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Cannabis Social Equity Programs in Nevada

Nevada reserves consumption lounge licenses for social equity applicants and has enacted broad criminal record reform — including mass pardons for cannabis convictions from 1986 to 2017.

Last verified: 2026-03-01

Social Equity Applicant Definition

NRS 678B.065 defines a "social equity applicant" under Nevada law. The statute identifies individuals who have been disproportionately affected by previous cannabis criminalization, creating a pathway for those communities to participate in the legal industry.

NRS 678B.065 defines the criteria for social equity applicant status in Nevada's cannabis licensing framework.

NRS 678B — Licensing and Control of Cannabis

Consumption Lounge License Set-Asides

Nevada's most significant social equity program is the consumption lounge license allocation. When the CCB authorized cannabis consumption lounges under AB 341 (2021), it built equity into the licensing structure:

  • 10 of the 20 independent consumption lounge licenses are reserved for social equity applicants
  • Social equity applicants receive a 75% reduction in application and licensing fees
  • Independent lounge application fee for social equity: $2,500 (reduced from $10,000)

In November 2022, the CCB selected 40 prospective consumption lounge licensees (20 retail, 20 independent). In March 2025, the CCB voted unanimously to extend the deadline to 2026 for social equity applicants to complete their applications and meet all licensing requirements, acknowledging the additional challenges these applicants face in securing funding and compliant locations.

At least 10 of the 20 independent consumption lounge licenses are reserved for social equity applicants who receive a 75% fee reduction. The CCB extended the deadline to 2026 for social equity applicants.

CCB Industry Portal

Removing Felony Barriers: SB 277 (2023)

SB 277, effective January 1, 2024, was a landmark piece of legislation for social equity in Nevada's cannabis industry. Among its many provisions, the law:

  • Removed restrictions that previously barred individuals with certain felony convictions from cannabis business ownership
  • Allows individuals with prior felonies to petition the CCB for licenses and agent cards
  • Recognizes that prior cannabis convictions should not permanently exclude individuals from the legal industry they were criminalized for participating in

This change opened the door for many people with prior cannabis-related convictions to become licensed operators or employees in Nevada's legal market.

Criminal Record Reform

Mass Pardons (2020)

In Spring 2020, the Nevada Board of Pardons approved mass pardons for cannabis possession convictions dating from 1986 to 2017. This action cleared the records of thousands of Nevadans who had been convicted under laws that no longer reflected the state's legal framework.

Record Sealing: AB 192 (2019)

AB 192 enabled the sealing of prior marijuana convictions, giving individuals the ability to petition courts to seal cannabis-related criminal records. Sealed records do not appear on standard background checks, removing barriers to employment, housing, and other opportunities.

Community Support Organizations

Several organizations actively support social equity in Nevada's cannabis industry:

Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM)

Minorities for Medical Marijuana supports minority-owned cultivators and dispensaries in Nevada and advocates for equitable industry participation. M4MM provides mentorship, networking, and resources for individuals from communities disproportionately affected by cannabis prohibition.

Project Clean Slate

Project Clean Slate, operated by M4MM, provides marijuana criminal record expungement services in Nevada with comprehensive wraparound support including:

  • Legal assistance with record sealing and expungement petitions
  • Job training and workforce development
  • Housing assistance
  • Counseling and reentry support

Las Vegas NORML / Nevada NORML

Nevada NORML offers criminal justice advocacy and record-sealing assistance as part of its broader mission of cannabis policy reform. The organization hosts free monthly educational meetings and provides voter registration drives.

Employer Protections

Nevada's equity-oriented approach extends to employment law. AB 132 (2019) prohibited most employers from denying employment based on pre-employment cannabis tests, recognizing that prior cannabis use should not be a barrier to employment. SB 225 (2023) further expanded this by giving police departments the option to remove cannabis drug testing from their hiring processes.