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June 21, 2017 The Skanner Page 9 News Uncertainty as Nevada Aims to Launch Recreational Pot Soon Offi cials still scrambling to put rules in place by July 1, when law becomes eff ective By SCOTT SONNER Associated Press RENO, Nev.— Nevada voters legalized recre- ational marijuana in November, and offi cials are trying to put rules in place to start selling it on July 1. It would be the shortest turnaround from legal- ization to the launch of sales in any of the other seven states and District of Columbia where recre- ational pot is legal. Reg- ulations are complicated and typically lengthy to enact around a drug still banned by the U.S. gov- ernment. But Nevada’s quick timeline faces a major hurdle: A legal battle be- tween the state and the “ dollars in tax revenue devoted to education. Pot sales are required to start by Jan. 1, 2018, and are expected to bring in at least $120 million over two years. The Nevada Cannabis Coalition estimates an additional $3 million a month if sales start in a little more than two weeks. Oregon and Col- orado each raised about $3.5 million in tax reve- nue in the fi rst month of their recreational sales. Nevada’s expedited ef- fort is in stark contrast to its handling of medical marijuana, which went on sale in 2015 — 15 years aft er voters legalized it. WILL RECREATIONAL POT BE SOLD JULY 1? It’s not clear. The state homes. But the courts de- cide what happens next. WHY ARE THE COURTS INVOLVED? A group of alcohol dis- tributors and state-regu- lated medical marijuana dealers are fi ghting over who should be licensed to distribute marijuana from growers to retail- ers. The liquor lobby sued, saying the state didn’t give it the fi rst shot at distribution licenses as the law calls for, the only legal pot state with that arrangement. The state Department of Taxation wants to license some existing medical marijuana cul- tivators and retailers to serve as their own distributors temporari- ly, saying there was not enough interest among alcohol distributors to do the work. The li- quor distributors denied that, and a judge tempo- rarily sided with them and blocked licenses from be- ing issued. The judge this week re- fused Nevada’s request to dismiss the lawsuit and left the order in place un- til he makes a permanent ruling following a hear- ing Monday. Like Nevada, Colorado and Ore- gon initially granted recreation- al retail licenses only to existing medical marijuana businesses but now provides them to any qualifying applicant powerful liquor lobby over who can distribute the drug to retailers. Here’s a look at the ob- stacles to recreational pot in Nevada and what could happen next: WHAT’S THE RUSH? Anticipating customer demand, the state hopes to get a head-start on collecting millions of said it intends to issue li- censes so users can start buying marijuana buds, concentrate and edibles at as many as 60 existing medical marijuana dis- pensaries on that date. When sales happen, anyone 21 or older can buy up to an ounce of pot but can only smoke or consume it in their Trademark cont’d from pg 7 past that it “represents honor, respect and pride” for Native Amer- icans. Snyder issued a quick statement aft er Monday’s decision: “I am THRILLED. Hail to the Redskins.” Redskins attorney Lisa Blatt said the court’s deci- sion eff ectively resolves the Redskins’ longstand- ing dispute with the gov- ernment. “The Supreme Court vindicated the team’s position that the First Amendment blocks the government from deny- ing or cancelling a trade- mark registration based on the government’s opinion,” Blatt said. Trademark offi ce spokesman Paul Fucito said offi cials are review- ing the court’s ruling and planned to issue further guidance on how they will review trademark applications. Indian groups oppos- ing the Redskins said the ruling does not change the fact that the name “is a dictionary-defi ned ra- cial slur.” “If the NFL wants to live up to its statements about placing impor- tance on equality, then it shouldn’t hide behind these rulings, but should act to the end this hateful and degrading slur,” said a joint statement from the National Congress of American Indians and the group Change the Mascot. The ruling means of- fensive trademarks can no longer be denied, even for names that intend to disparage individu- als or groups of people, said Megan Carpenter, dean at the University of New Hampshire School of Law and an expert on trademark law. While the justices all agreed on the outcome, they split in their ratio- nale. Alito rejected argu- ments that the govern- ment has an interest in preventing speech that is off ensive to certain groups. Read the rest of this story at TheSkanner.com WHY IS THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY GETTING INTO MARIJUANA? The law says “marijua- na should be regulated in a manner similar to alco- hol.” The political action In this March 24, 2017 fi le photo, Nevada state Sen. Don Gustavson, R-Sparks, smells a sample of marijuana as Christopher Price, a ‘’budtender’’ at the Blum medical marijuana dispensary, describes the operation during a brief tour a the store in Reno, Nev. Nevada voters legalized recreational marijuana in November, and offi cials are trying to put rules in place to start selling it on July 1, 2017. (AP Photo/Scott Sonner, File) committee promoting the measure was even named Regulate Mari- juana Like Alcohol. Pot rules are patterned aft er the system regulat- ing alcohol sales, with separate licenses for wholesalers, distribu- tors and retailers. Grant- ing licensed liquor dis- tributors fi rst dibs at pot distribution licenses was seen by the state as a way to ensure the integrity of the system because they have already undergone extensive background checks and established a record of doing business with the state. HOW DOES IT WORK IN OTHER STATES? Like Nevada, Colora- do and Oregon initially granted recreational re- tail licenses only to ex- isting medical marijuana businesses but now pro- vides them to any quali- fying applicant. Maine and Massachu- setts give existing medi- cal marijuana facilities a priority for recreational licensing. Colorado bars people from holding both alcohol and marijuana li- censes. Washington state didn’t have a medical program before legaliz- ing recreational mari- juana and now requires all pot business to be li- censed by its state Liquor Control Board. WHAT’S NEXT? If Carson City District Judge James Wilson rules against the liquor distributors, licenses will be issued to exist- ing medical marijuana facilities to transport products to retail stores in time for sales to begin July 1. Otherwise, it’s com- plicated. Wilson could order the state to exclu- sively license liquor dis- tributors, but that could still mean at least some sales starting in two weeks. He also could strike down the regulation it- self. That would restart the whole rule-making process, which could take months. There’s also the possibility the loser would appeal, prolong- ing the uncertainty in- defi nitely. A career you can be proud of. Being a carpenter isn’t just a job. It’s a way of life. We’re devoted to strengthening the lives of our members with steady work, wealth and personal growth. We take a stand for our members and all workers. We work together to lead the building industry in safety, training and compensation. We create rich lives for our members and partners. 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