NV Tax Department Lawsuit

Electronically Filed
9/6/2019 3:17 PM
Steven D. Grierson
CLERK OF THE COURT
1 FAC
DENNIS L. KENNEDY
2 Nevada Bar No. 1462
3 JOSHUA M. DICKEY
Nevada Bar No. 6621
4 SARAH E. HARMON
Nevada Bar No. 8106
5 KELLY B. STOUT
Nevada Bar No. 12105
6
BAILEYKENNEDY
7 8984 Spanish Ridge Avenue
Las Vegas, Nevada 89148-1302
8 Telephone: 702.562.8820
Facsimile: 702.562.8821
9 DKennedy@BaileyKennedy.com
JDickey@BaileyKennedy.com
10
SHarmon@BaileyKennedy.com
11 KStout@BaileyKennedy.com
12 Attorneys for Plaintiffs/Petitioners
13 D.H. FLAMINGO, INC., d/b/a THE

APOTHECARY SHOPPE; CLARK NATURAL
14 MEDICINAL SOLUTIONS LLC, d/b/a
NuVEDA; NYE NATURAL MEDICINAL
15 SOLUTIONS LLC, d/b/a NuVEDA; CLARK
NMSD LLC, d/b/a NuVEDA; and INYO FINE
16 CANNABIS DISPENSARY L.L.C., d/b/a INYO
FINE CANNABIS DISPENSARY;
17
DISTRICT COURT
18
CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
19

21 APOTHECARY SHOPPE, a Nevada Case No. A-19-787035-C
corporation; CLARK NATURAL MEDICINAL Dept. No. VI
22 SOLUTIONS LLC, d/b/a NuVEDA, a Nevada
limited liability company; NYE NATURAL FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT AND
23 MEDICINAL SOLUTIONS LLC, d/b/a PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW
NuVEDA, a Nevada limited liability company; AND/OR WRITS OF CERTIORARI,
24
CLARK NMSD LLC, d/b/a NuVEDA, a Nevada MANDAMUS, AND PROHIBITION
25 limited liability company; INYO FINE
CANNABIS DISPENSARY L.L.C., d/b/a INYO Exempt from Arbitration NAR 3(A), 5
26 FINE CANNABIS DISPENSARY, a Nevada  Action Seeking Judicial Review of
limited liability company; and SURTERRA Administrative Decisions
27 HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation,  Action for Declaratory Relief
28  Action Presenting a Significant
Page 1 of 55
Case Number: A-19-787035-C

1 Plaintiffs/Petitioners, Issue of Public Policy
 Action Seeking Equitable or
2 vs. Extraordinary Relief
3
STATE EX REL. DEPARTMENT OF
4 TAXATION; STATE EX REL. NEVADA TAX
COMMISSION; 3AP INC., a Nevada limited
5 liability company; 5SEAT INVESTMENTS
LLC, a Nevada limited liability company;
6 ACRES DISPENSARY LLC, a Nevada limited
7 liability company; ACRES MEDICAL LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company; AGUA
8 STREET LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
9 ASSOCIATION LC, a Nevada limited liability
company; BIONEVA INNOVATIONS OF
10
CARSON CITY LLC, a Nevada limited liability
11 company; BLOSSUM GROUP LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company; BLUE COYOTE
12 RANCH LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; CARSON CITY AGENCY
13 SOLUTIONS L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability
company; CHEYENNE MEDICAL, LLC, a
14
Nevada limited liability company; CIRCLE S
15 FARMS LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; CLEAR RIVER, LLC, a Nevada
16 limited liability company; CN LICENSECO I,
Inc., a Nevada corporation; COMMERCE PARK
17 MEDICAL L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability
company; COMPASSIONATE TEAM OF LAS
18
VEGAS LLC , a Nevada limited liability
19 company; CWNEVADA, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; D LUX LLC, a Nevada
20 limited liability company; DEEP ROOTS
MEDICAL LLC, a Nevada limited liability
21 company; DIVERSIFIED MODALITIES
22 MARKETING LTD., a Nevada limited liability
company; .DP HOLDINGS, INC., a Nevada
23 corporation; ECONEVADA LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company; ESSENCE
24 HENDERSON, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; ESSENCE TROPICANA, LLC, a
25 Nevada limited liability company; ETW
26 MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company; EUPHORIA
27 WELLNESS LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; EUREKA NEWGEN FARMS LLC, a
28 Nevada limited liability company; FIDELIS
Page 2 of 55
1 HOLDINGS, LLC., a Nevada limited liability
company; FOREVER GREEN, LLC, a Nevada
2 limited liability company; FRANKLIN
3 BIOSCIENCE NV LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; FSWFL, LLC, a Nevada
4 limited liability company; GB SCIENCES
NEVADA LLC, a Nevada limited liability
5 company; GBS NEVADA PARTNERS, LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company; GFIVE
6 CULTIVATION LLC, a Nevada limited liability
7 company; GLOBAL HARMONY LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company; GOOD
8 CHEMISTRY NEVADA, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; GRAVITAS HENDERSON
9 L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability company;
GRAVITAS NEVADA LTD., a Nevada limited
10
liability company; GREEN LEAF FARMS
11 HOLDINGS LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; GREEN LIFE PRODUCTIONS LLC,
12 a Nevada limited liability company; GREEN
THERAPEUTICS LLC, a Nevada limited
13 liability company; GREENLEAF WELLNESS,
INC., a Nevada corporation; GREENMART OF
14
NEVADA NLV, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
15 company; GREENPOINT NEVADA INC., a
Nevada corporation; GREENSCAPE
16 PRODUCTIONS LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; GREENWAY HEALTH
17 COMMUNITY L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability
company; GREENWAY MEDICAL LLC, a
18
Nevada limited liability company; GTI
19 NEVADA, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; H & K GROWERS CORP., a Nevada
20 corporation; HARVEST OF NEVADA LLC; a
Nevada limited liability company;
21 HEALTHCARE OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS
22 ENTERPRISES, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; HELIOS NV LLC, a Nevada limited
23 liability company; HELPING HANDS
WELLNESS CENTER, INC., a Nevada
24 corporation; HERBAL CHOICE INC., a Nevada
corporation; HIGH SIERRA CULTIVATION
25 LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; HIGH
26 SIERRA HOLISTICS LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; INTERNATIONAL
27 SERVICE AND REBUILDING, INC., a
domestic corporation; JUST QUALITY, LLC, a
28 Nevada limited liability company; KINDIBLES
Page 3 of 55
1 LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; LAS
VEGAS WELLNESS AND COMPASSION
2 LLC; a Nevada limited liability company;
3 LIBRA WELLNESS CENTER, LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company; LIVFREE
4 WELLNESS LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; LNP, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
5 company; LONE MOUNTAIN PARTNERS,
LLC, a Nevada limited liability company; LUFF
6 ENTERPRISES NV, INC., a Nevada
7 corporation; LVMC C&P LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; MALANA LV L.L.C., a
8 Nevada limited liability company; MATRIX NV,
9 MEDIFARM IV, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; MILLER FARMS, LLC, a Nevada
10
limited liability company; MM
11 DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC., a Nevada
corporation; MM R & D, LLC, a Nevada limited
12 liability company; MMNV2 HOLDINGS I, LLC,
a Nevada limited liability company; MMOF
13 VEGAS RETAIL, INC. a Nevada corporation;
NATURAL MEDICINE L.L.C., a Nevada
14
limited liability company; NCMM, LLC, a
15 Nevada limited liability company; NEVADA
BOTANICAL SCIENCE, INC., a Nevada
16 corporation; NEVADA GROUP WELLNESS
17 NEVADA HOLISTIC MEDICINE LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company; NEVADA
18
MEDICAL GROUP LLC, a Nevada limited
19 liability company; NEVADA ORGANIC
REMEDIES LLC, a Nevada limited liability
20 company; NEVADA WELLNESS CENTER
21 NEVADAPURE, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
22 company; NEVCANN LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; NLV WELLNESS LLC, a
23 Nevada limited liability company; NLVG, LLC,
a Nevada limited liability company; NULEAF
24 INCLINE DISPENSARY LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; NV 3480 PARTNERS LLC, a
25 Nevada limited liability company; NV GREEN
26 INC., a Nevada corporation; NYE FARM TECH
LTD., a Nevada limited liability company;
27 PARADISE WELLNESS CENTER LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company;
28 PHENOFARM NV LLC, a Nevada limited
Page 4 of 55
1 liability company; PHYSIS ONE LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company; POLARIS
2 WELLNESS CENTER L.L.C., a Nevada limited
3 liability company; PURE TONIC
CONCENTRATES LLC, a Nevada limited
4 liability company; QUALCAN L.L.C., a Nevada
limited liability company; RED EARTH, LLC, a
5 Nevada limited liability company; RELEAF
CULTIVATION, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
6 company, RG HIGHLAND ENTERPRISES
7 INC., a Nevada corporation; ROMBOUGH
REAL ESTATE INC., a Nevada corporation;
8 RURAL REMEDIES LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; SERENITY WELLNESS
9 CENTER LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; SILVER SAGE WELLNESS LLC, a
10
Nevada limited liability company; SOLACE
11 ENTERPRISES, LLLP, a Nevada limited-
liability limited partnership; SOUTHERN
12 NEVADA GROWERS, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company; STRIVE WELLNESS OF
13 NEVADA, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
company; SWEET GOLDY LLC, a Nevada
14
limited liability company; TGIG, LLC, a Nevada
15 limited liability company; THC NEVADA LLC,
a Nevada limited liability company; THE
16 HARVEST FOUNDATION LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company; THOMPSON FARM
17 ONE L.L.C., a Nevada limited liability company;
TRNVP098 LLC, a Nevada limited liability
18
company; TRYKE COMPANIES RENO, LLC, a
19 Nevada limited liability company; TRYKE
COMPANIES SO NV, LLC, a Nevada limited
20 liability company; TWELVE TWELVE LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company; VEGAS
21 VALLEY GROWERS LLC, a Nevada limited
22 liability company; WAVESEER OF NEVADA,
23 WELLNESS & CAREGIVERS OF NEVADA
NLV, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company;
24 WELLNESS CONNECTION OF NEVADA,
25 WENDOVERA LLC, a Nevada limited liability
26 company; WEST COAST DEVELOPMENT
NEVADA, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
27 company; WSCC, INC., a Nevada corporation;
YMY VENTURES LLC, a Nevada limited
28 liability company; ZION GARDENS LLC, a
Page 5 of 55
1 Nevada limited liability company; DOES 1-100;
and Roes 1-100.
