Recreational marijuana is now legal in the state of Nevada. Until California has adult use dispensaries sometime in 2018, Nevada’s recreational marijuana market is expected to be the largest in the U.S. due to the many millions of tourists who visit Las Vegas every year.
Question 2 (Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana), which legalized recreational marijuana in the state of Nevada, was passed by the state’s voters by a margin of 54% to 46% on November 8, 2016. The first recreational marijuana sales were made at 12 a.m. on July 1st, 2017. It was the shortest amount of time between any state’s legalization by election and actual retail sales to date.
The short turnaround caused Nevada’s pot shops to prepare for the big opening in a hurry. Some shops took to social media to raise awareness. Others featured special events ranging from large parties with food trucks to free pot giveaways. People were lined up outside pot shops around Las Vegas in anticipation of the midnight openings.
The law states that any adult over the age of 21 can buy and possess up to an ounce of marijuana. Public consumption is still illegal and smokers could face a $600 fine if found smoking in public places. But the fine, while substantial, is a far cry from the arrests marijuana smokers faced decades ago.
Nevada joins Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Alaska as one of the first states to legalize marijuana sales to all adults.
