Cannabis Social Clubs Could be Coming to Las Vegas
Nevada could blaze the way into uncharted territory with a bill that would allow public smoking. No other state has been successful at implementing and licensing permanent cannabis social clubs. Sen. Tick Segerblom, (D-Las Vegas) introduced a bill that would allow public smoking in institutions like bars, social clubs, collectives or even at festival events. SB-236 would allow local governments in Nevada to issue licenses for the public use of cannabis.
Last November, Nevada voters approved the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (RTMA) which legalized cannabis for adults over 21. The bill, however, includes no provisions for a way to legally consume cannabis in public. “While existing law generally decriminalizes the purchase, possession and use of 22 marijuana, existing law also prohibits the consumption of marijuana in a public place,” the bill reads. “For the purpose of marijuana not for medical use, existing law defines a public place as an area ‘in which the public is permitted regardless of age.’”
Institutions that are within 1,000 feet of any school, park, church or daycare would not be eligible for a permit. Venues would be required to impose a 21-and-older age limit for all customers.
Segerblom argues that Clark County, and Las Vegas, need to allow for the public use of cannabis more than anywhere else. Nevada’s tourist-dominated industry relies on visitors who presumably cannot smoke in their hotel rooms. Last fall, The Nevada Gaming Commission said that casinos will not permit cannabis use.
Not everyone is on board. Clark County commissioners Steve Sisolak and Mary Beth Scow expressed worry that the rollout of multiple cannabis laws in Nevada is happening too quickly. Cannabis social clubs have existed underground in the United States as Teapads during the pre-prohibition Jazz era, and of course as coffee shops in the Netherlands. If Nevada is successful, other states would surely follow with similar proposals.
The bill now heads on to the Senate Judiciary Committee for review.
