Nevada marijuana dispensary license hearing begins claiming bias

Attorneys for dozens of Nevada marijuana businesses began a multiday hearing before a judge they’re asking to temporarily freeze new dispensary licenses in the state’s booming recreational cannabis market.

MJ firms that lost bids for new licenses in December are challenging the criteria and personnel the state used to score the 462 applications for 61 licenses.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Earlier in May, Las Vegas cannabis retailers Planet 13 and The Dispensary filed a lawsuit accusing state tax officials of improperly using the staffing firm Manpower to screen the 462 applications.
• A fact-finding hearing about how state officials chose winning bids began Friday in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas. It’s scheduled to continue through next week.
• Some companies that won licenses joined state attorneys defending the process.
• A new state law released the names of applicants two weeks ago but didn’t derail the lawsuits. Plaintiffs claim bias led the state to choose winners and losers.

– Associated Press