Las Vegas Medical Dispensary Lottery Draws 63 Applicants

 The Las Vegas medical cannabis dispensary
lottery came to a close July 30. The city received 63 applications, most of
them at the last minute. These applicants include hopefuls looking to nab
cannabis business licenses, for not only dispensary management, but cultivation
and processing establishments as well.

Applicants who proceed successfully through
the initial lottery screening process must then go through a land use approval
process before the City Council will make final decisions in October.

Nevada in general, and Las Vegas is no
exception to this, has seen more than a few high profile professionals from
other industries throw their hats into the ring for a shot at the green rush;
notably, former politicians and those with current political ties. Applicants
in Las Vegas include the son of the current mayor, a state senator, and a
former Assembly speaker.

Additionally—in regards to the ol’ “Silver
State”—Nevada based gambling magnate, Sheldon Adelson, expressed some cannabis
news last year when his research foundation released a ground-breaking study on
the substance and MS. It is clear that medical cannabis use as a concept is
mainstreaming, if not becoming increasingly bipartisan.

Nevada is also the home state of federal Senate
majority leader Harry Reid, who late last year famously flip-flopped his way
into the majority opinion in state when he voiced his change of heart about
medical cannabis.

In general, however, because of the
significant impact on the state both economically and politically, reform could
go either way. The impact of such political affiliation could leave the state
strictly regulated and show to be not a leader, but a follower in the reform
battle. Alternative, political pull in the industry could enhance the
discussion, opening new doors and possibilities. Only time will tell.