Question 2 and Nevada Medical Marijuana Patients

Question 2 and Nevada Medical Marijuana Patients

The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol

1. Will the passage of Question 2 make my medical marijuana card invalid?

No. There is nothing contained within the language of Question 2 that makes any changes to the current medical marijuana cardholder process.  If the voters approve Question 2 on November 8, cardholders will still hold valid medical marijuana cards until the expiration date listed on their respective card.  Upon the expiration date, all Nevada patients are eligible to renew their medical marijuana card regardless if Question 2 passes.

Nothing changes with being a Nevada medical marijuana patient if Question 2 passes or fails.

2. Can I still grow my own medical marijuana as medicine if question to passes?

Yes. Current state law (SB 447) allows patients to cultivate their own marijuana at home if one of the following conditions applies:

• The dispensaries in your particular county have closed or are unable to supply the quantity or strain of marijuana that you need;
• You are reasonably unable to travel to a dispensary due to illness or lack of transportation;
• There was no dispensary operating within 25 miles of the patient’s home when they first applied for their card.

There is nothing contained within the language of Question 2 that makes any changes to a patient’s ability to cultivate their own marijuana. That being said, current state medical marijuana law does restrict medical marijuana home grows beginning in 2018, so that law would need to be changed next legislative session to extend home grows permanently.  That would also be a time to ask the legislature to address issues such as lifting the 25-mile halo.

Question 2 does not change one word of the medical marijuana statute.

3. Will the legalization of regulated recreational marijuana limit the amount of medical marijuana I can possess?

No. Current Nevada law allows medical cardholders to possess up to two and a half ounces of usable marijuana in any one 14-day period.  The passage of Question 2 would not limit the amount of marijuana that cardholders are legally allowed to possess.  In fact, cardholders would be able to possess larger amounts of usable marijuana than tourists and members of the general public using marijuana recreationally.

4. Will the availability of recreational marijuana decrease my access to medical marijuana?

No. All of the facilities that been approved to operate as medical marijuana dispensaries in their respective county or municipality will continue to serve any and all medical cardholders. Nothing in the initiative will restrict any patient’s access to medical marijuana.  In fact, it is likely that medical cardholders will experience a greater level of access to medical marijuana as a result of the passage of Question 2.

5. Will the additional taxes imposed on recreational marijuana cause the costs of my medical marijuana to increase?

No. The current excise tax rate for medical marijuana is 2% regardless of whether it is sold for retail or wholesale.  Additionally for retail sales, the sales tax is added on top of the 2% excise tax.  If Question 2 passes, there will a 15% excise tax imposed on the wholesale sale of recreational marijuana, which will also be subject to existing sales taxes on retail sales.

6. Will the passage of Question 2 reduce the number of medical marijuana establishments that are operational?

No. There is nothing contained within the language of Question 2 that would negatively impact the status of previously approved medical marijuana dispensaries, cultivation or production facilities.

7. Will the passage of Question 2 get rid of any of my rights as a medical marijuana patient?

No.  The initiative does not change any of the existing medical marijuana laws or affect patients’ rights in any way, shape or form.