2
3 Defendants/Respondents.
4 FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT AND PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW AND/OR

WRITS OF CERTIORARI, MANDAMUS, AND PROHIBITION
5
6 Plaintiffs/Petitioners D.H. Flamingo, Inc. d/b/a The Apothecary Shoppe; Clark Natural
7 Medicinal Solutions LLC d/b/a NuVeda; Nye Natural Medicinal Solutions LLC d/b/a NuVeda;
8 Clark NMSD LLC d/b/a NuVeda; and Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary L.L.C. d/b/a Inyo Fine
9 Cannabis Dispensary (collectively “Plaintiffs/Petitioners”) complain against defendants/
10 respondents, and each of them, as follows:
11 I. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
12 1. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Nev. Const. art. 6, § 6, NRS
13 233B.130, NRS 34.020, NRS 34.160, and NRS 34.330.
14 2. Venue is proper in that the aggrieved parties are businesses whose principal places of
15 business are located in Clark County, Nevada, and/or the causes of action arose in Clark County,
16 Nevada.
17 II. THE PARTIES
18 3. This is a Complaint and Petition for Judicial Review. As required by NRS
19 233B.130(2)(a) and Washoe Cnty. v. Otto, 128 Nev. 424, 432, 282 P.3d 719, 725 (2012), all parties
20 to the proceeding being challenged in this petition are named as defendants/respondents.
21 A. Plaintiffs/Petitioners
22 4. Plaintiff/Petitioner D.H. Flamingo, Inc., d/b/a The Apothecary Shoppe (“DH
23 Flamingo”) is a Nevada corporation.
24 5. Plaintiffs/Petitioners Clark Natural Medicinal Solutions LLC, d/b/a NuVeda; Nye
25 Natural Medicinal Solutions LLC d/b/a NuVeda; and Clark NMSD LLC, d/b/a NuVeda
26 (collectively, “NuVeda”) are each a Nevada limited liability company.
27 6. Plaintiff/Petitioner Inyo Fine Cannabis Dispensary L.L.C., d/b/a Inyo Fine Cannabis
28 Dispensary (“Inyo”) is a Nevada limited liability company.
Page 6 of 55
1 B. Defendants/Respondents
2 7. Defendant/Respondent State of Nevada, Department of Taxation (the “Department”)
3 is an agency of the State of Nevada.
4 8. Defendant/Respondent Nevada Tax Commission (the “Commission”) is the head of
5 the Department.
6 1. Defendants Who Received Conditional Recreational Retail Marijuana
Establishment Licenses.
7
8 9. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Cheyenne Medical, LLC is a
9 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Thrive Cannabis
10 Marketplace, Thrive, and/or Cheyenne Medical.
11 10. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Circle S Farms, LLC is a
12 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Canna Straz,
13 and/or Circle S.
14 11. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Clear River, LLC is a Nevada
15 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names United States Marijuana
16 Company, Unites States Medical Marijuana, Nevada Medical Marijuana, Clear River Wellness,
17 Clear River Infused, Nevada Made Marijuana, Greenwolf Nevada, Farm Direct Weed,
18 Atomicrockz, and/or Giddystick.
19 12. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Commerce Park Medical
20 L.L.C. is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Thrive
21 Cannabis Marketplace, LivFree Las Vegas, and/or Commerce Park Medical.
22 13. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Deep Roots Medical LLC is a
23 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Deep Roots
24 Harvest.
25 14. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Essence Henderson, LLC is a
26 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Essence Cannabis
27 Dispensary.
28 ///
Page 7 of 55
1 15. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Essence Tropicana, LLC is a
2 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Essence.
3 16. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Eureka NewGen Farms LLC is
4 a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Eureka NewGen
5 Farms.
6 17. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Green Therapeutics LLC is a
7 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Provisions.
8 18. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Greenmart of Nevada NLV,
9 LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Health for
10 Life.
11 19. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Helping Hands Wellness
12 Center, Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm names Cannacare,
13 Green Heaven Nursery, and/or Helping Hands Wellness Center.
14 20. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Lone Mountain Partners, LLC
15 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Zenleaf, Siena,
16 Encore Cannabis, Bentleys Blunts, Einstein Extracts, Encore Company, and/or Siena Cannabis.
17 21. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Nevada Organic Remedies
18 LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names The
19 Source and/or The Source Dispensary.
20 22. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Polaris Wellness Center L.L.C.
21 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Polaris MMJ.
22 23. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Pure Tonic Concentrates LLC
23 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Green Heart
24 and/or Pure Tonic.
25 24. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent TRNVP098 LLC is a Nevada
26 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Grassroots and/or Taproot
27 Labs.
28 ///
Page 8 of 55
1 25. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Wellness Connection of
2 Nevada, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name
3 Cultivate Dispensary.
4 26. On information and belief, DOES 1-100 are each Nevada individuals and residents
5 or Nevada entities whose identities are unknown.
6 27. Upon information and belief, the Defendants/Respondents identified in Paragraphs
7 9-26 were granted conditional recreational dispensary licenses by the Department on or after
8 December 5, 2018 (the “Successful Applicants”).
9 2. Defendants Who Were Denied Conditional Recreational Dispensary
Licenses
10
11 28. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent 3AP Inc. is a Nevada
12 corporation doing business under the fictitious firm names Nature's Chemistry, Sierra Well, and/or
13 Nevada Cannabis.
14 29. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent 5Seat Investments LLC is a
15 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Kanna.
16 30. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Acres Dispensary LLC is a
17 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Acres Dispensary.
18 31. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Acres Medical LLC is a
19 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Acres Cannabis.
20 32. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Agua Street LLC is a Nevada
21 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Curaleaf and/or Agua
22 Research & Wellness Center.
23 33. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Alternative Medicine
24 Association, LC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm
25 name AMA MFG, AMA Production, and/or AMA Cultivation.
26 34. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Bioneva Innovations of Carson
27 City LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name
28 BioNeva.
Page 9 of 55
1 35. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Blossum Group LLC is a
2 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Healing Herb.
3 36. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Blue Coyote Ranch LLC is a
4 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Blue Coyote Ranch.
5 37. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Carson City Agency Solutions
6 L.L.C. is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name CC
7 Agency Solutions.
8 38. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent CN Licenseco I, Inc. is a
9 Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm names CanaNevada and/or Flower One.
10 39. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Compassionate Team Of Las
11 Vegas LLC is a Nevada limited liability company;
12 40. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent CWNevada, LLC is a Nevada
13 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Canopi.
14 41. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent D Lux LLC is a Nevada limited
15 liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name D Lux.
16 42. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Diversified Modalities
17 Marketing Ltd. is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names
18 Galaxy Growers and/or Diversified Modalities Marketing.
19 43. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent DP Holdings, Inc. is a Nevada
20 corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name Compassionate Team of Las Vegas.
21 44. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent EcoNevada, LLC is a Nevada
22 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Marapharm.
23 45. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent ETW Management Group LLC
24 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Gassers.
25 46. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Euphoria Wellness LLC is a
26 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Euphoria
27 Wellness, Even Cannabis, Euphoria Marijuana, and/or Summa Cannabis.
28 ///
Page 10 of 55
1 47. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Fidelis Holdings, LLC. is a
2 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Pisos.
3 48. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Forever Green, LLC is a
4 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Forever Green.
5 49. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Franklin Bioscience NV LLC is
6 a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Lucky Edibles,
7 Altus, and/or Beyond Hello.
8 50. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent FSWFL, LLC is a Nevada
9 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Green Harvest.
10 51. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent GB Sciences Nevada LLC is a
11 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name GB Science.
12 52. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent GBS Nevada Partners LLC is a
13 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name ShowGrow.
14 53. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent GFive Cultivation LLC is a
15 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names G5 and/or
16 GFiveCultivation.
17 54. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Global Harmony LLC is a
18 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names as Top Notch
19 Health Center, Top Notch, The Health Center, Tetra Research, The Health Center, and/or Top
20 Notch.
21 55. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Good Chemistry Nevada, LLC
22 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Good
23 Chemistry.
24 56. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Gravitas Henderson L.L.C.is a
25 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Better Buds.
