According to Brian Sandoval of the Nevada Government, the state of Nevada is well and truly running out of weed.
The legal selling of marijuana began on July 1st, despite the controversy surrounding the fact that the state may not meet supply levels. Liquor stores have been dispensing the drug and will continue to do so for 18 months, an initiative which was passed last November.
Following Nevada’s somewhat rushed decision to legislate recreational marijuana, the state is now facing an emergency level weed shortage.
Sandoval actually released a statement of emergency, requesting the regulation of the businesses that can obtain a recreational selling license be expanded. Dispensary owners are said to have stocked up to prepare for the short supply, however last week’s 4th of July saw a very noticeable demand increase with a reported 40,000 transactions taking place across the state.
With 47 retail marijuana stores available, that’s about $3 million worth of sales within the first four days of business.
According to director of the Nevada Dispensary Association, Riana Durrett, if a resupply doesn’t happen in the next few days than dispensaries could see themselves going out of business. With the matter of the distributor licensing proposal still standing, many employees could lose their jobs and the industry could be damaged. A proposal to open dispensaries to other businesses was put forward by the Department of Taxation in May, however it was rejected in court.
The Department of Taxation is said to consider the proposal regarding resupply on July 13, but until then it’s every man for himself.
Via VICE
