legalization and now consumption lounges…. YES, PLEASE.
We are well overdue for a vacation.
The Process
The Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday, May 1st, 2019 voted to permit lounges where people can consume cannabis, making the city the first in Nevada — and one of the few nationwide — to allow such businesses.
Elected officials voted 4-1 to pass the bill, sponsored by Councilman Bob Coffin, just before the draft ordinance was scheduled to expire.
Elected officials voted 4-1 to pass the bill, sponsored by Councilman Bob Coffin, just before the draft ordinance was scheduled to expire. Councilman Stavros Anthony — a retired Metropolitan Police Department captain — voted no, preferring the city follow the lead of the state and invite other governments to weigh in.
“It can’t just be the city of Las Vegas,” Anthony said.
But a state bill to explicitly legalize marijuana lounges died this session, and Coffin was clear: “The state will catch up. We can’t wait for the state to act.”
What is Legal?
In authorized marijuana lounges, consumers must be at least 21 years old and must bring their own marijuana into the location. The venues cannot provide, sell distribute or store the drug, but they may sell or distribute paraphernalia, according to Darcy Adelbai-Hurd, the city’s business license section manager.
Business owners must apply for a special use permit that costs $5,000 yearly and would need to be approved by the council. For the first 12 months, only city-licensed marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to operate the lounges, according to Bryan Scott, the senior assistant city attorney.
