Commissioners voted three to two to uphold the planning commission's denial of a development code related to them.

(January 17, 2023) The future of cannabis consumption lounges in Washoe County has hit a snag. 

Washoe commissioners today voted three to two to uphold the planning commission denial of a development code related to the lounges. 

The County says reconsideration of the lounges is not being pursued at this time, but says the Commission could decide to bring the matter back on the table in a different format at a later time. As of now, no decisions have been made.

This afternoon, they conducted public comments and while some were in favor of the lounges, many also were not. 

A wide range of concerns were made, including a potential increase in the number of impaired drivers on the road, spread of odor, unwanted second-hand smoking, and lack of knowing how to determine when someone is too high. 

The one marijuana dispensary in unincorporated Washoe County that was given a prospective license - Sol, will, as of now, not be able to follow through on plans for a lounge.  

Washoe County's Media and Communications Manager Bethany Drysdale explains:

Sol has to have a local license issued before the provisional State license can be issued as a permanent license. Since the BCC did not approve the necessary code amendments to enable the issuance of a local license, they cannot open a lounge.

Unless staff receives direction from the Managers Office / Board to revisit the issue, we will not be bringing back code amendments for consumption lounges. 

Find more on prospective lounge licenses given in Nevada in the article below. 

Reno and Sparks would each have to go through their own process to accept cannabis lounges.Â