26 57. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Gravitas Nevada Ltd. is a
27 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names The Apothecarium
28 Las Vegas, The Apothecarium Nevada, and/or the Apothecarium Henderson.
Page 11 of 55
1 58. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Green Leaf Farms Holdings
2 LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Players
3 Network.
4 59. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Green Life Productions LLC is
5 a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Green Life
6 Productions.
7 60. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Greenleaf Wellness, Inc. is a
8 Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name GreenleafWellness.
9 61. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Greenpoint Nevada Inc. is a
10 Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name Chalice Farms.
11 62. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Greenscape Productions LLC is
12 a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Herbal Wellness
13 Center.
14 63. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Greenway Health Community
15 L.L.C. is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name
16 Greenway Health Community LLC.
17 64. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Greenway Medical LLC is a
18 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names GWM and/or
19 Greenway Las Vegas.
20 65. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent GTI Nevada, LLC is a Nevada
21 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Rise.
22 66. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent H&K Growers Corp. is a
23 Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name H&K Growers.
24 67. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Harvest of Nevada LLC is a
25 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Harvest.
26 68. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Healthcare Options for Patients
27 Enterprises, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm
28 names Shango and/or Hope.
Page 12 of 55
1 69. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Helios NV LLC is a Nevada
2 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Hydrovize, Helios NV
3 and/or Helios Nevada.
4 70. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Herbal Choice Inc. is a Nevada
5 corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name Herbal Choice.
6 71. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent is a High Sierra Cultivation
7 LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name High
8 Sierra.
9 72. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent High Sierra Holistics, LLC is a
10 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names HSH, and/or High
11 Sierra Holistics.
12 73. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent International Service and
13 Rebuilding, Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name VooDoo.
14 74. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Just Quality, LLC is a Nevada
15 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Panacea Cannabis.
16 75. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Kindibles LLC is a Nevada
17 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Area 51.
18 76. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Las Vegas Wellness and
19 Compassion LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm
20 name Pegasus Nevada.
21 77. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Libra Wellness Center, LLC is
22 a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Libra Wellness.
23 78. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Livfree Wellness LLC is a
24 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name The Dispensary.
25 79. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent LNP, LLC is a Nevada limited
26 liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names LPN and/or Lynch Natural
27 Products, LLC.
28 ///
Page 13 of 55
1 80. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Luff Enterprises NV, Inc. is a
2 Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name Sweet Cannabis.
3 81. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent LVMC C&P, LLC is a Nevada
4 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name CannaCopia.
5 82. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Malana LV L.L.C. is a Nevada
6 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Malana LV.
7 83. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Matrix NV, LLC is a Nevada
8 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Matrix NV.
9 84. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Medifarm IV, LLC is a Nevada
10 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Blum Reno.
11 85. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Miller Farms LLC is a Nevada
12 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Lucid.
13 86. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent MM Development Company,
14 Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm names Planet 13 and/or
15 Medizin.
16 87. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent MM R&D LLC is a Nevada
17 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Sunshine Cannabis and/or
18 the Green Cross Farmacy.
19 88. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent MMNV2 Holdings I, LLC is a
20 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Medmen.
21 89. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent MMOF Las Vegas Retail, Inc.
22 is a Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm names Panacea, MedMen,
23 MedMen Las Vegas, Medmen the Airport, and/or MedMen Paradise.
24 90. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Natural Medicine L.L.C. is a
25 Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Natural Medicine
26 No. 1.
27 91. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent NCMM, LLC is a Nevada
28 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name NCMM.
Page 14 of 55
1 92. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Nevada Botanical Science, Inc.
2 is a Nevada corporation doing business under the fictitious firm name Vigor Dispensaries.
3 93. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Nevada Group Wellness LLC
4 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Prime and/or
5 NGW.
6 94. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Nevada Holistic Medicine LLC
7 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names MMJ America
8 and/or Nevada Holistic Medicine.
9 95. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Nevada Medical Group LLC is
10 a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names The Clubhouse
11 Dispensary, Bam-Body, and/or Mind and King Cannabis.
12 96. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Nevada Wellness Center LLC
13 is a Nevada limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name NWC.
14 97. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent NevadaPure, LLC is a Nevada
15 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names Shango Las Vegas and/or
16 Shango.
17 98. Defendant/Respondent Nevcann, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing
18 business under the fictitious firm name Nev Cann.
19 99. Defendant/Respondent NLV Wellness LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
20 doing business under the fictitious firm name ETHCX.
21 100. Defendant/Respondent NLVG, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing
22 business under the fictitious firm name Desert Bloom Wellness Center.
23 101. Defendant/Respondent Nuleaf Incline Dispensary LLC is a Nevada limited liability
24 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Nuleaf.
25 102. Defendant/Respondent NV 3480 Partners LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
26 doing business under the fictitious firm name Evergreen Organix.
27 103. Defendant/Respondent NV Green Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing business under
28 the fictitious firm name NV Green.
Page 15 of 55
1 104. Defendant/Respondent Nye Farm Tech Ltd. is a Nevada limited liability company
2 doing business under the fictitious firm name URBN Leaf.
3 105. Defendant/Respondent Paradise Wellness Center LLC is a Nevada limited liability
4 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Las Vegas Releaf.
5 106. Defendant/Respondent Phenofarm NV LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
6 doing business under the fictitious firm name Marapharm Las Vegas.
7 107. Defendant/Respondent Physis One LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing
8 business under the fictitious firm names Physis One and/or LV Fortress.
9 108. Defendant/Respondent Qualcan, L.L.C. is a Nevada limited liability company doing
10 business under the fictitious firm name Qualcan.
11 109. Defendant/Respondent Red Earth, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing
12 business under the fictitious firm name Red Earth
13 110. Defendant/Respondent Releaf Cultivation, LLC is a Nevada limited liability
14 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Releaf Cultivation.
15 111. Defendant/Respondent RG Highland Enterprises Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing
16 business under the fictitious firm name Tweedleaf.
17 112. Defendant/Respondent Rombough Real Estate Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing
18 business under the fictitious firm name Mother Herb.
19 113. Defendant/Respondent Rural Remedies LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
20 doing business under the fictitious firm name Doc’s Apothecary.
21 114. Defendant/Respondent Serenity Wellness Center LLC is a Nevada limited liability
22 company doing business under the fictitious firm names Oasis Cannabis and/or Oasis Cannabis
23 Dispensary.
24 115. Defendant/Respondent Silver Sage Wellness LLC is a Nevada limited liability
25 company.
26 116. Defendant/Respondent Solace Enterprises, LLP is a Nevada limited liability limited
27 partnership doing business under the fictitious firm names Thallo, Aether Gardens, @Hith LP
28 and/or Aether Extracts.
Page 16 of 55
1 117. Defendant/Respondent Southern Nevada Growers, LLC is a Nevada limited liability
2 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Bowtie Cannabis.
3 118. Defendant/Respondent Strive Wellness of Nevada, LLC is a Nevada limited liability
4 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Strive.
5 119. Defendant/Respondent Sweet Goldy LLC is a Nevada limited liability company,
6 120. Defendant/Respondent TGIG, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing
7 business under the fictitious firm names The Grove, The Grove Wellness Center, Vert Infusibles
8 and/or Vert Edibles.
9 121. Defendant/Respondent THC Nevada LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
10 doing business under the fictitious firm names Canna Vibe, FloraVega, and/or Welleaf.
11 122. Defendant/Respondent The Harvest Foundation LLC is a Nevada limited liability
12 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Harvest Foundation.
13 123. Defendant/Respondent Thompson Farm One L.L.C. is a Nevada limited liability
14 company doing business under the fictitious firm names Green Zon, Gold Leaf, and/or Thompson
15 Farm.
16 124. Defendant/Respondent Tryke Companies Reno, LLC is a Nevada limited liability
17 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Reef.
18 125. Defendant/Respondent Tryke Companies SO NV, LLC is a Nevada limited liability
19 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Reef Dispensaries.
20 126. Defendant/Respondent Twelve Twelve LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
21 doing business under the fictitious firm names 12/12 Dispensary and/or Twelve Twelve.
22 127. Defendant/Respondent Vegas Valley Growers LLC is a Nevada limited liability
23 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Kiff Premium Cannabis.
24 128. Defendant/Respondent Waveseer of Nevada, LLC is a Nevada limited liability
25 company doing business under the fictitious firm name Jenny’s Dispensary.
26 129. Defendant/Respondent Wellness & Caregivers of Nevada NLV, LLC is a Nevada
27 limited liability company doing business under the fictitious firm names MMD Las Vegas and/or
28 Las Vegas Cannabis.
Page 17 of 55
1 130. Defendant/Respondent Wendovera LLC is a Nevada limited liability company doing
2 business under the fictitious firm name Wendovera.
3 131. Defendant/Respondent West Coast Development Nevada, LLC is a Nevada limited
4 liability company doing business under the fictitious firm name Sweet Goldy.
5 132. Defendant/Respondent WSCC, Inc. is a Nevada corporation doing business under
6 the fictitious firm name Sierra Well.
7 133. Defendant/Respondent YMY Ventures, LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
8 doing business under the fictitious firm names Stem and/or Cannavore.
