Nevada marijuana companies push for state to redo license selection process

Some cannabis businesses that lost out when Nevada awarded 61 new dispensary licenses last December are ratcheting up pressure in court for the state to redo the selection process.

A filing this week in a lawsuit brought by Las Vegas cannabis retailers Planet 13 and The Dispensary accuses state tax officials of improperly having temporary employment service Manpower screen the 462 applications the state received.

The lawsuit by the retailers’ parent firms, MM Development and LivFree Wellness, respectively, is among several in state court seeking to freeze the awarding of new licenses until applicants’ names are made public and the selection procedure is reviewed.

That could happen soon, after the Legislature passed Senate Bill 32 to release taxpayer information now labeled confidential.

Gov. Steve Sisolak could sign the new law this week.

– Associated Press