Deception is the foundation of Las Vegas, namely the idea that you have a decent chance of winning a big prize.  However, not all of its deception is anticipated or acceptable.  On the Las Vegas Strip, for instance, half a dozen shops try to pass off hemp as cannabis.

Cannabis has more than.03% THC, the ingredient that makes users feel high, even though it is the same plant as hemp.  Hemp doesn't.  It mostly consists of the non-psychoactive substance CBD.

The 2018 Nevada Farm Bill contains a loophole that permits anyone to sell hemp anywhere they choose without the state's Cannabis Compliance Board or any other regulatory agency establishing guidelines for its safety and quality.

The majority of patrons of these phony shops are simply aware that marijuana is now legal in Las Vegas.  They are unaware that they are being duped.

False dispensaries that typically feature a cannabis leaf in their branding sell hemp buds, which look and even smell like cannabis.  Additionally, they sell sweets, cartridges, and other items in boxes and bags with happy faces eating and vaping the contents.

“You walk in and there’s flowers in jars, there are big security guards, and they’re charging the same prices. But there’s no THC listed on the product,” Layke Martin of the Nevada Cannabis Association told Casino.org.

Since these goods aren't laboratory-tested, they may include synthetic marijuana, pesticides, or other potentially harmful substances in addition to not getting you high.

What the Law Says

Legal cannabis shops are not allowed to operate "in any venue, attraction, or public area on the Las Vegas Strip or Fremont Street Experience" in Nevada, nor are they allowed to be located within 1,500 feet of any other business that has an unrestricted gaming license.

Because of this, the majority of legally permitted cannabis shops in Las Vegas are situated roughly 0.5 miles from either of the two tourist thoroughfares in the city.

However, these and other state laws do not apply to any company that does not sell actual cannabis.

The city of Las Vegas took action against fraudulent dispensaries in June.  In order to comply with the law, they must place foot-high signs in their entryway that read, "This location is not licensed to sell cannabis." Additionally, all products' real (low) THC content must be disclosed on their packaging.

This rule only affects the phony dispensaries on Fremont Street, despite being a win.  This is because, despite our efforts to dispel the myth last year, the majority of visitors are still perplexed by the fact that the Las Vegas Strip is not actually in the city of Las Vegas.

Clark County, which oversees the Strip, has not yet enacted a comparable law.  Therefore, buyer beware is still in effect.

Weeding out the Fakes

1. The “dispensary” is located in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip or Fremont Street Experience
   This is thoroughly covered above.
2. You can see its sales counter from the street
   Licensed dispensaries all have a vestibule where someone verifies IDs with a cannabis board-approved scanner before buzzing customers into the store. Nevada law requires scanning IDs, not just checking them at the front of a line outside. If the street entrance opens directly into the store, that means the owner isn’t afraid of losing their license to sell cannabis by neglecting to scan IDs, which is because they don’t have one to lose.
3. The “dispensary” accepts credit cards
   Real cannabis is still federally illegal, so it can be paid for only with cash or a debit card. (That’s true everywhere it’s legal, not just in Las Vegas.) Credit cards can’t be used because they’re issued by banks that are backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
4. Check the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board’s website
   A list of all state-licensed dispensaries is posted here.