9 134. Defendant/Respondent Zion Gardens LLC is a Nevada limited liability company
10 doing business under the fictitious firm name Zion Garden.
11 135. On information and belief, ROES 1-100 are each Nevada individuals and residents
12 or Nevada entities whose identities are unknown.
13 136. On information and belief, the Defendants/Respondents identified in Paragraphs 28-
14 135 are natural persons or entities who are qualified holders of Medical Marijuana Establishment
15 (“MME”) Certificates, who submitted an application to operate a recreational retail marijuana
16 establishment to the Department between 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on
17 September 20, 2018, and were denied a license on or after December 5, 2018 (collectively, the
18 “Denied Applicants”).
19 III. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
20 A. The Department.
21 137. During Nevada’s 2016 General Election, the voters approved an initiative petition to
22 legalize the recreational use of marijuana by persons 21 years of age or older. This initiative
23 petition has been codified as Chapter 453D of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“Ballot Initiative”).
24 138. The Department, which administers Nevada's medical and adult-use marijuana
25 programs, is charged with the following responsibilities:
26 a. Overseeing the licensing of marijuana establishments and agents (establishing
27 licensing qualifications; granting, transferring, suspending, revoking, and
28 reinstating licenses);
Page 18 of 55
1 b. Establishing standards and procedures for the cultivation, production, testing,
2 distribution, and sale of marijuana in Nevada; and
3 c. Ensuring compliance of marijuana establishments with state laws and
4 regulations.
5 139. In 2018, the Department reportedly collected more than $82 million in taxes, fees,
6 and penalties.
7 140. The Department’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (“Division”) reports that during
8 the 2018 fiscal year, it had 44 budgeted positions.1
9 141. Despite its responsibility to oversee 659 final medical and adult-use certificates/
10 licenses; 245 provisional certificates/conditional licenses; and 11,932 holders of marijuana agent
11 cards, the Division does not have a licensing department or any employees specifically responsible
12 for licensing, and only has 31 employees to monitor compliance and enforcement.
13 142. Between July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018, the Division initiated only 234 investigations
14 (146 of which were substantiated).
15 143. The resources of the Department are not adequate to competently and effectively
16 regulate the number of MME and adult use licensees.
17 B. The Ballot Initiative
18 144. The Ballot Initiative requires that “[w]hen competing applications are submitted for
19 a proposed retail marijuana store within a single county, the Department shall use an impartial and
20 numerically scored competitive bidding process to determine which application or applications
21 among those competing will be approved.” NRS 453D.210(6).
22 145. It also requires that “[t]he Department shall conduct a background check of each
23 prospective owner, officer, and board member of a marijuana establishment license applicant.”
24 NRS 453D.200(6).
25
26 1
Upon information and belief, the Gaming Control Board is charged with overseeing approximately 2,900
facilities that hold gaming licenses and employed almost 400 people during the same time period (50 in the
27 Administrative Division, 90 in the Audit Division; 118 in the Enforcement Division, 76 in the Investigations Division,
27 in the Tax and License Division, and 26 in the Technology Division).
28
Page 19 of 55
1 146. It also sets forth certain requirements for granting a marijuana establishment license
2 application, including, “[p]roof that the physical address where the proposed marijuana
3 establishment will operate is owned by the applicant or the applicant has the written permission of
4 the property owner to operate the proposed marijuana establishment on that property.” NRS
5 453D.210(5)(b).
6 147. Additionally, the Ballot Initiative requires the Department2 to adopt all regulations
7 necessary or convenient to carry out the Act no later than January 1, 2018, including regulations
8 that set forth the “[p]rocedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of a license to
9 operate a marijuana establishment” and “[q]ualifications for licensure that are directly and
10 demonstrably related to the operation of a marijuana establishment.” NRS 453D.200(1)(a)-(b).
11 148. However, Article 19, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada provides,
12 in pertinent part, that “[a]n initiative measure so approved by the voters shall not be amended,
13 annulled, repealed, set aside or suspended by the legislature within 3 years from the date it takes
14 effect.”
15 149. Likewise, “administrative regulations cannot contradict the statute they are designed
16 to implement.” Horizons at Seven Hills v. Ikon Holdings, 132 Nev. 362, 368, 373 P.3d 66, 70
17 (2016) (quoting (Nev. Attorney for Injured Workers v. Nev. Self–Insurers Ass'n, 126 Nev. 74, 84,
18 225 P.3d 1265, 1271 (2010) (internal quotations omitted).) Therefore, the Department’s regulations
19 may not contravene any provisions of the Ballot Initiative.
20 C. The Approved Regulations.
21 150. On or about May 8, 2017, the Department adopted temporary regulations that
22 expired on November 1, 2017.
23 151. Marijuana establishments became licensed under the temporary regulation to sell
24 adult-use marijuana starting July 1, 2017.
25 152. The Department drafted proposed regulations and held public workshops from July
26 24, 2017 through July 27, 2017 on proposed permanent regulations.
27 2
Pursuant to Nevada law, the Commission shall prescribe regulations for carrying on the business of the
Commission and of the Department.
28
Page 20 of 55
1 153. The draft permanent regulations were submitted to the Legislative Counsel Bureau
2 on September 9, 2017, and assigned LCB File No. R092-17.
3 154. On December 16, 2017, the Commission gave notice of its intent to adopt final
4 marijuana regulations.
5 155. On January 16, 2018, the Commission unanimously approved the proposed
6 permanent regulations (“Approved Regulations”).
7 156. The Approved Regulations became effective February 27, 2018. All provisions
8 related to the procedures for the issuance, suspension, or revocation of licenses issued by the
9 Department of Taxation for marijuana establishments were implemented immediately.
10 157. Subsection 1 of Section 76 of the Approved Regulations provides that “[a]t least
11 once each year, the Department will determine whether a sufficient number of marijuana
12 establishments exist to serve the people of this State and, if the Department determines that
13 additional marijuana establishments are necessary, the Department will issue a request for
14 applications to operate a marijuana establishment.”
15 158. Pursuant to Subsection 3 of Section 76 of the Approved Regulations, the Department
16 will accept applications in response to such a request for applications “for 10 business days
17 beginning on the date which is 45 business days after the date on which the Department issued the
18 request for applications.”
19 159. Section 77 of the Approved Regulations provides the procedures for an existing
20 MME registration certificate holder to apply for one license, of the same type, for recreational
21 marijuana.
22 160. Section 78 of the Approved Regulations provides the procedures for an existing
23 MME registration certificate holder to apply for one or more licenses, of the same type or of a
24 different type, for recreational marijuana.
25 161. A license application submitted pursuant to Section 78 of the Approved Regulations
26 “must include,” among other things, the following:
27 a. The physical address where the proposed marijuana establishment will be located
28 (Section 78(1)(b)(5) of the Approved Regulations);
Page 21 of 55
1 b. A list of all owners, officers and board members of the proposed marijuana
2 establishment;
3 c. Documentation concerning the size of the proposed marijuana establishment,
4 including, without limitation, building and general floor plans with supporting
5 details (Section 78(1)(f) of the Approved Regulations);
6 d. Proof that the physical address of the prospective marijuana establishment is
7 owned by the applicant or that the applicant has the written permission of the
8 property owner to operate the proposed marijuana establishment on that property
9 (NRS 453D.210(5)(b); and
10 e. A response to and information which supports any other criteria the Department
11 determines to be relevant, which will be specified and requested by the
12 Department at the time the Department issues a request for applications which
13 includes the point values that will be allocated to the applicable portions of the
14 application pursuant to subsection 2 of Section 76 of the Approved Regulations
15 (Section 78(1)(l) of the Approved Regulations).
16 162. Section 80 of the Approved Regulations (now codified at NAC 453D.272) provides
17 that when the Department receives more than one complete and qualified application for a license
18 for a retail marijuana store in response to its request for applications, the Department will rank the
19 applicants in order from first to last based on numerous categories of information including, but not
20 limited to:
21 a. Whether the owners, officers, or board members have experience
operating another kind of business that has given them experience
22 which is applicable to the operation of a marijuana establishment;
23 b. The diversity of the owners, officers, or board members of the
proposed marijuana establishment;
24
c. The educational achievements of the owners, officers, or board
25 members of the proposed marijuana establishment;
26
d. The financial plan and resources of the applicant, both liquid and
27 illiquid;
28
Page 22 of 55
1 e. Whether the applicant has an adequate integrated plan for the care,
quality, and safekeeping of marijuana from seed to sale;
2
f. The amount of taxes paid and other beneficial financial
3 contributions, including, without limitation, civic or philanthropic
involvement with this State or its political subdivisions, by the
4 applicant or the owners, officers, or board members of the
proposed marijuana establishment;
5
g. Whether the owners, officers, or board members of the proposed
6 marijuana establishment have direct experience with the operation
of a medical marijuana establishment or marijuana establishment
7 in this State and have demonstrated a record of operating such an
establishment in compliance with the laws and regulations of this
8 State for an adequate period of time to demonstrate success; and
9 h. The experience of key personnel that the applicant intends to
employ in operating the type of marijuana establishment for which
10 the applicant seeks a license.
11 163. Pursuant to Section 91(4) of the Approved Regulations and NRS 453D.210(4)(b), if
12 an application for a marijuana establishment license is not approved, the Department must send the
13 applicant a notice of rejection setting forth the specific reasons why the Department did not approve
14 the license application.
