FACT BRIEFCan you smoke marijuana in your backyard in Nevada?
Yes.
Nevada law permits the consumption of cannabis on private property so long as the property owner has not prohibited it.
Creating excessive odors could violate local anti-nuisance ordinances, though “odor nuisances” are defined differently by each city. In Las Vegas and Reno, for example, ambient odor must persist with an intensity of 7 odor units or greater for a 48-hour time period before authorized officials can get involved. Some city codes don’t define “odor nuisances.”
However, smoking marijuana is banned outside of private residences or businesses specifically designated for the purpose.
Public smoking of weed is not allowed anywhere in Nevada. This includes sporting events, concerts, parks, hotels, casinos, festivals and on the streets.
Smoking cannabis in a motor vehicle — stationary or moving — is also prohibited for the driver and passengers.
The use of recreational marijuana was made legal for adults 21 and older on Jan. 1, 2017, after the passing of a statewide ballot question in 2016.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Nevada Independent partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board Possession and Consumption
- Las Vegas Municipal Code Odor Nuisances Prohibited
- Reno Municipal Code Odor Nuisances Prohibited
- NevadaStateCannabis.org Can You Smoke Weed In Public In Nevada?
- Nevada Legislature Fact Sheet: Recreational Marijuana in Nevada
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