“Since the DEA did not reschedule marijuana this summer, I believe the next best thing, given the circumstances, would be passage of the Medical Marijuana Research Act of 2016. If this passes, there will be a huge number of research projects and hopefully the tide would change and DEA would have the research necessary to reschedule marijuana. As for Nevada, there will be development of standardized testing for marijuana impairment similar to blood alcohol concentration. Almost every one of my patients asks what would happen if they use marijuana and get tested a couple of days later during a moving violation. The development of a standard correlation between body fluid concentration of marijuana and level of impairment is necessary.” --Dr. Pouya Mohajer, founder, Nevada Medical Cannabis Association “2017 is going to see the establishment of Las Vegas as a global brand leader in the legal cannabis industry on a worldwide basis. We will see the launch of brands in Las Vegas -- realizing that Las Vegas gives exposure to 45 million tourists a year from an international audience -showing how other cities can do it right. In 2017: • Las Vegas surpasses all other legal cannabis destinations for travel searches and cannabis tourism. • Las Vegas establishes private cannabis clubs for both tourists and residents to be able to come to and be social and entertained in a high-end atmosphere. • Las Vegas becomes the global brand commercial center for the entire legal cannabis industry. If you do not launch your new product in Vegas, it may as well happen in a cave. • Las Vegas will be the brand ambassador of adult-use cannabis to see how it can be regulated properly." --Leslie Bocskor, Founding Chairman, Nevada Cannabis Industry Association
“I believe 2017 will be a big year for cannabis in Nevada. There will probably be some improvements to the medical laws during the spring legislative session. The first legal sales to adults over 21 years old will probably be sometime around July. The state will want to start collecting taxes on sales as quickly as possible, so they have incentive to get it going quickly. I believe the Department of Taxation will want to rely on the regulatory infrastructure created by the Department of Public and Behavioral Health as much as possible.” --Ben Sillitoe, Oasis medical marijuana dispensary cofounder and CEO “Au! It is adult-use, not exactly gold yet. The industry, of course, wants to see the adult-use side implemented as early as possible. One of the significant reasons is to curtail the possibility for the black market to move in and profit from the “loop-hole gap” before an adult-use program is implemented. We are all working together and hope the regulatory entity will mirror-image the existing medical marijuana program as they “bridge” the adult-use program and allow MMEs to apply and operate in the adult-use market. Independent laboratory testing will catch more attention than before because product liability will become one of the focal points in both medical and adult-use markets. Public education will have to be emphasized by both sides of the industry. The industry will work with patients to dispense correct and powerful information.” --Dr. ChaoHsiung Tung, Laboratory Scientific Director for G3 Labs
“I predict in 2017 Nevada's legislature will be forced to address many issues relating to cannabis legalization, including patients’ right to grow, public consumption and cannabis DUI laws.” --Amanda N. Connor, attorney, Connor & Connor
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elevatenv.com | january