Chamber of Cannabis Sparks Change in Las Vegas Market

Tina Ulman was only 14 when she experienced the war on drugs first-hand. 

Her boyfriend, who was in 9th grade at the time, was at a hotel party where a drug deal took place. “It was ecstasy and some weed…He took a plea deal for 13 years and did 11. He was Chicano, so it was a classic case of drug discrimination,” said Ulman. 

Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, Ulman saw many people around her adversely affected by the marijuana prohibition. Some of her family members have even been incarcerated for drug-related charges totaling over 30 years. 

Despite moving across the nation, Ulman encountered similar experiences to the ones she faced at home. “My parents moved to Kingman, Arizona, to give us a better life. Although it was a great place to live, it has been infiltrated with meth, opioids, and heroin, and unfortunately, has taken many of my friends’ lives.” 

Ulman is one of the millions across the U.S. who have had their lives disheveled by the war on drugs. And this continuous widespread injustice ignited a flame in her to help solve it. 

Spark for Change

Despite her experiences, Ulman grew from the hardships, which led her to pioneer the Las Vegas cannabis industry into a more inclusive direction. In October 2020, Ulman co-founded the Chamber of Cannabis, a non-profit organization dedicated to uniting cannabis professionals, improving justice, and strengthening commerce. 

Ulman believes that if the cannabis industry was used as a resource, many lives could be saved. 

“I am passionate for two reasons; for justice, but also for justice for those who were affected by the opioid crisis and were addicted. I absolutely feel we could get people off opioids if we gave them unlimited amounts of cannabis and counseling and changed their addiction into something much more positive and manageable.” 

Ulman first became involved in the cannabis industry 3 years ago when she joined the Las Vegas NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). As Director of Development, she was highly active and became an expert on cannabis policy, reform, and judicial processes. From there, she was inspired to focus on advancing the industry by building relationships with political leaders and working towards diversity. 

“I just had life situations where injustice has happened, and I knew I was never going to be an attorney – that was not the route for me -but being able to help change laws and being a community organizer really is even more powerful than an attorney sometimes.”

Led by a powerhouse executive board of women, the Chamber of Cannabis has become a pioneer in the industry for positive change. Since its inauguration, the group has helped pass initiatives such as a bill that legalizes cannabis consumption lounges and a DUI reform bill. 

Legalization of Cannabis Consumption Lounges

The Chamber of Cannabis was a driving force behind Assembly Bill 341. The initiative, which passed in June 2021, legalizes cannabis consumption lounges. Additionally, it prioritizes social equity, a first for any cannabis bill. 

Introduced by Assemblyman Steve Yeager, the bill first came into fruition by the efforts of Ulman and the Chamber. 

“I started building my relationship with him 3 years ago,” said Ulman. “He had said if we present a proposal for the consumption lounges and he likes it, he would sponsor the bill. So that’s exactly what we did. We were the only organization and business in the state to present it. He opened it up to many people. So truly, without the Chamber of Cannabis efforts, this would have not happened.” 

Though a cannabis consumption lounge technically already exists (because it sits on Paiute Tribe land), AB341 allows for the first state-licensed and regulated location where tourists and locals can legally use marijuana outside of their residence. 

Prior to this, Nevada policy banned consumption everywhere except your home. For travelers, this meant there wasn’t any spot to legally consume cannabis. Additionally, for those that live in rental properties or looking to smoke outside of their home in a safe atmosphere – there weren’t any options to do so. 

The introduction of cannabis lounges will solve this issue, as well as another one presented by the pandemic. Nevada needs more commerce opportunities and tax revenue since the Rainy Day Fund has been exhausted from COVID. Using tax revenue from the lounges can help Nevada’s job market and emergency fund. 

It’s evident that cannabis isn’t going anywhere any time soon. In fact, statistics show that it’s helped many stay grounded during all the uncertainty of the pandemic. For this reason, it’s imperative the industry becomes more inclusive and consumer-friendly – which is exactly what the Chamber of Cannabis is striving to do. 

Social Equity in the Cannabis Industry

AB341 is a first for many areas. Along with allowing consumption lounges, it is also the first bill to define social equity. The initiative explicitly prioritizes inclusion by requiring at least 10 of the first 20 independent lounge licenses to be issued to social equity applicants.

Ulman, who also serves on the Cannabis Compliance Board’s (CCB) Social Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, is helping determine these variables are and what it means for people. 

“25 percent of the licenses are going to social equity and development applicants. Right now that number is 10. But as more dispensaries open with these lounges, then they also have to open more independent lounges. So it’s actually an even ratio.”

Ulman notes that these licenses will be extremely attainable to apply for, costing $2500 per application. “You don’t get that back it, it’s all a lottery. But at least that doesn’t create a barrier to entry to the cannabis industry like the dispensaries where you have to have $250,000 liquid cash.”

This initiative is a huge step forward for inclusion in the cannabis industry. One report released by the CCB in February showed that although the industry workforce is predominantly people of color, most business owners and board members are disproportionately white and male. AB341 aims to changes this imbalance. 

Helping with DUI Reform

Another big win for the Chamber of Cannabis was helping pass AB400. This initiative, which went into effect on July 1, “removes specific ‘per se’ limits for cannabis metabolites that if found in a person’s blood would trigger a DUI.” The exception is in cases where the DUI is punishable as a felony, including accidents that cause death or serious bodily harm. 

Yeager studied cannabis, driving, and being under the influence for a year to help pass it. In his finding, Yeager learned that “per se” limits are not an accurate reflection of impairment because cannabis is metabolized differently in different people’s bodies. Additionally, our prior policy unfairly targeted high-tolerance users or medical patients who use THC consistently but do not drive while under the influence. 

How to Get Involved

While the Chamber of Cannabis focuses heavily on legislative initiatives, they also push for business progressions. Ulman explains that they are passionate about elevating people within the cannabis industry to create an overall stronger space. 

“We encourage people to make themselves the obvious choice. Tell us what you want to do so we can help elevate you. We’re not recruiters, but connectors. We’ve had some really great success stories.”

If you’re looking to get involved, visit the Chamber of Cannabis’ website and sign up for their newsletter. They also encourage those interested to attend their meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month.  You can also stay up to date with the Chamber of Cannabis by following them on Facebook and Instagram. 

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