As a state that has successfully legalized recreational cannabis, Nevada has seen the effects of the law passed in 2016. Cannabis has been legal for recreational use in all of Nevada, and the state has the highest share of state tax revenue from cannabis of all the states in the United States.
But with the passing of this law came certain consequences, as deadly crashes involving marijuana almost doubled in 2021 compared to 2016, the year before recreational weed was legalized. This has caused some to question the efficacy of the law, and to wonder if cannabis legal has an impact on violent crime rates.
The answer to this question is yes and no. Data shows Nevada particularly saw its violent crime rate plunge in the first three years after cannabis was legalized. However, it is difficult to draw a definitive conclusion as to whether cannabis legal was the cause of the drop in violent crime.
In addition to the decrease in violent crime, the passing of the cannabis law has had other impacts on the state of Nevada. You can still smoke in nearly every Las Vegas casino, but there are certain regulations that must be followed. For example, cannabis must be consumed in a private residence and cannot be consumed in public places such as sidewalks, parks, or other public places.
The North Carolina Senate passed a medical cannabis legal bill in 2021, and the Las Vegas City Council has also approved rules for cannabis consumption. This means that medical marijuana is edging closer to becoming legal in Nevada, although it will likely remain illegal on a federal level.
California's cannabis regulator is also pushing for a legal green light to transport cannabis across state lines. This would limit California to Nevada, Arizona, or Oregon as initial partners, with other states possibly joining in the future.
As sovereign nations, tribes often enforce marijuana laws that differ from state laws. Nevada has the second-highest number of tribal stores with 10, and they can carry cannabis products even if they are illegal in the state.
With all of this in mind, it is important to note that cannabis legal is still a very complex and volatile issue. As more states pass cannabis legislation, the effects of these laws will become more evident. For now, Nevada is a leader in cannabis legal and has seen the positive impacts of the law, but there are still many questions surrounding the long-term effects of legal cannabis.
