CCB approves two conditional consumption-lounge licenses; social-equity applicant wins first review, second approved with follow-up

The Cannabis Compliance Board on May 15 approved two conditional licenses for independent cannabis consumption lounges, including the first social-equity applicant to appear before the board.

David Staley, division chief of investigations for the CCB, told the board that Nevada Consumption Lounge LLC (application ACONA2200107) had submitted the materials required to move to conditional-licensure status and that “no areas of concern were identified” with that investigation. Co-owners Natania Bennett and Jamella Brown described plans for a hospitality-focused lounge at a Clark County location, including live entertainment, food and mocktails, and a VIP area. The board approved the conditional license by voice vote.

The board separately reviewed a second conditional-license request from Limo Joint LLC (application ACON-A22-00034). Staley summarized prior staff concerns raised at a December 2024 hearing — including sales of hemp-derived products above Nevada THC limits and listings of Amanita muscaria products on websites — and said the applicant had taken corrective actions after staff inquiries. Staley also said staff discovered Amanita muscaria items being offered as late as April 2025 and that the applicant had told staff those items had been removed and that the websites would be sold if the board granted a conditional license.

Board members pressed the Limo Joint owner, Andrew Genuso, and his counsel about those past sales and whether the revenue from the websites had funded the lounge effort. Genuso and counsel said the hemp-related business had been sold in 2022, that the remaining problematic listings were removed in 2024, and that Genuso would divest websites and related businesses if the board approved the conditional license. Staff said corrective action had been taken after notice.

The board approved Limo Joint’s conditional license but inserted follow-up safeguards: the board accepted a friendly amendment requiring staff to provide a status report (or addendum to the investigative record) within approximately two years or upon completion of the licensee’s path to final licensure. Member Merritt recorded the sole formal dissent on the Limo Joint motion. The board noted that final licensure still requires local approvals and a final inspection by the CCB’s audit and inspection division.

Why it matters: The approvals expand Nevada’s regulated options for on-site cannabis consumption while signaling the board’s scrutiny of operators whose prior businesses sold products outside applicable rules. The board emphasized that conditional status does not allow operation until local approvals and final inspection are complete.

Details and next steps: Nevada Consumption Lounge owns a planned Clark County location; during questioning the applicants identified 1395 East Tropicana as a potential turnkey site. Limo Joint previously appeared before the board in December 2024; staff described a cease-and-desist sent related to hemp-derived products on Feb. 22, 2024, and said Genuso notified staff on April 1, 2024, that the hemp sales had ceased. On April 11, 2025, Genuso told staff Amanita muscaria listings were removed and that he would divest the websites within 60 days if the board approved the lounge license. Both applicants must complete inspections and local approvals before opening.