Chamber of Cannabis urges Nevada Legislature to adopt sensible cannabis policy at 1st Cannabis Industry Lobby Day

The Chamber of Cannabis’s first ever Cannabis Industry Rally Day occurred on April 10th, 2023. Over two dozen stone cold sober members of the Chamber of Cannabis rolled up to rally at the Nevada Legislature in Carson City to lobby for the passage of SB 277 and AJR 8. Members of the Chamber of Cannabis provided witness testimony in support of SB 277 at the Senate Commerce and Labor committee, rallied outside the Capitol, hosted a Changemaker Luncheon, and also took meetings with representatives from across the state. SB 277’s Sponsor, Senator Dallas Harris emphasized in her introduction that the bill is a result of hard work from a lot of stakeholders in Nevada’s legal cannabis industry:

“This is a largely industry driven piece of legislation.”

SB 277 at the Commerce and Labor Committee

SB 277 does three things:

• Allows all dispensaries to serve both medical patients and recreational customers
• Eliminate the rule barring ex-felons from receiving agent cards
• Increase the possession limit

It’s worth noting that the majority of existing Nevada licensees are already dual license holders; and this would standardize the experience and access across the state. To the second point, Senator Harris explained why the felony exclusion rule needs to go:

“We want to make sure there are low barriers to entry and all people have an opportunity to participate in what is now a legal market.”

Senator Scheible, a former DA, commented while asking how many had been kept out of the market due to the rule:

“[…] I do support allowing people who have felony convictions to work in this industry.”

The Cannabis Compliance Board’s director later testified that 16 agent cards were denied due to felonies while 164 applications were withdrawn after felonies were brought to light during the application process – out of 40,000 total applications. Though it’s impossible to know how many stayed in the legacy market or even left the state because of the rule. The final point, raising the possession limit and sale limit to 2.5 ounces of flower and 8 grams of concentrate would put Nevada in line with possession limits of nearby states and could help cannabis tax revenue given it has fallen in 2022 for the first time in Nevada’s legal cannabis history. In closing, Senator Harris stated:

“We have to move this industry into the next phase.”

Chamber of Cannabis members urge a “YES” vote on SB 277

Chamber co-founders Christina Ulman and Dani Barnowski took the stand alongside Executive Director Bri Padilla in favor of the bill and were followed by even more cannabis professionals including Christine Gamez, Derrick Miles, Nicole Buffong, Shane Terry, Margaret Presley, Andy Hitchcock, Ari Emadi, Darlene Mason, Brooke Westlake, and Christina Thomas. Those that weren’t able to testify in person were able to send in their opinion electronically. Watch the whole thing here: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00324/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20230410/-1/?fk=11796&viewmode=1

Chamber of Cannabis Changemaker Luncheon 2023

After the committee hearing and a rally outside and before individual meetings with Assemblypersons and State Senators from across the state., a luncheon was hosted on the fourth floor, in roughly the twentieth room if counting from the Eastwestern corner. At the Changemaker Luncheon, Speaker Yeager spoke of his support from the beginning of the Chamber of Cannabis three years ago. He also prophesized that perhaps next time it’ll be a Cannabis Rally Week instead of a Cannabis Rally Day. AJR 8, which would deschedule cannabis in Nevada, had a committee hearing later in the week that Chamber members were unable to be present for in person, though the group is still actively submitting commentary via phone and letter. Editor’s note: The Highest Critic founder Caleb Chen is a member of the Chamber of Cannabis and was in attendance.