15 D. The Department’s Request for License Applications.
16 164. Pursuant to NRS 453D.210, for the first 18 months after the Department began to
17 receive applications for recreational marijuana establishments, applications for retail marijuana
18 stores, marijuana product manufacturing facilities, and marijuana cultivation facilities could only be
19 submitted by holders of MME certificates.
20 165. On July 6, 2018, the Department issued a Notice of Intent to Accept Applications for
21 Marijuana Licenses (“Notice”) and released version 5.4 of the Recreational Marijuana
22 Establishment License Application: Recreational Retail Marijuana Store Only, which was dated
23 June 22, 2018 (“Original Application”).
24 166. The footer of the Original Application stated: “Version 5.4 – 06/22/2018
25 Recreational Marijuana Establishment License Application” and consisted of 34 pages.
26 167. The request for applications was limited to existing MME certificate holders seeking
27 a retail recreational marijuana establishment license pursuant to Section 78 of the Approved
28
Page 23 of 55
1 Regulations, and the Notice required that all applications be submitted between 8:00 a.m. on
2 September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018.
3 168. Pursuant to Subsection 2 of Section 76 of the Approved Regulations, the Original
4 Application included the following point values associated with each category of requested
5 information:
6
7 Nevada Recreational Marijuana Application Criteria Total Points

Possible
8 The description of the proposed organizational structure of the
proposed marijuana establishment and information concerning
9 each owner, officer and board member including key personnel of 603
the proposed marijuana establishment including the information
10 provided pursuant to R092-17.
11 Evidence of the amount of taxes paid or other beneficial financial
contributions made to the State of Nevada or its political
12 subdivisions within the last five years by the applicant or the 25
persons who are proposed to be owners, officers or board
13 members of the proposed establishment.
A financial plan which includes:
14
 Financial statements showing the resources of the
15 applicant, both liquid and illiquid.
 If the applicant is relying on funds from an owner, officer or
16 board member, or any other source, evidence that such
source has unconditionally committed such funds to the use 30
17 of the applicant in the event the Department awards a
recreational marijuana establishment license to the
18 applicant and the applicant obtains the necessary local
government approvals to operate the establishment.
19
 Proof that the applicant has adequate funds to cover all
20 expenses and costs of the first year of operation
Documentation from a financial institution in this state or in any
21 other state or the District of Columbia which demonstrates:
22  That the applicant has at least $250,000 in liquid assets 10
which are unencumbered and can be converted within 30
23 days after a request to liquidate such assets.
 The source of those liquid assets.
24
Documentation concerning the integrated plan of the proposed
25 marijuana establishment for the care, quality and safekeeping of 40
marijuana from seed to sale, including:
26
3
27 The Division recently disclosed that 20 of the 60 points were allocated to diversity of the applicant’s owners,
officers, and board members.
28
Page 24 of 55
1
 A plan for testing recreational marijuana.
2  A transportation plan.
3  Procedures to ensure adequate security measures for
building security.
4  Procedures to ensure adequate security measures for
product security.
5
Evidence that the applicant has a plan to staff, educate and
6 manage the proposed recreational marijuana establishment on a
daily basis, which must include:
7  A detailed budget for the proposed establishment including
pre-opening, construction and first year operating
8 expenses.
30
9  An operations manual that demonstrates compliance with
the regulations of the Department.
10  An education plan which must include providing educational
materials to the staff of the proposed establishment.
11
 A plan to minimize the environmental impact of the
12 proposed establishment
A plan which includes:
13
 A description of the operating procedures for the electronic
14 verification system of the proposed marijuana 20
establishment.
15  A description of the inventory control system of the
proposed marijuana establishment.
16
Documentation concerning the adequacy of the size of the
17 proposed marijuana establishment to serve the needs of persons
who are authorized to engage in the use of marijuana, including: 20
18  Building plans with supporting details.
19 A proposal demonstrating:
 The likely impact of the proposed marijuana establishment
20 in the community in which it is proposed to be located. 15
21  The manner in which the proposed marijuana
establishment will meet the needs of the persons who are
22 authorized to use marijuana.
23
Application Total 250
24
25 Unweighted:
 Review plan for all names and logos for the establishment
26 and any signage or advertisement.
27  Review results of background check(s). Applicant has until
the end of the 90-day application period to resolve
28 background check information which may cause the
Page 25 of 55
1 application to be rejected.
2 169. Upon information and belief, the rankings referenced in Section 80 of the Approved
3 Regulations are based on the scores awarded to each applicant for these categories of information
4 included in the application.
5 170. On or about July 30, 2018 (less than 45 days before applications would be accepted),
6 the Department released a revised version of the Recreational Marijuana Establishment License
7 Application: Recreational Retail Marijuana Store Only (“Revised Application”).
8 171.
9 172. Just like the Original Application, the footer of the Revised Application states:
10 “Version 5.4 – 06/22/2018 Recreational Marijuana Establishment License Application” and
11 consists of 34 pages.
12 173. In the Revised Application, the Department made clerical revisions, clarifying
13 revisions, and substantive revisions. The substantive revisions include, but are not limited to, the
14 following:
15 a. Elimination of the requirement that the application include the proposed physical
16 address of the prospective marijuana establishment;
17 b. Elimination of the requirement that applicants prove ownership of the physical
18 address of the prospective marijuana establishment or written permission of the
19 property owner to operate the proposed marijuana establishment on that property;
20 and
21 c. Revision to the highest-scored category of information in the application
22 (regarding the organizational structure of the proposed marijuana establishment)
23 to now require information about “key personnel” of the proposed marijuana
24 establishment.
25 174. Neither the Approved Regulations nor NRS Chapter 453D were properly amended to
26 permit the substantive changes to the Revised Application, and applicants were not given proper
27 notice of the revisions (as license applications were due to be submitted to the Department less than
28 45 days after the Revised Application was released).
Page 26 of 55
1 E. Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ Applications.
2 175. Plaintiffs/Petitioners are each existing MME certificate holders.
3 176. Plaintiffs/Petitioners each sought retail store licenses for recreational marijuana and
4 each submitted a Recreational Marijuana Establishment License Application: Recreational Retail
5 Marijuana Store Only (“Application”) between 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on
6 September 20, 2018.
7 177. DH Flamingo, which currently holds a retail shop license in Unincorporated Clark
8 County, submitted three applications seeking licenses for the following locations:
9 a. 5701 West Charleston Boulevard in Las Vegas;
10 b. Sunset Road & Decatur Boulevard in Unincorporated Clark County; and
11 c. 1901 Civic Center in North Las Vegas.
12 178. Inyo, which currently holds a retail shop license in Las Vegas, submitted four
13 applications seeking licenses for the following locations:
14 a. 9744 West Flamingo Road in in Unincorporated Clark County;
15 b. 2301 North Decatur Boulevard in Las Vegas;
16 c. 43 W. Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas; and
17 d. 634 Ryland Street in Reno.
18 179. NuVeda submitted applications for a combination of ten locations on behalf of its
19 three licensed entities: Clark NMSD LLC, which holds two retail shop licenses in Las Vegas and
20 North Las Vegas; Nye Natural Medicinal Solutions LLC, which holds a cultivation and production
21 license; and Clark Natural Medicinal Solutions LLC, which holds a cultivation and production
22 license:
23 a. 2180 East Craig Road in North Las Vegas;
24 b. 330 Emery Street in Nye County;
25 c. Two locations to be determined in Unincorporated Clark County;
26 d. A location to be determined in Las Vegas;
27 e. A location to be determined in Henderson;
28 f. A location to be determined in Carson City;
Page 27 of 55
1 g. A location to be determined in Reno;
2 h. A location to be determined in Unincorporated Washoe County; and
3 i. A location to be determined in Sparks.
4 180. Each of NuVeda’s three MME registration certificate holders (Clark NMSD LLC;
5 Nye Natural Medicinal Solutions LLC; and Clark County Medicinal Solutions LLC) submitted an
6 application for eight of the locations. The applications for North Las Vegas and one of the locations
7 in Unincorporated Clark County were submitted only by Nye Natural Medicinal Solutions, LLC and
8 Clark County Medicinal Solutions, LLC.
9 F. The Department’s Decision.
10 181. On December 5, 2018, the Department provided each applicant with written notice of
11 either the grant or denial of their application for a license.
12 182. Upon information and belief, the Department awarded approximately 61 recreational
13 retail marijuana store licenses (the “Conditional Licenses”), 31 of which were for Clark County,
14 Nevada:
15 a. 6 in Henderson;
16 b. 10 in the City of Las Vegas;
17 c. 5 in the City of North Las Vegas; and
18 d. 10 in unincorporated Clark County.
19 183. The Department denied each of the Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ applications.
20 184. Although Section 91(4) of the Department’s Approved Regulations requires that the
21 Department provide a denied applicant with the specific reasons for the denial of the license, the
22 Department merely informed each of the Plaintiffs/Petitioners that it “did not achieve a score high
23 enough to receive an available license” within the applicable jurisdiction. No “specific reasons”
24 were given.
25 185. On December 5, 2018, DH Flamingo requested its score total, pursuant to Section
26 93(1) of the Department’s Approved Regulations, and on December 5, 2018, it was informed that its
27 applications received the following number of points:
28 a. Las Vegas – 196;
Page 28 of 55
1 b. Unincorporated Clark County – 195.67; and
2 c. North Las Vegas – 195.67.
