New cannabis dispensaries, curbside pickup approved by Carson City Supervisors
Submitted by Kelsey Penrose on Thu, 09/15/2022 - 12:23pm
During Thursday's Board of Supervisors meeting, the board voted to allow curbside pick up as well as increasing the maximum number of cannabis dispensaries within the capital city from two to four.
Curbside pickup allowed
Following a unanimous vote, curbside pick up of cannabis products is now allowed in the capital city.
Curbside pickup is not new, though it is newly allowed in city ordinance. Curbside pickup was first allowed during the pandemic as a way to decrease both customers and employees potential for exposures.
Since that time, many cannabis users, especially those who are disabled, have stated that curbside pick up for them is a necessity.
The board agreed that curbside pickup should be an allowed use of a special use permit, with parameters such as needing to be done on an appointment only basis, and in a way that does not negatively impact traffic in the area.
New Locations
On its second reading, an ordinance allowing the total number of cannabis dispensaries to increase from two to four.
The item first came before the board on behalf of Qualcan LLC., who asked for the ordinance revision along with applying for a special use permit to open a new retail location.
During the first reading, much of the time spent was dedicated to discussing the character of Qualcan; however, during the second reading, more focus was given to the ordinance itself.
The board was split on whether or not new locations should be allowed.
Supervisor Stacey Giomi stated he was against the increase, and that increasing it would pave the way for the introduction of drive-throughs and cannabis lounges, of which he was against.
“I think we owe it to our community to consider those rules that were established but he previous board in 2017 and see if they’re still applicable,” Giomi said. “I’m not for adding two more, I won’t vote for it.”
Supervisor Maurice White argued that drive-throughs would actually provide more safety for cannabis customers.
“I don’t know that having a drive-through would make people go to a store more than if they had to walk up to it,” White said. “Consider what happens in a drive-through: you don’t get out of your car with a pocket full of cash, you don’t come out of the store with a pocket full of dope. I see an improved safety issue.”
While White reiterated he is against the recreational use of cannabis, he also said that the ordinance was not about cannabis itself but about business.
“The question before us today is: is it appropriate for the government to manipulate the market, and I say no it is not,” White said. “The Sheriff and the DA have chimed in that they have not seen marked problems with recreational marijuana.”
Supervisor Stan Jones stated that he would be listening to the sheriff and the DA, and would be voting for the ordinance.
Jones also refuted the idea that more cannabis shops would increase the usage among adolescents.
“I have a problem when people say, ‘If you approve this, the kids will all be drug addicts.’ The kids aren’t buying drugs from these dispensaries,” Jones said. “They can’t afford it to begin with, they’re getting it from the black market, and that’s beyond our control.”
Mayor Lori Bagwell agreed with Jones, stating that adolescents are not obtaining cannabis from dispensaries.
“(The cannabis industry is) regulated just like our gaming and alcohol establishments,” Bagwell said. “Does it stop the youth from access? Of course not. I’m not naive. But the actual dispensary is not where the youth are obtaining the drugs.”
Supervisor Lisa Schuette stated she did not see a “compelling need” to revise the ordinance, and would not support the addition of two new locations.
Supervisors Giomi and Schuette voted against the ordinance measure, with Supervisors Jones and White, as well as Mayor Bagwell, voting to approve.
The ordinance passed, allowing a total number of four cannabis locations within the capital city.
