There's Still Time to Apply for a Marijuana License in Clark County

I have received numerous inquiries lately from parties interested in applying for a license to operate a medical marijuana establishment within Clark County, Nevada. Many of these inquiries have been from people who heard that the deadline to apply in Clark County has passed and that it is too late to submit an application this year. As of the writing of this post, the deadline to apply in the unincorporated portions of Clark County has passed (for 2014 at least). However, there is still time to apply in the several other jurisdictions within Clark County, such as the City of Las Vegas and the City of North Las Vegas. There is also still plenty of time to apply in other jurisdictions within the state such as Nye County, Washoe County and several others.

While there is still time to join in on the "green rush", time is definitely running out for those who wish to apply in 2014. The application process is very complicated and requires a lot of work on behalf of the applicants and their advisors. One of the biggest hurdles our clients have experienced is securing a facility for their operations. Further complicating matters is the fact that applicants have to secure a location before they submit their application to the State and most local authorities. This is akin to the putting the proverbial "cart before the horse" and raises numerous legal issues relating to commercial real estate contracts and transactions. From the tenants' side, if these contracts are not properly negotiated unsuccessful applicants could find themselves tied to a lengthy lease of a property that they no longer need. From the landlord's perspective, they could be in a position where they have a building tied up for several months, only to have the tenants break the lease after learning that they were unsuccessful in obtaining a license. 

Further issues arise with trying to find a suitable location pursuant to local land use and business regulations. Several local jurisdictions have enacted regulations on where the facilities can be located, the proper zoning codes (C1-C2, etc.) and distances from certain facilities such as schools, daycare centers and parks. Further complicating matters, several of the jurisdictions have different methodologies in the manner in which the measurements will be taken. Some measure property line to property line while others are measuring from the closest wall of the structure to the closest wall of the restricted facility. It is critical that the applicants are well advised of these issues prior to securing a property otherwise their application may be summarily denied. 

The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are experienced in assisting clients navigate the complicated application process for a medical marijuana facility. We have assisted clients in locating facilities that meet all zoning and land use requirements under both state and local law. While we anticipate that our clients will be granted a license to operate a medical marijuana establishment (or establishments), we have successfully negotiated provisions in commercial lease contracts that will allow applicants to walk away from a lease if their application is unsuccessful. We have also been successful in assisting our clients through the complicated process of submitting their applications to Clark County on time and under budget.  

If you have questions about Nevada's Medical Marijuana laws, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We are assisting individuals and groups interested in obtaining a medical marijuana facility license and also assist individual patients with any legal matters. If you are interested, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.   You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. You can also follow the firm on twitter at https://twitter.com/Connor_pllc.

New Relief for Nevada's PTSD Sufferers

Thanks to the tireless work of several individuals and two petitions submitted to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been added to the list of chronic or disabling conditions. This means that a person suffering from PTSD can receive a doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana and become a licensed patient within the State of Nevada. 

Medical Marijuana is an important treatment option for Nevada's veterans and other citizens suffering from PTSD. According to Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access:

Anecdotal evidence says by and large the use of therapeutic cannabis provides a significant improvement in quality of life both for those suffering from this malady and for their family and friends.

While Nevada is not the first state to recognize PTSD as a qualify condition for medical marijuana, it is an important step for this State's medical marijuana laws. PTSD sufferers in New Mexico and California have been able to qualify for medical marijuana under those State's laws. However, PTSD sufferers, including veterans, are pushing for PTSD to be more widely recognized in the various medical marijuana programs. 

As recently reported by the Huffington Post, an effort is being made to have New York recognize PTSD as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana through the passage of the Compassionate Care Act. Thus, not only is it likely that we will continue to see states legalize medical marijuana throughout this country, it is likely that we will see the inclusion of PTSD in these medical marijuana programs. 

If you have questions about Nevada's Medical Marijuana laws, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We are assisting individuals and groups interested in obtaining a medical marijuana facility license and also assist individual patients with any legal matters. If you are interested, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.   You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. You can also follow the firm on twitter at https://twitter.com/Connor_pllc.

Will Florida Be Next?

Floridians will be voting on a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would allow citizens to use medical marijuana to treat debilitating illnesses. The proposed ballot measure was challenged as being deceptive and misleading. However, in an 84-page opinion, the Florida Supreme Court ruled the proposed ballot's summary was sufficiently clear.

