Nevada cannabis history
Reviewed
The Legislative Counsel Bureau says adult purchase, possession, and consumption became legal on January 1, 2017. The New York Times, using Associated Press results, reported that Question 2 was approved on November 8, 2016. The fact sheet does not date the first licensed sale.
This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the Nevada cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.
At a glance
November 8, 2016The Times reported Question 2 approved, 602,463 yes, 54.5 percent, to 503,644 no.
January 1, 2017The Legislative Counsel Bureau says adult purchase, possession, and consumption became legal on January 1, 2017.
May 2018The same fact sheet says the Department of Taxation reported 61 licensed recreational retail stores in May 2018.
Medical use
- The Times results page says medical marijuana was legalized in Nevada in 2000. It does not give the ballot number or the vote totals.
Question 2
- The Times said voters approved Question 2 and that the figures came from the Associated Press through the week of November 8, 2016. A Secretary of State canvass was not the page used for the count.
- The fact sheet also says marijuana can only be purchased legally from state-licensed retail marijuana stores. It does not say those stores were selling on the day possession became legal.
- The fact sheet says the department announced $69.8 million in tax revenue in the first year of legal adult-use sales.
Sources
- can only be purchased legally from state-licensed retail marijuana stores
- Associated Press through the week of November 8, 2016
Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.