She said her daughter is not getting medical marijuana due to the expense. Melton, who has to go to Reno for it, estimated the cost for the product, gas, food and lodging to be $500.

Voters support it

“I think it’s important for the community to understand, this was passed by a referendum and passed the Legislature a couple of years ago, and the people of Elko County voted 60 percent in favor of the establishment of medical marijuana in the State of Nevada,” said Rice.

Liberty is also called into question, he said, discussing that the State created a law giving people the right to use medical marijuana.

“That liberty is something that is being enjoyed everywhere in the State except for rural Nevada,” he said.

The market partly factors into the decision for a local dispensary to open. Rice said the regulations in establishing these facilities can be stringent and costly — it is not simply based on a solid business plan as there are fees and multiple steps preceding such services.

“Right now, we’ve shut the door on anyone even exploring it in the City of Elko with the moratorium and the county, as well. The county has banned it outright,” he said.