Carson City District Judge James Russel has cleared the way for Nevada to start issuing cannabis distribution licenses to businesses aside from already existing alcohol wholesalers.
The Judge lifted the temporary restraining order that was placed on Thursday, which forced Nevada to provide liquor wholesalers exclusive rights to marijuana distribution for 18 months unless they couldn’t keep up with market demand.
According to the Judge, there was overwhelming evidence that alcohol wholesalers are not capable of meeting the needs of the dozens of recreational cannabis dispensaries in the state.
The group of alcohol distributors that filed the suit are able to appeal their case to the Nevada Tax Commission, as required by law. Judge Russel said he has no power to supersede the authority of the state agency which found that there was not enough alcohol businesses to handle distribution.
