Medical pot ordinance on board agenda

Community health, including issues related to substance abuse and medical marijuana, will concern Carson City’s Board of Health and Board of Supervisors on Thursday.

The Board of Supervisors has an agenda item setting up final adoption of an ordinance governing business licenses for medical marijuana establishments in the community. Approval is expected given that a first reading preliminary hurdle was cleared two weeks ago.

In addition, the Board of Health has several items listed. One includes a review and discussion only regarding the Community Health Improvement Plan’s progress on dealing with alcohol and substance abuse. The health board is made up of the five members on the Board of Supervisors plus Dr. Susan Pintar, the city’s Health Officer, and Sheriff Ken Furlong. Dr. Pintar is the health board chairperson.

For the mayor and supervisors during their meeting, the business license ordinance for medical marijuana firms are calling for a range of licensing fees. They will be $5,000 for a testing laboratory, $15,000 for a marijuana facility to produce edibles or infused products, $20,000 for a cultivation unit, also known as a grow facility, and $25,000 for a dispensary. By state law, Carson City can have two dispensaries.

The separate discussion on alcohol and substance abuse while the health board meets is expected to cover both progress and a 2020 Health Action Plan.

Discussion will include details of Carson City’s cirrhosis of the liver disease mortality rate, which is higher than either the state or national rate.

It’s 18.4 deaths per 100,000, which compares with Nevada’s 11.7 and the nation’s 9.1

The health board also will hear a report from Dr. Pintar regarding her activities for city government both inside and outside of Carson City’s Health and Human Services Department.

The Board of Supervisors begins at 8:30 a.m. in the Carson City Community Center’s Sierra Room. The Board of Health forms after just a few items are handled, but the city’s governing board will reconvene later.

No provision for a lunch break is envisioned, so an afternoon session isn’t anticipated.