UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute seeks state funding, data-sharing rules in AB149

Assemblymember Max Carter presented Assembly Bill 149, a proposal to direct state funding to the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute (CPI) and to direct the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) to adopt a process for sharing industry data with research institutes for legitimate research purposes.

Rhianna Durrett, executive director of the UNLV Cannabis Policy Institute, described CPI’s activities since its creation in September 2022: academic programming, a national policy symposium, research reports, and partnerships with UNLV faculty and students. She said federal research funding is limited because of cannabis’ federal Schedule I status and that several other states have created state-funded cannabis research programs. Durrett said AB149 would help Nevada “expand, coordinate, and promote cannabis education, policy, and research.”

Durrett described two features that she said are central to the bill: (1) a request for state funding to support CPI’s research and programming, and (2) a provision directing the CCB to adopt a regulation to enable data sharing with research institutes through a process distinct from public records requests. She also submitted a requested amendment to limit funding to research costs and said she would provide that amendment to the committee.

Dr. Marla Stafford (presenting on CPI research) and other UNLV researchers summarized existing projects across social and physical sciences, including studies of adolescent cannabis use reporting, veteran PTSD and cannabis use, consumer conversations about cannabis, neuroscience projects and cannabis and gaming research. They and university representatives argued that state support would seed research on public health, marketing, economic development and social impacts.

Committee members pressed presenters on guardrails for the proposed data-sharing process. Assemblymember Hardy asked for examples of institutions that would receive data and what information would remain confidential; Durrett said the board’s proposed regulation would “sculpt” the process, and that research institutes would likely be Nevada higher-education institutions though the regulation could specify whether other agencies or organizations could receive data. LaRue Hatch asked whether a person could start an organization to seek access; Durrett said that is why the bill would direct a regulatory process to designate appropriate research institutes.

Supporters who testified included representatives from the Nevada System of Higher Education, UNR, industry groups and social-equity licensees. Michelle Thomasino from a state research division and UNLV faculty affiliates also testified in support. One caller, Jason Garrett Gibson, was initially placed in the neutral queue but asked to have his remarks recorded as support; committee staff adjusted that record.

Committee members and presenters repeatedly emphasized that AB149, as currently before the committee, is a policy request and not a direct appropriation; the bill would signal legislative support for funding and establish a data-sharing framework for research. Chair Miller closed the hearing after presenters offered to follow up with additional materials and amendments.