Pubdate: Wed, 11 Jun 2014
Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV)
Copyright: 2014 Las Vegas Review-Journal
Contact: http://www.reviewjournal.com/about/print/press/letterstoeditor.html
Website: http://www.lvrj.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/233
Author: Arnold M. Knightly
Page: 2B

HENDERSON TO INTRODUCE POT BILLS

Council Meeting Will Set Up Parameters for Businesses

Henderson is getting ready to enter the medical marijuana fray a year 
after the state signed the industry into law.

The city is scheduled to introduce a series of bills at the June 17 
City Council meeting that would set the parameters for medical 
marijuana establishments including locations, fees, application 
process and general regulations.

The new ordinances are scheduled for final approval at the July 1 
council meeting.

However, no time frame for accepting applications and beginning the 
approval process for licensing dispensaries has been established, 
according to city spokeswoman Karina Milani.

Henderson would charge a nonrefundable application fee of $10,000.

Once the application is approved, the license holders would pay from 
$60,000 for a license to operate a cultivation facility and 
dispensary at a location, to $100,000 for a license to operate a 
cultivation facility, dispensary and production facility for edible 
or marijuana infused products at one or more locations.

A fee of 6 percent of monthly gross revenue would then be assessed.

A license for an independent testing laboratory would cost $15,000 
plus a semiannual fee.

Clark County commissioners are attempting to limit the number of 
applicants Henderson can submit to the state for approval to five 
dispensaries. However, Henderson City Manager Jacob Snow sent a 
letter to the county May 5 stating that the state law allows as many 
as 10 in the city.

The county approved last week 18 applicants to forward to the state 
for marijuana dispensaries.

Officials from North Las Vegas, who have been told by the county they 
could have four dispensaries, has indicated they might submit 10 
applicants for approval when they start accepting license 
applications July 7. The Henderson bills would put in place zoning 
and fee regulations ahead of a City Council-approved six-month 
moratorium on medical marijuana establishments that is scheduled to 
expire July 6.

Gov. Brian Sandoval signed Senate Bill 374 into law June 12, 2013, to 
regulate the supply of medical marijuana. Henderson's tentative 
regulation follows the state guidelines of marijuana establishments 
with a minimum separation of 1,000 feet from schools, but extends the 
state requirement of 300 feet from a community facility - parks, 
playgrounds, public pools, religious facilities - to 1,000 feet.

The city would also keep medical marijuana establishments 300 feet 
from residences and 5,280 feet between establishments. Henderson 
would have the businesses operate 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom