There’s a little-known Native American tribe that exists in downtown Las Vegas on a handful of acres.
Rest assured, it’s about to become a lot more popular.
The Las Vegas Paiute Tribe have been at Main Street, just north of downtown Las Vegas, for decades.
Now it’s home to one of the largest -- and in the view of State of Nevada contributor John L. Smith -- most impressive marijuana retail stores in the city.
Smith believes the store, at some 14,000 square feet, has the potential to become the anchor for much-needed redevelopment in that part of the city.
“It’s a real breakthrough for the tribe and I think for the neighborhood too,” he said.
He said it will clearly be a source of revenue for the tribe but it could also be a place for people living in the area to get a job. He said just looking at the store one can start to imagine what be next for the neighborhood.
Smith toured the facility on April 20, otherwise known as 4/20, the marijuana holiday as it has been dubbed in popular culture.
“There is so much activity," Smith said, "There is so much going on in that industry that Nevada should celebrate it as a holiday because it’s a big revenue generator.”
Smith remembers a time in Southern Nevada that when you crossed the state line from California there was a billboard signed by the Clark County sheriff warning people about the consequences of possessing and using marijuana in Nevada.
Smith points out that opinions on marijuana have changed everywhere but in Washington, D.C.
The Nevada Public Radio contributor also watched the live stream of the Massachusettes Gaming Commission hearing about changing the name of Wynn Boston Harbor to Encore Boston Harbor.
“That change is one of the component parts that company is bringing to the table.”
He said new Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox spent the hearing making sure that there are no future problems with the property and the commission really did not want to say no to the change.
“The change of the name is something that was welcomed," he said.
John L. Smith, Nevada Public Radio contributor
