Nevada approves cannabis lounges«

Nevada has passed a bill authorizing two types of «cannabis lounges». The first type allows an existing dispensary to add space for a lounge, with only one lounge allowed, regardless of the number of dispensary locations. The other model allows independent businesses to build a consumption lounge with single-use cannabis products sold on the premises and no alcohol.

Since the Nevada legalized cannabis in 2017, many tourists have discovered that if they can buy cannabis, they have nowhere to consume it legally, unless you know someone who lives in Las Vegas. Cannabis products are not allowed inside casinos and hotels. While it's illegal in Nevada, tourists most often consume outdoors or in their hotel rooms.

In 2019, the Vegas Paiute tribe opened the first salon for social use NuWu Cannabis Tasting Room, which was authorized under sovereign tribal laws. The lounge has nevertheless had to close since the coronavirus pandemic.

Nevada's first consumer lounges could open by the end of 2021. As of July 1, dispensaries will be able to begin the process of applying for a license from the Cannabis Compliance Board to open a cannabis consumption salon.

The measure also calls for reserving certain social-use licenses for social equity candidates, which Nevada Dispensary Association Executive Director Layke Martin says would «increase diversity» in the state's cannabis industry.