Joints for Florida? (Credit Lindsey Brennan/ Associated Press)

The proposed ballot has also received a sufficient number of signatures which has been verified. Therefore, this ballot measure will be addressed in the November election. It appears that there is adequate support to make this ballot measure pass - in a poll 82% said they supported legalizing medical marijuana. 

If the ballot passes in November, Florida could become the 21st state, along with the District of Columbia, to permit medical marijuana. 

Nevada already has a constitutional amendment that permits the use of medical marijuana to treat certain illnesses. And recently a new law was passed that permits the opening of medical marijuana establishments to cultivate and dispense marijuana. If you are interested in becoming a part of Nevada's green rush, contact Connor & Connor PLLC today!

Are you interested in becoming a part of this "Green Rush"? If you have questions about Nevada's Medical Marijuana laws, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We are assisting individuals and groups interested in obtaining a medical marijuana facility license. If you are interested, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.   You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. You can also follow the firm on twitter at https://twitter.com/Connor_pllc.

Save the Wranglers

Most people who know me are aware that I am a lifelong hockey fan. I was born and raised in Alaska where I often compare hockey’s popularity to football’s popularity in Texas. I am also a fan, season ticket holder and supporter of the Las Vegas Wranglers semi-pro hockey team (notwithstanding my continued support of my hometown team and Wranglers rival, the Alaska Aces). As many of you also know, the Las Vegas Wranglers are in trouble.

In late December of 2013 Boyd Gaming, owners of the Orleans Arena which has been the Wranglers home for eleven seasons, announced that they had failed to reach an agreement to extend the team’s contract for the 2014-2015 season. Representatives for the Wranglers claim that Boyd never entered into meaningful negotiations and that they simply refused to extend the contract or negotiate a new deal. Regardless, the failure to reach an agreement with the Orleans is a serious problem given the lack of suitable venues in the Las Vegas area.  Quite simply, there aren’t enough ice rinks in the valley capable of supporting a team like the Wranglers and its thousands of home game attendees. 

This dispute is a much bigger problem than simply losing their venue. The East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), in which the Wranglers play, requires that the teams have a contract with a home venue by no later than January 20, 2014. If the Wranglers fail to secure a contract with a local venue that is suitable for a team of their size the team will not be able to play in the ECHL next year, effectively killing the team in Las Vegas. The team will either be forced to move to a new city or fold. Clearly this is a serious problem for the Wranglers, its fans, employees and their families.

Losing the Wranglers will be a significant loss for our community. The Wranglers provide the only opportunity for fans to watch live professional hockey in Las Vegas. Many of these fans have been season ticket holders with the team for years and dozens of local businesses (including my own) have longstanding advertising agreements with the team. Losing the Wranglers will end those relationships and business that they bring in, not to mention the personal relationships between the fans. For me losing the team means losing an opportunity to share a part of my childhood with my children. I grew up watching the University of Alaska Anchorage hockey team and later the Anchorage Aces. Since moving to Vegas I have enjoyed taking my kids to Wranglers games and seeing them get excited about hockey just like I did. Losing the team will mean losing my opportunity to share that part of my childhood with my children and I assume I am certainly not alone in that loss.

Unfortunately, business disputes such as this are all too common. A large portion of my law practice is dedicated to resolving businesses disputes in Nevada including contract negotiations, commercial lease disputes and even complex litigation. I am hopeful that parties in the dispute are able to reach an agreement soon before the fans end up paying the price.

Fortunately all is not lost. Fans and supporters of the team have joined together on social media networks in an effort to save the Wranglers. The only way venues such as the MGM Garden arena, the Thomas & Mack Center (and maybe even the Orleans) are going to consider giving a contract to the Wranglers is if we show them what the team is worth If you would like to voice your support for the Wranglers, you can start by liking the Save the Wranglers Facebook page (7,500+ likes already).

Connor & Connor Pllc is a civil litigation firm and a proud supporter of the Las Vegas Wranglers. If you have questions, please call our office at (702) 750-9139.

More Than 5 Million Dollars in 1 Week!

It has been one week since "Green Wednesday" when Colorado became the first state to sale recreational marijuana. There were 37 dispensaries that were open for recreational users throughout the State. After 1 week, it is reported those dispensaries saw over 5 million dollars in revenue!

Further, it is projected that this industry will have over $400 million in sales this year in Colorado. These numbers are incredible to consider when there are 20 states and the District of Columbia that permit medical marijuana sales and 2 states that permit recreational sales - US News Map of places that permit the sale of marijuana.