3 186. On December 18, 2018, NuVeda requested its score totals, pursuant to Section 93(1)
4 of the Department’s Regulations, and on that same day, it was informed that its applications received
5 the following number of points:
6 a. Clark Natural Medicinal Solutions, LLC’s Applications:
7 i. North Las Vegas – 191.67;
8 ii. Nye County – 191.67;
9 iii. Unincorporated Clark County – 191.67;
10 iv. Las Vegas – 191.67;
11 v. Unincorporated Clark County – 191.67;
12 vi. Henderson – 191.67;
13 vii. Carson City – 191.67;
14 viii. Reno – 191.67;
15 ix. Unincorporated Washoe County – 191.67; and
16 x. Sparks – 192.01.
17 b. Nye Natural Medicinal Solutions, LLC’s Applications:
18 i. North Las Vegas – 191.67;
19 ii. Nye County – 191.67;
21 iv. Las Vegas – 191.67;
22 v. Unincorporated Clark County – 191.67;
23 vi. Henderson – 191.67;
24 vii. Carson City – 191.67;
25 viii. Reno– 191.67;
26 ix. Unincorporated Washoe County – 191.67; and
27 x. Sparks – 191.67.
28 c. Clark NMSD, LLC:
Page 29 of 55
1 i. Nye County – 178.84;
2 ii. Las Vegas – 178.84;
4 iv. Henderson – 178.84;
5 v. Carson City – 178.84;
6 vi. Reno – 178.84;
7 vii. Unincorporated Washoe County – 178.84; and
8 viii. Sparks – 178.84.
9 187. On December 6, 2018, Inyo requested its score total, pursuant to Section 93(1) of the
10 Department’s Regulations, and on December 17, 2018, it was informed that each of its applications
11 scored the exact same number of points:
12 a. Las Vegas – 189.68;
13 b. Unincorporated Clark County – 189.68;
14 c. North Las Vegas – 189.68; and
15 d. Reno – 189.68.
16 G. The Department Refuses Plaintiffs’ Requests to Review All Scores.
17 188. If an applicant wishes to know the scores assigned to each criterion included in the
18 Application, the applicant must, pursuant to Section 93(2) of the Department’s Regulations, submit a
19 request to the Department to review this scoring information.
20 189. On December 5, 2018, DH Flamingo submitted such a request to review its scoring
21 information, and the Department scheduled a meeting with one of its employees on January 9, 2019.
22 190. DH Flamingo requested that the meeting occur prior to January 4, 2019, so that it
23 could timely appeal the Department’s denial of its license application, if such an appeal was
24 warranted, but the Department denied this request.
25 191. On December 6, 2018, NuVeda, pursuant to Section 93(2) of the Department’s
26 Approved Regulations, submitted a request to review its scoring information on the earliest available
27 date, and the Department scheduled the meeting with one of its employees on January 11, 2019.
28
Page 30 of 55
1 192. On December 6, 2018, Inyo, pursuant to Section 93(2) of the Department’s Approved
2 Regulations, submitted a request to review its scoring information on the earliest available date, and
3 the Department scheduled a meeting with one of its employees on January 9, 2019.
4 193. Pursuant to Section 93(3) of the Department’s Regulations, meetings to review
5 scoring information are limited to no more than thirty (30) minutes in duration, and while
6 Plaintiffs/Petitioners are permitted to take notes during the meeting, they cannot photocopy, scan,
7 record, photograph, or otherwise duplicate any of the records and information they review. They are
8 also not permitted to ask the Department’s employee to comment on or otherwise discuss:
9 a. The scores;
10 b. The Department’s review of the application; or
11 c. The applications submitted by any other applicants.
12 194. At the scoring meetings, the Department refused to provide Plaintiffs the scores
13 assigned to each criterion included in the Application. Instead, the Division insisted on combining
14 the scores for multiple criteria. Specifically:
15 a. The Department refused to separately disclose the points allocated to each
16 applicant’s financial plan and the points allocated to providing proof of funds and
17 insisted on providing a combined score for those two criteria.
18
A financial plan which includes:
19  Financial statements showing the resources of
the applicant, both liquid and illiquid.
20
 If the applicant is relying on funds from an owner,
21 officer or board member, or any other source,
evidence that such source has unconditionally
22 committed such funds to the use of the applicant
in the event the Department awards a 30
23 recreational marijuana establishment license to 40
the applicant and the applicant obtains the
24 necessary local government approvals to operate
the establishment.
25  Proof that the applicant has adequate funds to
cover all expenses and costs of the first year of
26 operation
27 Documentation from a financial institution in this state or
in any other state or the District of Columbia which 10
28 demonstrates:
Page 31 of 55
1
 That the applicant has at least $250,000 in liquid
2 assets which are unencumbered and can be
converted within 30 days after a request to
3 liquidate such assets.
 The source of those liquid assets.
4
b. The Department refused to separately disclose the points allocated to the security
5
and care plan, education plan, and operating procedures and insisted on providing
6
a combined score for the three criteria.
7
8 Documentation concerning the integrated plan of the

proposed marijuana establishment for the care, quality
9 and safekeeping of marijuana from seed to sale,
including:
10  A plan for testing recreational marijuana.
40
11  A transportation plan.
 Procedures to ensure adequate security
12 measures for building security.
13  Procedures to ensure adequate security
measures for product security.
14 Evidence that the applicant has a plan to staff, educate
and manage the proposed recreational marijuana
15 establishment on a daily basis, which must include:
16  A detailed budget for the proposed establishment
including pre-opening, construction and first year 90
17 operating expenses.
 An operations manual that demonstrates
18 30
compliance with the regulations of the
Department.
19
 An education plan which must include providing
20 educational materials to the staff of the proposed
establishment.
21  A plan to minimize the environmental impact of
the proposed establishment.
22
A plan which includes:
23  A description of the operating procedures for the
electronic verification system of the proposed
24 20
marijuana establishment.
25  A description of the inventory control system of
the proposed marijuana establishment.
26
27
28
Page 32 of 55
1 195. In addition to requesting the scores for each criterion included in the license
2 application, Plaintiffs also prepared a list of questions about the procedures the Department used for
3 scoring the applications. .
4 196. The Department refused to answer any of the questions.
5 197. Notwithstanding the Department’s refusal to provide transparency in the scoring
6 process, it did provide the average score (among all applicants) for each of the scoring categories it
7 was willing to disclose.
8
Nevada Recreational Marijuana Application Total Points Average Points
9 Criteria Possible Awarded
Organizational Structure 60 36.87
10
Taxes paid or other beneficial financial 25
11 contributions 11.98
Financial plan 30
31.53
12 Proof of at least $250,000 in liquid assets 10
Plan care, quality and safekeeping of 40
13 marijuana
68.39
Education Plan 30
14 Operating procedures 20
Adequacy of the size of the proposed marijuana 20 13.95
15 establishment
The likely impact in the community 15 10.64
16
Application Total 250 173.33
17
198. Plaintiffs each scored higher than average in the majority of all categories.
18
a. NuVeda scored above average in 5 of the 6 disclosed categories.
19
b. DH Flamingo scored above average in 3 of the 6 disclosed categories.
20
c. Inyo scored above average in 5 of the 6 disclosed categories.
21
22 H. Corruption Within the Department.

23 199. Since the award of Conditional Licenses in December 2018, Plaintiffs have learned of
24 numerous ethical infractions and/or criminal conduct by Department employees which suggest
25 widespread corruption within the Department. Some of this information has been provided to
26 Plaintiffs by Department whistleblowers and other information has been revealed by the testimony
27
28
Page 33 of 55
1 of Department employees in an evidentiary hearing (“Preliminary Injunction Hearing”) conducted in
2 another case4 alleging defects in the Department’s grant of Conditional Licenses.
3 200. Moreover, Plaintiffs are informed and believe that the FBI is actively investigating
4 and seeking tips on public corruption within the marijuana industry, particularly relating to the
5 license application process at issue in this case.5
6 201. Chapter 281A of the Nevada Revised Statutes sets forth a code of ethical standards
7 for government employees. It provides:
8 1. A public officer or employee shall not seek or accept any gift,
service, favor, employment, engagement, emolument or
9 economic opportunity, for the public officer or employee or any
10 person to whom the public officer or employee has a
commitment in a private capacity, which would tend improperly
11 to influence a reasonable person in the public officer’s or
employee’s position to depart from the faithful and impartial
12 discharge of the public officer’s or employee’s public duties.
13 2. A public officer or employee shall not use the public officer’s or
employee’s position in government to secure or grant
14 unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages
15 for the public officer or employee, any business entity in which
the public officer or employee has a significant pecuniary interest
16 or any person to whom the public officer or employee has a
commitment in a private capacity. As used in this subsection,
17 “unwarranted” means without justification or adequate reason.
18 3. A public officer or employee shall not participate as an agent of
government in the negotiation or execution of a contract between
19
the government and the public officer or employee, any business
20 entity in which the public officer or employee has a significant
pecuniary interest or any person to whom the public officer or
21 employee has a commitment in a private capacity.
