How’s all this working out?

It’s been less than two weeks since Nevada legalized pot and there’s good news and bad news.

The good news is as we predicted legalized marijuana has been a HUGE hit in a state that clearly likes to have a good time.

The bad news is that Nevada’s 47 state sanctioned marijuana emporiums are running out of pot and they don’t have the authority to restock their shelves themselves without going through a state approved middleman.

And even better, in Nevada those pot middlemen are Alcohol Distributors who in a last minute ruling, now have the “exclusive rights to move marijuana from growers to retailers” assuming they’ve submitted the necessary paperwork.

According to the Business Insider “that rule aims to promote the goal of regulating marijuana similar to alcohol— and protect liquor stores from losing business as the demand for recreational marijuana rises.”

So what could possibly go wrong with that set-up?

And we do love the idea of wholesale reps rolling joints in business meetings as they’re talking craft beer with the state’s retailers.

This story just keeps getting better and better.

You see, as of last Friday, Nevada’s Department Of Taxation (which is the primary reason they legalized pot in the state to begin with) hadn’t issued ANY distribution licenses to the state’s alcohol wholesalers.

The Reno Gazette-Journal is reporting that this delay was due to incomplete applications and zoning issues. But whatever the reasons, the state’s marijuana dispensaries are running out of pot and its alcohol wholesalers aren’t up to speed!

So Nevada has issued a pot “statement of emergency” which they hope will bring some relief.

The new regulation, which is to be voted on this week, will allow for a much larger pool of applicants, including those outside the alcohol business, to get involved.

Great idea!

Let’s be sure to bring all those disenfranchised street dealers who’ve seen their business suffer, back into the fold. They already know their product, have “killer” contacts and sturdy distribution channels, so why not?

But wait…This story just keeps getting better and better.

The Reno Gazette-Journal is also reporting that state’s Department of Taxation is in a state of panic. Nevada has imposed a 15% tax on the cultivation of marijuana that is supposed to generate the revenue that the state spends on public education, so this pot shortage is hurting the kids!

What’s next…PSA’s on prime time TV imploring Nevada’s citizens to smoke a joint for the good of the kids?

Like we’ve said…this story just keeps getting better and better.

(Pot Beer Image Credit: Mitchell Maglio)