Nevada Marijuana Policy Project Facts
The Nevada Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is a national organization pushing for the Nevada Marijuana Legalization Initiative that will appear on the 2016 ballot. Voters need to understand the implications behind the initiative as well as the background of the MPP to vote wisely on the bill and ensure their own legal protection concerning personal marijuana use in Nevada.
The Nevada Marijuana Legalization Initiative
In 2016, Nevada voters can vote on legislation to allow the use of marijuana within their state. Upon voter approval, one ounce or less of marijuana for recreational use will be legal for users 21 and older. The state would tax marijuana sales and give tax revenue generated from marijuana to state education. The tax rate suggested is a 15% sales tax on all marijuana sales. Look for this initiative as Question 2 on the 2016 ballot.
If Nevada citizens vote “yes” to Question 2, the law will prohibit anyone over the age of 21 from selling or giving marijuana to a minor, driving under the influence of marijuana, or using marijuana in public. A “no” vote would not regulate these activities. While the recreational use of marijuana would be legal if Question 2 passes, its use would be subject to government and state laws.
Under this initiative, the Nevada Department of Taxation would control marijuana retailer licensing as well as all testing facilities and distributers. The initiative would limit the number of supplier and distributer licenses, and local governments would have to approve business locations. Restricted locations would include schools, churches, childcare facilities, and community centers.
About the Marijuana Policy Project
The MPP has been around since 1995 with the purpose of reducing legal penalties for cultivating, selling, or using marijuana. The MPP strives to locate and activate supporters of marijuana policies and change state laws to reduce or eliminate marijuana-related penalties. The goal of nationwide MPP is to regulate recreational use of marijuana in a way that is comparable to alcohol use.
One goal the MPP is realizing is placing legalization initiatives on the 2016 ballot in Nevada. Nevada’s current penalties for marijuana use or possession are some of the harshest in the nation, with first-time offenders facing mandatory drug treatment and misdemeanor charges. The maximum fine for a small amount of marijuana is $600, although no one in Nevada found with marijuana can face incarceration or felony charges.
The MPP’s Nevada Marijuana Legalization Initiative would make it legal for citizens to possess an ounce of marijuana flower or 1/8th ounce of concentrate without facing repercussions. It would also allow up to 80 pot shops to exist in Clark County, as well as 20 in Washoe County, four in Carson County, and two in each of Nevada’s remaining counties.
The 2016 initiative would not affect Nevada’s current medical marijuana laws or change driving under the influence of drugs laws. Under this initiative, a person caught driving with 2 ng of THC in his or her blood is subject to two days in jail or 48 hours of community service.
Get Legal Help with Your Marijuana Case
The De Castroverde Law Group has experience handling DUID cases in Las Vegas and beyond and can help you secure the legal defense you need in a marijuana arrest. In a county with thousands of marijuana-related arrests every year, our firm knows the ins and outs of marijuana laws and current initiatives.
If you need help understanding Nevada’s marijuana or DUID laws, or if you want more information about the upcoming MPP Marijuana Initiative on the 2016 ballot, contact the marijuana defense attorneys of De Castroverde Law Group for expert legal counsel. We offer a free case evaluation so you can learn more about your specific situation without having to pay attorney fees.