22 4. A public officer or employee shall not accept any salary, retainer,

augmentation, expense allowance or other compensation from
23 any private source, for the public officer or employee or any
person to whom the public officer or employee has a
24
commitment in a private capacity, for the performance of the
25
4
Serenity Wellness Center, LLC v. Nev. Dept. of Taxation, No. A-19-786962-B (Nev. Dist. Ct.) (the “Serenity
26 Case”)
5
Such investigations are not limited to Nevada. See e.g. FBI Seeks Tips on Marijuana Industry Corruption,
27
Forbes, Aug. 16, 2019, available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2019/08/16/fbi-seeks-tips-on-marijuana-
industry-corruption/#7671965c4ca7 (last visited Aug. 29. 2019).
28
Page 34 of 55
1 public officer’s or employee’s duties as a public officer or
employee.
2
5. If a public officer or employee acquires, through the public
3 officer’s or employee’s public duties or relationships, any
4 information which by law or practice is not at the time available
to people generally, the public officer or employee shall not use
5 the information to further a significant pecuniary interest of the
public officer or employee or any other person or business entity.
6
6. A public officer or employee shall not suppress any
7 governmental report or other official document because it
might tend to affect unfavorably a significant pecuniary interest
8 of the public officer or employee or any person to whom the
9 public officer or employee has a commitment in a private
capacity.
10
NRS 281A.400(1)-(6) (emphasis added).
11
12 1. Department Whistleblowers Report Corruption

202. As DH Flamingo’s then-principal, Dr. Nicola Spirtos, was leaving the Department of
13
Taxation after DH Flamingo’s scoring review meeting, when he was stopped by [Individual #1], a
14
Department employee, who informed Dr. Spirtos that [Individual #2] (a prominent Nevada attorney
15
who had several clients who received Dispensary licenses) was at the Department and meeting with
16
Jorge Pupo, Deputy Executive Director of the Division, every day for a week before the Department
17
announced its decision regarding the Dispensary licenses.
18
203. Further, shortly after exiting the Department, Dr. Spirtos received a number of text
19
messages from an anonymous individual, believed to be a Department employee. Those texts read
20
as follows:
21
22 Dr. Spirtos your [sic] on

the right path Jorge has
23 been taking kickback[s]
from [Individual #3]
24 and others keep digging
25
. . . . Rumor has it
26 [Individual #3] hired
jorge [sic]. Explains
27 why they were awarded
8 licenses. Keep
28 following the scent trail
Page 35 of 55
1 And anybody that was a
threat to [Individual
2 #3’s Company] didn’t
get licenses
3
Just keep digging
4
....
5
There is an internal
6 investigations Dept
within the state . . . .
7 . . . u need to get ahold
of jorges [sic] phone
8 and email records and
get that outfit to
9 investigate him
10 ....
11 There is [sic] people
who know this its [sic]
12 an open secret . . . .
. . . [Individual #3] and
13 Jorge are scaring people
from coming out with
14 threats of retaliation.
Jorge has asked many
15 big operations for
bribes for favors. It
16 [sic] will testify to that
will others . . . .
17
18 204. On or about February 1, 2018, Plaintiffs were also contacted on behalf of a current
19 Department employee who reported that he knew of a conspiracy within the Department to protect
20 the clients of [Individual #2] and the individual owners of these clients. The employee informed
21 Plaintiffs that the Department had instructed employees that it should not record violations
22 committed by the clients of [Individual #2]
23 2. Offers of Employment and Other Perks

24 205. In addition to being an ethics violation, offering any “compensation, gratuity or
25 reward to any executive or administrative officer . . . with the intent to influence the officer with
26 respect to any act, decision, vote, opinion or other proceeding, as such officer” is a felony in the
27 State of Nevada. NRS 197.010.
28 ///
Page 36 of 55
1 206. During the Preliminary Injunction Hearing, Mr. Pupo testified that he has frequently
2 been offered employment by licensees, including some of the Successful Applicants.
3 207. In particular, Mr. Pupo testified that sometime during 2018 (presumably before the
4 Department notified applicants of its decision regarding the Dispensary applications) he was
5 approached by Armen Yemenidjian, an owner of Defendant/Respondents Essence Tropicana, LLC
6 and Essence Henderson, LLC, with a job offer.
7 208. Mr. Pupo did not report or disclose any of these offers of employment.
8 209. Defendant/Respondents Essence Tropicana, LLC and Essence Henderson, LLC
9 received a total of 8 Conditional Licenses in December 2018.
10 210. In addition to offers of employment, Mr. Pupo benefited in other ways from his
11 relationship with certain licensees.
12 211. Mr. Pupo regularly dined as the guest of Amanda Connor, a lawyer who represented
13 several Successful Applicants (including Defendants/Respondents Essence Henderson, LLC,
14 Essence Tropicana, LLC, Commerce Park Medical L.L.C., Cheyenne Medical, LLC, and Nevada
15 Organic Remedies, LLC), who collectively received 21 of the 61 Conditional Licenses. It was not
16 uncommon for Mr. Pupo to dine with her several times per week.
17 212. In addition to his relationship with Ms. Connor, Mr. Pupo frequently accepted lunch
18 and dinner invitations from licensees (particularly, the owners of Defendants/Respondents Essence
19 Henderson, LLC, Essence Tropicana, LLC, Commerce Park Medical, L.L.C., and Cheyenne
20 Medical LLC.
21 213. Licensees who chose to socialize with Mr. Pupo received favorable treatment in
22 exchange. Mr. Pupo allowed favored licensees to call him on his personal cell phone number and
23 provided them with additional instruction regarding the application process (by email, phone, or in
24 person).
25 214. In particular, Mr. Pupo and Ms. Connor engaged in numerous discussions regarding
26 the physical location criteria required in the application in July 2018—immediately before the
27 Department created the Revised Application, which eliminated the requirement that the application
28 include the proposed physical address of the prospective Dispensary.
Page 37 of 55
1 3. Scrubbing of Licensee Records
2 215. Pursuant to Section 80 of the Approved Regulations, one of the factors that the
3 Department must consider when it receives more than one complete and qualified application for a
4 license for a retail marijuana store is:
5 Whether the owners, officers, or board members of the proposed

marijuana establishment have direct experience with the operation of a
6 medical marijuana establishment or marijuana establishment in this
7 State and have demonstrated a record of operating such an
establishment in compliance with the laws and regulations of this State
8 for an adequate period of time to demonstrate success
9 NAC 453D.272(1)(g).
10 216. During the Preliminary Injunction Hearing, Andrew Jolley (an owner of
11 Defendant/Respondent Nevada Organic Remedies LLC) testified that Henderson Organic Remedies
12 LLC (a related entity with some common ownership with Nevada Organic Remedies LLC) had
13 previously sold marijuana to a person under 21 years of age.
14 217. Evidence presented at the Preliminary Injunction Hearing demonstrated that Ms.
15 Connor requested that documentation of this violation be removed from the Department’s records
16 regarding Henderson Organic Remedies LLC. The Department did not deny that this information
17 had been removed from its records at Ms. Connor’s request.
18 218. This violation was not disclosed on applications submitted by Defendant/Respondent
19 Nevada Organic Remedies LLC, despite the fact that it had some common ownership with
20 Defendant/Respondent Henderson Organic Remedies LLC
21 219. Despite the regulatory requirement that the Department consider the compliance
22 history of an applicant’s owners, officers, or board members, the Department did not provide any
23 applicant’s compliance information to the Temporary Employees who scored the applications.
24 When questioned, none of the Department employees could identify the person who made the
25 decision to remove compliance information from the application.
26 220. Defendant/Respondent Nevada Organic Remedies, LLC received 7 of the
27 Conditional Licenses awarded in December 2018.
28
Page 38 of 55
1 4. Destruction of Records in Violation of Court Order
2 221. In another case alleging defects in the Department’s grant of Conditional Licenses,
3 Judge Bailus ordered that the Department preserve virtually all documents relating to the
4 application process, including “all cell phones (personal and/or business) of each such person that
5 assisted in the processing of applications for dispensary licenses and/or evaluated such license
6 applications.”6
7 222. During the Preliminary Injunction Hearing, Department employees testified that they
8 failed to preserve text messages among Department employees, emails, and other records that were
9 subject to the preservation order.
10 223. In addition to violation of the preservation order, it is a gross misdemeanor to
11 willfully destroy, alter, erase, obliterate or conceal any evidence for the purposed of concealing a
12 felony or hindering the administration of the law. NRS 199.220.
13 I. Public Records Request.

14 224. Nevada passed the Nevada Public Records Act (“NPRA”), which provides that all
15 state agency records are public unless declared confidential by law.
16 225. “The Legislature has declared that the purpose of the NPRA is to further the
17 democratic ideal of an accountable government by ensuring that public records are broadly
18 accessible.” Reno Newspapers, Inc. v. Gibbons, 127 Nev. 873, 877–78, 266 P.3d 623, 626 (2011)
19 (citing NRS 239.001(1)).
20 226. Even if a public record contains information that is deemed confidential, the agency
21 may not deny a public records request on the basis that the requested public book or record contains
22 information that is confidential if it can redact, delete, conceal, or separate the confidential
23 information from the information included in the public book or record that is not otherwise
24 confidential.
25
26 6
Order Granting In Part and Denying In Part Emergency Motion for Order Requiring the SMC To Preserve
and/or Immediately Turn Over Relevant Electronically Stored Information From Servers, Stand-Alone Computers, and
27 Cell Phones, MM Dev. Co. v. Nev. Dept. of Taxation, No. A-18-785818-W (Nev. Dist. Ct. Dec. 13, 2018), attached as
Exhibit 1.
