Committee sends bill for medical marijuana clinics to Nevada Senate

By Cy Ryan

Thursday, May 23, 2013 | 12:08 p.m.

CARSON CITY — A plan to create a network of medical marijuana clinics — with the owners paying hefty licensing fees — was approved by the Nevada Senate Finance Committee today.

The bill, SB 374, would limit the number of dispensaries to one for every ten pharmacies in a county. But it sets a maximum of 40 dispensaries in Clark County; ten in Washoe County; two in Carson City and one each in the remaining counties.

A person who applies for a state license to operate a marijuana clinic must have $150,000 in liquid assets and pay $20,000 for an initial license and $5,000 for an annual renewal.

The bill would require an up-front $5,000 fee to cover processing and background checks by the state Health Division.

The bill, which now goes to the floor of the Senate, would require the clinics to impose a $10 fee on each prescription transaction, with the money collected going to the state.

Those involved in the ownership or working in the facilities would be required to undergo a background check and would not be eligible if convicted of a prior felony. Those selling the marijuana also would be barred from working if behind in court-ordered child support.

There is also a license fee for those who would grow medical marijuana and produce edible marijuana products.

The initial cultivation license would cost $3,000, plus a $1,000-a-year renewal fee. The fee for a facility that produces edible marijuana would be $2,000 with a $750 annual renewal fee.

Dispensaries could not be located within 1,000 feet of a public school.

Those with a prescription for marijuana from a doctor would not be allowed to consume the drug on the premises of the clinic.