Every two years, our state representatives meet. And every two years, we start to see the impact of the laws they enacted.
This year, the work of lawmakers almost a year ago is continuing to unfold in many different realms, from schools to prisons to the end of life.
At the start of the new year, dozens of laws went into effect that included changes to the state’s cannabis industry.
Over the course of the 2023 legislative session, the industry pushed for major change through two notable bills. The legislation made changes to limits on the amount of cannabis one can purchase, taxation, the merging of recreational and medicinal at the retail level, and allowing former felons to petition to become license-holders.
The reduction of purchase limits — from one ounce of usable cannabis to 2.5 ounces and one-eighth of concentrated cannabis to one-fourth — mutually benefits the industry and its customers, says Layke Martin, executive director of the Nevada Cannabis Association.
"If you go to the grocery store, and there's no limit on how much you purchase, if there's a sale, you can load up on a couple of six-packs or 12-packs for the weekend," she says. "And it's the same idea for a dispensary. And so if you want to go and have less frequent visits, but buy more, you can do that. Now, if a dispensary wants to offer an ounce deal, you can also buy edibles on top of that. So there's a little bit more flexibility for consumers who want to buy more than just one ounce, which is what they were previously limited to."
According to Martin, state Senator Dallas Harris was a driving force in allowing former felons to be considered access to the cannabis industry — something that wasn't previously allowed.
"We have this [Cannabis Compliance Board which] can make those evaluations on whether or not this person should be able to work in the industry," says Martin. "And so they will be able to petition to try to get an agent card. And if the CCB allows it, you can then work in the industry. ... [And] it's up to the CCB to put forward regulations on how that's going to be put in place."
HUMAN COMPOSTING
Another law that went into effect was AB286, which expanded the state’s definition of cremation to include “natural waste reduction.” In other words, people can now legally compost their remains.
One business pushing for the change was Earth Funeral Group. Based in Washington, the funeral home offers consumers the ability to place their remains in a “vessel” with other organic materials and broken down over the course of 45 days. What’s left is then turned into soil and given back to the family or placed in a green space.
Hailey Morris, the company’s communications director, said many people like the idea of a more environmentally friendly option for death care.
“I think the reason why people choose natural organic reduction or human composting is they like this idea of their last act on Earth as doing good for the Earth,” she said. “We've heard from families we've worked with just how much solace it gives them to know that their loved one is doing something really beautiful for nature, that is helping to restore a forest and green space.”
PRISON REFORM
The 82nd Legislative Session also brought with it significant changes to the state’s prison system.
Under SB307, the Nevada Department of Corrections must now use the “least restrictive manner” when separating inmates from the general population. It also restricts the use of solitary confinement to 15 days after prison officials, including a mental health professional, must reassess where to place the inmate best.
Nevada Department of Corrections Director James Dzurenda told State of Nevada that reforming the use of solitary confinement has been a process decades in the making. He said one of the promising developments is getting mental health professionals involved with the process.
“We got to make sure that we're successful in making sure that they can actually get along with people… It’s a process and it's making sure we do it right and involving those clinicians that actually work on behavior issues that can make sure they're safe and going back into the community that we're safe.”
For Dzurenda, the changes to solitary confinement and other reforms are part of an effort to improve the department’s image in the wake of former Director Charles Daniels, who was asked to resign in 2022 by then-Governor Steve Sisolak after years of complaints from staff and advocacy groups as well as a high-profile escape of a convicted murder.
Namely, Dzurenda worked with prison advocacy group Return Strong to convince lawmakers to create an ombudsperson within the Attorney General’s Office who can provide independent oversight of the prison system.
“I need these organizations and the public's help to make sure that we're all on the same page. If there's a problem in the community, and I don't know about it, how am I going to fix it? All of us need to be on the same page. And all of us need to help each other to make sure that the process is done right.”
Jodi Hocking, founder of Return Strong, said it’s a complete reversal from the department’s previous leadership. One of the biggest issues facing families was the inability to visit or contact loved ones reliably. AB452 required the department to overhaul the visitation system and to start providing families with at least 72 hours of notice if visitations are canceled.
“Director Dzurenda was a huge help getting that passed,” she said.”It was something that during the interim session, we actually were pushing for this and had been told ‘no way, it's not happening.”
Since the law’s passage, she’s already noticed the changes.
“I know of at least four weddings that have occurred with people who were together prior to somebody's incarceration and couldn't get married or couldn't visit their loved one,” she said. “They maintained relationships for years, not being able to see each other.”
Lawmakers also tapped into the state’s general fund to help offset some of the fees Inmates and their families were paying for room and board as well as eliminating high medical co-pays and eliminating mark-up on hygiene products purchased through the prison commissary.
For Nick Shepack, Nevada Deputy Director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, it’s a step in the right direction.
“Wages can be as low as $8 a month, or 60 cents an hour, depending on the job inside,” he said. “When 25% of that goes to pay for their own incarceration, that leaves very little money for them to support themselves on the inside, even when they're doing jobs.”
Guests: Layke Martin, executive director, Nevada Cannabis Association ; Haley Morris, communications director, Earth Funeral; Nick Shepack, Nevada deputy director, Fines and Fees Justice Center; James Dzurenda, director, Nevada Department of Corrections; Jodi Hocking, founder, Return Strong
