Las Vegas Hempfest: A Look Inside Nevada’s Marijuana Future

Discussion in 'Marijuana News' started by jainaG, Nov 5, 2015.

  1. http://blog.norml.org/2015/10/05/las-vegas-hempfest-a-look-inside-nevadas-marijuana-future/

    by Keith Stroup, NORML Legal Counsel
    October 5, 2015
    \t
    My
    continuing travels to some of the more interesting marijuana
    legalization events around the country (and one coming up in Jamaica)
    brought me this past weekend to Las Vegas to attend the 2nd Annual Las
    Vegas Hempfest on Saturday.

    The Las Vegas Hempfest, which licensed the name from the original
    Seattle Hempfest, was held outside the city's convention center with two
    stages, lots of good music, and scores of industry exhibitors. Tommy
    Chong was the star of the show, and received a lifetime achievement
    award from the Hempfest organizers.

    Our friends at Freedom Leaf, who were co-sponsors of the event this
    year, were in charge of lining up speakers for the day-long series of
    policy panels that were held a short walk away, inside the convention
    center. Most attendees, of course, are there to party and enjoy the
    music, but some are also interested in learning more about the issue of
    legalizing marijuana, and how that change in policy will impact the
    culture.

    The topics this year included medical/nutritional issues, a nursing
    panel, cultivation techniques, an industry/finance panel, a media panel
    and an activism panel. I was pleased to be on a legal penal with Freedom
    Leaf co-founder Richard Cowan (also a NORML board member and a former
    NORML national director); and San Diego attorney Ken Sobel.

    The event showcased all things marijuana, and provided those in the
    soon-to-be-legal marijuana market in Nevada (medical use is already
    legal, and the first few dispensaries have recently opened) an
    opportunity to introduce their newest products and services, and to
    begin to build, or extend the reach of their brand to yet another state
    in a growing list of pot-friendly venues.

    Las Vegas, the destination with the nickname of “Sin City” and the
    slogan of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” suggesting that
    tourists can enjoy more personal freedom here than in their home town,
    including gambling and other sometimes naughty options, seems like a
    natural environment for marijuana legalization. And with a good voter
    turnout in November of 2016, the state will finally live-up to its
    reputation.

    Tithing To Benefiting NORML

    And I would be remiss not to thank the event's sponsors for
    generously donating to NORML a dollar from each ticket sold to this
    event. It was their way of thanking NORML for the decades of hard work
    that made it possible to finally achieve these recent political
    successes, an example of tithing that one would hope will be adopted by
    many more players in the new Green Rush over the coming months and
    years.

    It requires resources to end prohibition, and to enact new laws,
    either by voter initiative (in those states that offer that option) or
    legislatively, and these new businesses that are profiting from
    legalization have a moral obligation to invest a little of those profits
    back into the movement, and the groups, that have made these changes
    possible.

    So as we head into 2016, the year that should be the breakout year
    for legalization, let's continue the strategy that has brought us to
    where we are today – a state-based strategy that with each new
    legalization state brings additional support in Congress – and that
    will, within a few years, permit us to repeal federal prohibition as
    well, leaving the states free to enact whatever marijuana policy they
    want, without federal interference.

    Full Legalization On the Nevada Ballot in 2016

    The sponsors of the Nevada legalization initiative, the Campaign To
    Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Nevada, have already gathered the
    required number of signatures and have been assured of a place on the
    2016 November ballot.

    Under the proposal, effective January 1, 2017, it would be legal for
    an adult to possess one ounce of marijuana and, if they live further
    than 25 miles from a licensed retail outlet, to cultivate up to six
    plants in the home. And starting in 2018, there would be retail outlets
    where consumers could legally purchase their marijuana and marijuana
    products.

    Unnecessary Restrictions on Home Cultivation

    This unfortunate 25-miles requirement before one is allowed to grow
    their own marijuana shows the influence the newly legal marijuana
    industry is beginning to have in the legalization movement. Of course
    retail sellers would prefer that all marijuana users purchase their
    marijuana from one of the licensed stores, but unless polling shows the
    inclusion of home-cultivation would cause the proposal to fail, personal
    cultivation is a right that adult consumers should have. Most will not
    elect to spend the time and resources required to grow their own pot,
    but having that option will keep the industry responsive to the
    legitimate needs of consumers for a product that is high quality, safe
    and affordable.

    Commercial Licensing Starting in 2018

    Other provisions of the initiative would, beginning in 2018, license
    commercial growers, kitchens, testing facilities, distributors and
    retailers. Those currently holding medical marijuana retail licensees
    would for 18 months be the only parties eligible to apply for a retail
    recreational license; and, in a new twist not seen before, those holding
    a current alcohol distribution license would have a similar 18-month
    period during which only they would be eligible for a marijuana
    distribution license!

    The initiative would impose a 15 percent excise tax, on top of the
    existing 6.5 percent sales tax (and the possibility of up to an 1.25
    local tax), and local governments would retain their right to impose
    zoning restrictions on marijuana businesses.

    So obviously this is another example of the growing influence of the
    newly legal marijuana industry. It is fair to say the pending
    legalization proposal in Nevada is slanted more to please the industry,
    than it is to please the consumer.

    Not Perfect, But A Big Step Forward

    But as NORML has done with previous legalization initiatives, all of
    which include some disappointing provisions, so long as the initiative
    ends marijuana prohibition and stops the practice of arresting marijuana
    smokers, and establishes a legal market where consumers can buy their
    marijuana, we will almost certainly support the Nevada proposal, warts
    and all.

    And we will be back, once it has passed, to try to make further
    improvements to assure that marijuana consumers are treated fairly in
    all areas of their lives, including ending job discrimination, resolving
    child custody issues and requiring a showing of impairment for a DUID
    conviction. Policy change occurs incrementally, and it requires
    commitment and persistence.

    If we should hold-out for the perfect law (and we would differ on
    what a perfect law would look like), the criminal prohibition of
    marijuana would continue for many more years, along with the continued
    arrests of hundreds of thousands of marijuana smokers each year.
    - See more at: http://blog.norml.org/2015/10/05/las-vegas-hempfes...
     

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