Nevada is on track to license medical marijuana dispensaries in 2014. The suggested revenue for Nevada ranges tremendously because Nevada's law allows the recognition of out-of-state patients. Given Las Vegas' huge tourism market, the number of patients served from other states is projected to be in the six to seven figures a year. That alone will greatly increase the revenue.

Are you interested in becoming a part of this "Green Rush"? If you have questions about Nevada's Medical Marijuana laws, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We are assisting individuals and groups interested in obtaining a medical marijuana facility license. If you are interested, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.   You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. You can also follow the firm on twitter at https://twitter.com/Connor_pllc.

Happy New Year!

Whoever said money doesn't grow from trees obviously has never sold weed!

- Unknown

Nevada's legal marijuana establishments are set to open in 2014. Projections about the amount of money that this business will bring vary greatly from millions to billions. However, there are many important rules for individuals to remember as we ring in the New Year. These rules are important for individuals who are patients or those wishing to be involved in the medical marijuana business.

1.             You have a right to say “NO.”: If you are stopped by a police officer and they ask to search you or your car or your home, you can say “No.” You do not have to consent to a search.  It does not give a presumption of being guilty if you say “no.” Therefore, if you are pulled over or you are stopped, remember your right to say “no.” If you do not consent to the search, the officers have to get a search warrant, unless there are exigent circumstances such as the officer believes and individual’s safety is at risk.

Too often we are contacted by individuals who knew they had something in their trunk, but gave consent for the officers to search their trunk. Do not give consent. Even if you do not have anything illegal in your trunk or your house, you still do not have to give consent. So take a moment and think before you answer the question “May I search your ____.”

2.             You do not have to answer the officer’s questions.: It is your right to refuse to answer a question. If an officer is holding you, you do not have to answer the questions of the officer. Now sometimes, you may want to answer the officer’s question, for instance if he asks if you are a medical marijuana patient and you are, you may want to answer “yes” and show him your valid medical marijuana patient card. However, you do not have to answer the questions.

3.             You can request to speak with your attorney. If an officer is holding you or has arrested you, you can request to speak with your attorney. State very clearly, “I will not answer your questions until my attorney is present. My attorney is Connor & Connor Pllc and can be reached at 702-750-9139.”

If you have questions about Nevada's Medical Marijuana laws, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We are assisting individuals and groups interested in obtaining a medical marijuana facility license. If you are interested, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.   You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. You can also follow the firm on twitter at https://twitter.com/Connor_pllc.

Can I lose my kids if I am a medical marijuana patient?

Nevada has a constitutionally protected right for individuals to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Therefore, one could argue that that use of medical marijuana, if recommended by a doctor, should not be a basis for removal of a parent's custodial rights to their child. However, the legal standard in Nevada, and many other states, in determining parental rights, is what is in the best interest of the child.

Some judges have found that although a parent has a legal right to use marijuana as a state licensed patient, the use of the medicine is not in the best interest of the child. Thus, these parents have lost rights to have overnight visits and have even been forced to have supervised visits. The issue currently is at the discretion of the family law judge that is assigned to the case.

The only way to change this is for the issue of whether the use of medical marijuana by a parent is a detriment to the child to be addressed by the Supreme Court of Nevada. However, until that happens, the parent who is a patient will face the burden of showing the judge who is assigned to the case that his or her medicinal use of  marijuana is not a detriment to the child. There is a presumption that being with the both parents (having shared custody) is in the best interest of the child and therefore arguably the parent who is patient should have equal access regardless of his or her use of marijuana.

However, be fair warned that there are judges in Nevada that view the medicinal use of marijuana to be detrimental to children and that those judges will likely reduce a parents custodial rights by finding that the use of medical marijuana around the child is not in the best interest of the child. The only way to change that ruling is to challenge it.

If you have questions regarding your parental rights and the use of medical marijuana, contact Connor & Connor PLLC today!

If you have questions about Nevada's Medical Marijuana laws, please do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc today.  The attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc are licensed to practice law before all Nevada state and federal courts. We are assisting individuals and groups interested in obtaining a medical marijuana facility license. If you are interested, contact one of the attorneys at Connor & Connor Pllc as soon as possible for a consultation.   You may contact the firm through email at info@connorpllc.com or by phone at (702) 750-9139 or visit www.connorpllc.com. You may also visit the firm's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ConnorConnorPllc. You can also follow the firm on twitter at https://twitter.com/Connor_pllc.