Jenny Kane

jkane@rgj.com

It's not like marijuana has never been smoked at a concert, but a new bill introduced on Tuesday could make puffing in the middle of a Willie Nelson set legal.

Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, introduced legislation that would give local governments the power to permit public marijuana use in businesses such as bars, hotels, restaurants and concert venues.

"The sky is the limit," said Segerblom on Tuesday.

Although Nevada legalized recreational use of marijuana for anyone 21 and over in November, public consumption still is illegal. A public place is anywhere that anyone is allowed, including those under the age of 21.

Businesses could apply for a permit effective for just a few hours, or a permit that would be permanent. City governments would issue permits within incorporated areas, and county boards of commissioners would issue permits for unincorporated areas.

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"You could take a fancy restaurant. It could be weddings, it could be hotels, it could be a cannabis horse and buggy thing. You have no idea how many crazy ideas people have. There could be a theme park," Segerblom said.

The event or establishment would have to enforce a 21 and over age limit for the duration of the permit. Permits would not be issued for a location within 1,000 feet of a school, park, church, public pool or substance abuse treatment center. The permits would only allow for consumption, not distribution. Only licensed dispensaries are allowed to distribute recreational marijuana, which is not expected to be on shelves until July 1.

It is unclear how the legislation would affect events held on public lands, such as Burning Man, which is held in Northern Nevada's Black Rock Desert. In February, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Las Vegas sent a letter to the Moapa Paiute Indian tribe outside of Las Vegas, alerting the tribe that the cannabis-centric marijuana festival that the tribe was hosting was illegal under federal law since marijuana still is a Schedule I drug.

The bill will be discussed by lawmakers later this week.