The medicinal and recreational use of legal cannabis is still relatively new in Nevada, where lawful sales debuted in 2017, and the regulation of consumption lounges is being worked through. That’s part of the reason why UNLV created its Cannabis Policy Institute, which is believed to be the first of its kind in Nevada and possibly in the United States.

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) is launching the state’s first Cannabis Policy Institute (CPI), led by industry expert Riana Durrett. The idea behind the new marijuana policy-focused institute is to promote and expand public policy research.

The new program is expected to create policies and guide cannabis research along.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is establishing the Cannabis Policy Institute (CPI) to address the growing importance of cannabis legalization, particularly in Southern Nevada, where annual legal cannabis sales reach around $1 billion.