Nevada dispensaries reportedly running out of marijuana, just days after legalization

Lines formed early in the shadows of Reno's downtown casinos outside MYNT dispensary, on the first day of recreational marijuana sales. Four northern Nevada dispensaries started selling recreational marijuana to the public. Saturday, July 01, 2017. (Photo by Lance Iversen) less Lines formed early in the shadows of Reno's downtown casinos outside MYNT dispensary, on the first day of recreational marijuana sales. Four northern Nevada dispensaries started selling recreational marijuana ... more Photo: Lance Iversen, San Francisco Chronicle Photo: Lance Iversen, San Francisco Chronicle Image 1 of / 25 Caption Close Nevada dispensaries reportedly running out of marijuana, just days after legalization 1 / 25 Back to Gallery

The recreational use of marijuana has been legal for only a week in Nevada, but authorized dispensaries are already running out of pot, according to the Reno-Gazette Journal.

Tourists and locals alike have been lining up in front of Nevada's dispensaries to purchase marijuana since its legalization went into effect July 1. Sales are already estimated to have reached $3 million, the Journal reports, which translates to about $1 million in tax revenue for the state.

The shortage is so pressing, says USA Today, that Gov. Brian Sandoval has endorsed the state tax department's "statement of emergency," which would fast-track the approval of more recreational marijuana distributors (state law requires sellers to obtain supplies from licensed distributors). Officials will vote on the regulation Thursday.

"Unless the issue with distributor licensing is resolved quickly, the inability to deliver product to retail stores will result in many of these people losing their jobs and will bring this nascent market to a grinding halt," Stephanie Klapstein, a spokeswoman from the state tax department, told the Journal. "A halt in this market will lead to a hole in the state's school budget."

As of Friday, seven liquor dealers had applied for marijuana licenses, reports NBC News, but none of the applicants had met the requirements. According to the news site, the 47 authorized retail stores in Nevada saw over 40,000 purchases last weekend.

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