Nevada state legislators put the final touches on measures to regulate marijuana this week, just weeks before Nevada becomes the fifth state to legalize the use and sale of marijuana for recreational purposes.

The state, which suffered the brunt of an economic recession that hit its tourism and construction industries especially hard, is now anticipating tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue from legalization. And as tourism figures bounce back to new records, some in the Silver State think legal marijuana will be the next big draw.

“We’re going to really market this thing around the world,” said Sen. Tick Segerblom (D), the chairman of the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

As Nevada nears the expected July 1 start date for its emergent recreational marijuana program, Republicans and Democrats put the finishing touches on the laws that will shape the state's marijuana future for the next two years. 

Tourists still have nowhere to smoke since the public consumption bill died, medical users still can't buy guns and opioid addiction cannot be treated with cannabis despite Democrats' best efforts.

All in all, though, marijuana advocates walked away from this year's session with a lot of wins. Here is how marijuana will be taxed, labeled, regulated and how it's going to affect you. 

Pot tax

Gov. Brian Sandoval has vetoed bills to create apprenticeships in the legal marijuana business and to add opioid addiction to the list of qualifying medical conditions for obtaining a medical marijuana card.

Late Wednesday, Sandoval vetoed Senate Bill 416, which would have allowed licensed medical marijuana businesses to partner with labor unions for medical marijuana apprenticeships. The bill is not “consistent with federal regulations governing approval of apprentice programs,” according to a statement released by Sandoval’s office.

The Legislature passed the bill on near party-line votes, clearing the Senate 12-9 and the Assembly 26-13.

Since Nevada legalized recreational marijuana, anyone 21 and over can possess up to 1 ounce in-state. How many people actually could look at an ounce and identify it, though? We're here to help educate you. Jenny Kane/RGJ

Ian Johnston waters small seedlings of marijuana plants inside the Mother Room at Tweed in Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada, on December 5, 2016.(Photo: lars Hagberg, AFP/Getty Images file)

Nevada may not get recreational marijuana sales in July as promised. 

The Denver dispensary is called Medicine Man and was founded on serving medical marijuana patients. Yet, since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana sales three years ago, few of the store's patrons have been making medicinal purchases.

“There’s less need for medical inventory because we have less medical customers,” said Andy Williams, owner and CEO of Medicine Man, one of Colorado’s largest legal marijuana stores selling both recreational and medical marijuana. “People don’t want to go through the hurdles to get their cards anymore.”

Medical and now recreational marijuana is legal in Nevada. Many businesses in the state are grappling with drafting drug policies to ensure workplace safety. Diana Albiniano is a Reno based human resources consultant with Solutions At Work. She helps employers customize policies that work for their type of industry and explains that workplace drug policies should address the specific needs of an industry.

“Do you have heavy equipment, do you have manufacturing, do you have a lot of safety concerns? So your policy is going to be a lot different than a policy for a company that just has workers in an office,” Albiniano says.

Nearly twenty-eight thousand Nevadans are currently cardholders in the state’s medical marijuana program. And about thirty-five hundred are registered as home growers. Contrary to what some might think, weed isn’t that easy to grow. Reno Public Radio’s Anh Gray explores some issues patients encounter while cultivating at home.

An array of flowers, fruit trees and vegetable plants are on display at the at Moana Nursery located in Southwest Reno. With the warmer weather, customers are snapping up plants and fertilizers.

New appointment elevates leading producer’s commitment to GMP standards

Wana Brands–Colorado’s No. 1 edibles brand–has expanded its ranks with the addition of progressive culinary professional Todd Garston as Operations Director. Wana Brands co-owner Nancy Whiteman made the announcement. Garston is based in Wana Brands’ headquarters in Boulder.

According to Marijuana Business Daily estimates, Nevada's recreational market could generate $75 million or more in sales this year and $450 million to $550 million annually down the road. Tourist spending is expected to account for a heavy portion of sales.

DENVER (AP) — Now that Nevada has approved an early start to recreational cannabis sales, existing medical marijuana companies in the state are readying for a burst of new business that could equate to tens of millions of dollars in additional revenue this year.

With Las Vegas alone drawing 40 million-plus visitors in 2016, the overall recreational cannabis industry is set to take another big step forward.

Nevada’s recreational marijuana industry is expected to bring $1.1 billion in revenue and up to 40,000 jobs over the next eight years, per a 2016 study from Las Vegas-based RCG Economics. While regulations are still being hashed out by the Legislature and Department of Taxation, marijuana businesses foresee potential employees flocking.

What employers look for

Four local marijuana business owners were surveyed, saying that while the new recreational industry will bring more jobs, demand for those openings at dispensaries, production facilities and testing labs is extremely high.