Jesselyn Bickley

jbickley@dvtnv.com

Nevada regulators have approved Deep Roots Medical for three different marijuana facilities in Mesquite including cultivation, a production facility and a dispensary.

Deep Roots was the only applicant for the local facilities.

The Mesquite City Council approved ordinances allowing medical marijuana facilities in the city in August after several public comments against the idea.

“I see the grow facility being very productive money wise,” said Al Litman, Mesquite mayor. “I see the manufacturing facility being productive. The dispensary, that’s another question.”

Councilman Kraig Hafen, the only council member to vote against medical marijuana, in Mesquite, Tuesday told the Desert Valley Times he hasn’t had a change of heart.

“I’m not convinced it’s the best thing for Mesquite,” Hafen said.

Before getting a city business license Deep Roots Medical must pay a $30,000 origination fee for a dispensary, a $25,000 origination fee for a cultivation facility and a $25,000 fee for a production facility.

Quarterly license fees for a dispensary total $16,875; $6,875 for a cultivation facility, and $6,250 for a production facility, totaling $30,000 a quarter, or $120,000 annually.

All licensing fees go into the city’s general fund.

Once approved by the city, Deep Roots can open for business in two existing buildings at 195 Willis Carrier Canyon in the Mesquite Technology and Commerce Center.

City statutes require state all medical marijuana establishments be at least 1,000 feet from any schools or community facilities, but does not apply to a church or synagogue located in an industrial zone. The establishment must also be 300 feet from a residential zone boundary line.

The distance requirements, however, can be waived if the applicant can provide sufficient evidence the business won’t compromise the public health, safety or general welfare of residents.

All facilities must prohibit anyone from using marijuana on the premises; forbid anyone under 18 years old on the premises, and employ security and surveillance systems.

Security systems must keep footage from cameras for at least 90 days and any establishments must have dusk to dawn lighting on all entrances. All dispensary entrances must be visible from the street or parking lot.

Also, under city requirements a dispensary can only be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

There are regulations on the establishment’s waste as well, which must be maintained in a secure location until removed and taken to the disposal site operated by the city or an authorized contractor.

If any of the city’s regulations are broken the violator will be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

The applicant has already been cleared by the Mesquite Police Department.

“I don’t see any secrets coming up,” Litman said.

A dispensary is a business that “acquires, possesses, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies, sells or dispenses marijuana or related supplies and educational materials” to a medical marijuana card holder, according to Nevada Revised Statute 453A.115.

NRS 453A.056 states a cultivation facility “acquires, possesses, cultivates, delivers, transfers, transports, supplies or sells marijuana and related supplies to a medical marijuana dispensary; facilities for the production of edible marijuana products or marijuana-infused products or other cultivation facilities.”

The Mesquite City Council will first look at approving the conditional use permit today at the technical review meeting, at 1:30 p.m. at City Hall.

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