Nevada marijuana sales rise to $639 million in fiscal 2019

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Nevada marijuana sales, Nevada marijuana sales rise to $639 million in fiscal 2019

Cannabis sales in Nevada hit $639 million in its latest fiscal year, a 20% jump over sales of $530 million for the same period a year ago, providing the latest sign of the strength of the state’s MJ market.

About 80% of the sales in the fiscal year ended June 30 are in Clark County, home to Las Vegas, according to Nevada Department of Taxation figures.

Tax revenues neared the $100 million mark.

Riana Durrett, executive director of the Nevada Dispensary Association, said in a news release the figures show that residents and tourists are “becoming more comfortable purchasing cannabis.”

But she added that the illicit market continues to take sales away from licensed businesses.

The release by the Nevada Dispensary Association doesn’t mention the legal mess over the state’s licensing round last December and what kind of impact that might have on market activity.

Nevada approved 61 additional provisional retail MJ licenses last December, including some in counties that didn’t yet have stores.

But the state faces lawsuits over the licensing round, and after 18 days of hearings on the issue, a judge agreed the process was flawed and issued a temporary injunction.

Last week, Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez softened the injunction, saying that companies that underwent background checks could proceed.

About 10 lawsuits filed by unsuccessful applicants remain pending.

Jeff Smith can be reached at jeffs@mjbizdaily.com