Nevada gets 174 applications for 76 medical marijuana dispensaries

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CARSON CITY — A total of 174 applications were submitted by Monday’s deadline to operate 76 medical marijuana dispensaries in Nevada, the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health reported.

Of those, 140 came from Clark County, where the law allows 40 dispensaries. Those submitting applications for licenses had to pay a $5,000 non-refundable fee.

The division said it received another 263 applications for licenses for marijuana cultivation facilities, production facilities and testing labs.

The total number of applications submitted was 437.

State Sen. Tick Segerblom, D-Las Vegas, the sponsor of the 2013 law that created a system to produce and distribute medical marijuana to patients, called the application process a “crapshoot” for prospective licensees.

Segerblom, who heads a legislative subcommittee on medical marijuana that meets Thursday, said the committee would consider expanding the number of dispensaries but anticipated opposition from those who win licenses under the current law.

The division has until Nov. 3 to review the applications and issue provisional licenses. Businesses must also be approved by local government bodies.

State records show that 5,859 Nevadans have medical marijuana cards issued by 278 doctors. Of the total, 4,196 cardholders are in Clark County, 680 in Washoe County and the rest in rural Nevada.