The marijuana is flowing again in Nevada.

A surge in demand for cannabis, newly legalized in the state, has emptied shelves and caught the industry off guard, spurring state officials into action.

Nevada’s Republican governor, Brian Sandoval, endorsed emergency measures late last week designed to increase the flow of marijuana to the state’s 47 licensed retail outlets, some of which have had lines out the door since legal pot was made available at dispensaries on July 1.

On Wednesday and Thursday, as fears of a marijuana shortage mounted, regulators announced they would issue the first two marijuana distribution licenses.

Deonne E. Contine, the executive director of the Department of Taxation, said in an interview Thursday that the emergency orders, which were being considered by the state’s Tax Commission on Thursday, could help expedite the issuing of more licenses.