Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) — Structure & Role

Last verified: March 25, 2026

Nevada's Cannabis Regulator

The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) was established through Assembly Bill 533 during the 2019 legislative session, signed by Governor Steve Sisolak, and became operational on July 1, 2020. It replaced two agencies that had shared cannabis oversight: the Department of Taxation (which regulated adult-use cannabis from 2017 to 2020) and the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) (which regulated medical cannabis). The creation of a single, dedicated agency reflected the industry's growth and the need for focused, expert regulation.

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Nevada cannabis law as of March 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

What the CCB Does

The CCB regulates Nevada's entire cannabis industry. Its core responsibilities include:

Licensing: Processing and issuing all cannabis establishment licenses — retail stores, cultivation, production, distribution, testing labs, and consumption lounges
Agent cards: Registering agent cards for all cannabis industry employees
Compliance audits: Conducting approximately 700 routine audits annually — every licensee must be audited at least once per year
METRC: Operating the seed-to-sale tracking system that monitors every cannabis plant and product from cultivation through retail sale
Enforcement: Investigating violations, imposing civil penalties, and taking license actions against non-compliant operators
Ownership transfers: Overseeing the sale and transfer of cannabis business licenses
Public health advisories: Issuing consumer safety warnings and product recalls when necessary

Board Members (as of March 2026)

The CCB is governed by five members appointed by the Governor:

Member	Role	Background
Major General Ondra L. Berry	Chair	Appointed January 2025
Riana Durrett	Vice Chair	Attorney; former Executive Director of Nevada Dispensary Association
Jerrie E. Merritt	Member	Senior Vice President at Bank of Nevada
Dr. Vicki Mazzorana	Member	Board Certified Emergency Physician
L. Kristopher Rath	Member	Retired Senior Deputy Attorney General

The CCB's Executive Director is James Humm, who oversees the agency's day-to-day operations and staff.

Cannabis Advisory Commission

Also established by AB 533, the Cannabis Advisory Commission (CAC) is a 12-member body that studies cannabis issues and makes non-binding recommendations to the CCB and the legislature. The Commission currently operates three active subcommittees:

Cannabis Taxation: Studying the state's cannabis tax structure and its impact on market competitiveness
Consumable Hemp: Examining the regulation of consumable hemp products and their relationship to licensed cannabis sales
Emerging Businesses: Evaluating market participation opportunities for new and social equity applicants

From Two Agencies to One

Before the CCB, cannabis regulation was split across agencies with different expertise and priorities. The Department of Taxation handled adult-use licensing and enforcement but had no health or safety mandate. The DPBH managed the medical program but was not equipped for the scale of the commercial market. Consolidating both under the CCB created a single point of accountability — one agency responsible for every aspect of the legal cannabis supply chain, from the seed in the ground to the product on the shelf.

CCB Online Resources

The CCB maintains extensive online resources for both consumers and industry participants:

The Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board was established through Assembly Bill 533 during the 2019 legislative session, signed by Governor Steve Sisolak, and became operational on July 1, 2020. It replaced the Department of Taxation and the Division of Public and Behavioral Health.
CCB Biennial Report 2025