28
Page 39 of 55
1 227. On January 23, 2019, Plaintiffs submitted a Public Records Request to the
2 Department for the “[v]isitor sign[-]in logs for the Department of Taxation office located at 555 E.
3 Washington Blvd. Ste. 4100 in Las Vegas, Nevada[,] for the period beginning November 26, 2018
4 through December 5, 2018.”
5 228. Defendants believed that the logs would substantiate the information received from
6 [Individual #1].
7 229. On January 23, 2019, the Department responded to Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ public
8 records request, and claimed that the requested logs were “confidential” under NRS 360.255(1)7
9 because “[t]he visitor sign-in logs identify taxpayers and document taxpayers’ visits to the Taxation
10 office and the business they are there to conduct (e.g., register a business, file a return, make a
11 payment, etc.).”
12 230. The Department has refused to provide copies of the visitor logs—with or without
13 redactions.
14 J. Plaintiffs Request Administrative Review by the Tax Commission.
15 231. Pursuant to NRS 360.245(1), Plaintiffs/Petitioners filed an administrative appeal of
16 the denial of their application with the Commission.
17 232. To avoid any possible confusion about the proper procedure, Plaintiffs contacted the
18 Department and asked which office would accept service of the notice of an appeal to the
19 Commission. Plaintiffs were informed that a notice of appeal could be served at either of the
20 offices in the Las Vegas Valley or sent via US Mail.
21 233. Plaintiffs sent a process server to the Department’s office at 555 East Washington
22 Avenue (the Grant Sawyer Building) on January 4, 2019, but no one would accept service.
23
24 7
NRS 360.255(1) provides that “[e]xcept as otherwise provided in this section and NRS 239.0115 and 360.250,
the records and files of the Department concerning the administration or collection of any tax, fee, assessment or other
25 amount required by law to be collected are confidential and privileged. The Department, an employee of the Department
and any other person engaged in the administration or collection of any tax, fee, assessment or other amount required by
26 law to be collected or charged with the custody of any such records or files:
(a) Shall not disclose any information obtained from those records or files; and
27 (b) May not be required to produce any of the records or files for the inspection of any person or governmental entity or
for use in any action or proceeding.”
28
Page 40 of 55
1 a. Plaintiffs’ process server arrived at the Department’s office at 4:30 p.m.
2 b. After waiting in line for 18 minutes, he was told that he was in the wrong office,
3 and that the Department needed to make copies of the Notices of Appeal.
4 c. Plaintiffs’ process server asked why copies were needed if he was in the wrong
5 office, but he was not provided with a response.
6 d. It took the Department 12 minutes to make a copy of the Notices of Appeal and
7 notify the process server which office would accept the appeals.
8 e. Plaintiffs’ process sever was directed to room 1402.
9 f. Upon arriving at room 1402, Plaintiffs’ process server was told to go to room
10 1401.
11 g. Upon arriving at 1401, Plaintiffs’ process server was told that it was closing time
12 and that the person who was responsible for accepting and filing the documents
13 had not been in the office all day.
14 234. As a result of the Departments’ obstruction and refusal to accept service, Plaintiffs
15 were forced to serve the Notices of Appeal by mail.
16 235. On January 10, 2019, Plaintiffs each received a letter on the letterhead of the
17 Commission—signed by Mr. Pupo—which acknowledged receipt of the Notices of Appeal and
18 stated “[t]here is no statutory or regulatory allowance for appealing the scoring, ranking, or denial
19 [of an application for a retail marijuana store license]. . . . As there is no allowance for an appeal of
20 the denial of your application for the issuance of a retail marijuana store license, no further action
21 will be taken by the Department on your Notice of Appeal.”
22 236. Under Nevada law, it is a misdemeanor to obstruct any public officer in the
23 discharge of official powers or duties. NRS 197.190. Furthermore, it is a gross misdemeanor to
24 willfully intrude into a public office to which a person has not been duly elected or appointed, or
25 willfully exercise the functions or perform any of the duties of such office. NRS 197.120.
26 237. Mr. Pupo is not a member of the Tax Commission, and, in unilaterally rejecting
27 Plaintiffs’ appeal, Mr. Pupo usurped the Commission’s authority and obstructed its ability to
28 perform its official duties.
Page 41 of 55
1 K. The Commission Meetings
2 238. On January 14, 2019, the Commission held a properly noticed meeting in Carson
3 City, Nevada and Henderson, Nevada.8
4 239. At the meeting, Nicola Spirtos, M.D. and Nicholas Thanos, M.D. offered public
5 comments on behalf of DH Flamingo, and Pejman Bady, M.D. offered public comments on behalf
6 of NuVeda. Each raised concerns regarding the deficiencies in the licensing process.
7 240. Commissioner George Kelesis responded by sharing his own concerns about the
8 licensing process, which included, but are not limited to, the following:
9 a. The Department’s response to questions from various applicants who were
10 denied information;
11 b. “Regulations that were applied beyond the scope of the regulation,” and “things
12 that were changed . . . [without being] rule[d] on as a Commission;”
13 c. The adequacy of disclosure by certain applicants to the Department;
14 d. The qualifications of the individuals who scored the applications; and
15 e. The scoring process.
16 241. Commissioner Kelesis also expressed his dismay that the Commission was being
17 deprived of the opportunity to review the licensing decision. He added that “[s]omebody is under
18 the distinct impression that we, as a Commission, do not have jurisdiction over this. I suggest they
19 read [NRS Chapter] 360 real close. We are the head of the Department, and we are the head of the
20 Division, and it comes to us.”
21 242. Commissioner Kelesis concluded by calling for a special meeting of the Commission
22 to address the problems.
23 243. Before closing the meeting, Commission Chairman James C. DeVolld assured the
24 public that the issue would be included on a future agenda.
25 244. On March 3, 2019, the Commission held a properly noticed meeting in Carson City,
26 Nevada and Henderson, Nevada. At the March 3, 2019 meeting, Commissioner Kelesis inquired
27
8
An excerpted transcript of this meeting is attached as Exhibit 2.
28
Page 42 of 55
1 about the status of the administrative appeals filed by applicants whose applications for retail
2 marijuana stores were denied in December 2018. He noted that “[t]hey're not in the system” and
3 asked “when can we expect to hear those and why haven't we heard them yet?”
4 245. Melanie Young, Executive Director of the Department, responded to Commissioner
5 Kelesis: “I would have to get back to you on that. I'm not sure what the status of those are.”
6 246. To date, the Commission has never scheduled a special meeting to address the
7 numerous problems with the Dispensary licensing or included it on the agenda of any regularly
8 scheduled meeting. Moreover, the Commission never took any action to remedy Mr. Pupo’s
9 wrongful denial of the Plaintiffs’ notices of appeal.
10 L. The Preliminary Injunction Hearing
11 247. The Preliminary Injunction Hearing lasted 20 days and concluded on August 16,
12 2019.
13 248. During the Hearing, the Court took testimony from numerous witnesses, including
14 several key employees of the Division.
15 249. Based on the testimony and other evidence, the Court published a 24-page order9
16 that included the following findings:
17 a. The Department hired temporary employees to grade the application, but “failed
18 to properly train the Temporary Employees”;
19 b. “The [Department] failed to establish any quality assurance or quality control of
20 the grading done by Temporary Employees”;
21 c. “When the [Department] received applications, it undertook no effort to
22 determine if the applications were in fact ‘complete and in compliance’” and
23 “made no effort to verify owners, officers or board members ( except for
24 checking whether a transfer request was made and remained pending before the
25 [Department])”;
26
9
27 Findings of Fact & Conclusions of Law Granting Prelim. Ing., Serenity Wellness Center LLC. Nev. Dept. of
Taxation, No. A-19-786962-B (Nev. Dist. Ct. Aug. 23. 2019), attached as Exhibit 3.
28
Page 43 of 55
1 d. The [Department’s] late decision to delete the physical address requirement on
2 some application forms while not modifying those portions of the application
3 that were dependent on a physical location (i.e. floor plan, community impact,
4 security plan, and the sink locations) after the repeated communications by an
5 applicant's agent; not effectively communicating the revision; and, leaving the
6 original version of the application on the website, is evidence of conduct that is a
7 serious issue.
8 a. “The [Department’s] inclusion of the diversity category was implemented in a
9 way that created a process which was partial and subject to manipulation by
10 applicants”;
11 b. During the application process, the Department “utilized a question and answer
12 process through a generic email account at marijuana@tax.state.nv.us to allow
13 applicants to ask questions and receive answers directly from the Department,
14 which were not consistent with NRS 453D, and that information was not further
15 disseminated by the [Department] to other applicants”;
16 c. “The process was impacted by personal relationships in decisions related to the
17 requirements of the application and the ownership structures of competing
18 applicants”;
19 d. “The [Department] disseminated various versions of the 2018 Retail Marijuana
20 Application” and “selectively discussed with applicants or their agents the
21 modification of the application related to physical address information”;
22 e. “[C]ertain of the Regulations created by the [Department] are unreasonable,
23 inconsistent with [Ballot Question 2] and outside of any discretion permitted to
24 the [Department]”;
25 f. “The [Department] acted beyond its scope of authority when it arbitrarily and
26 capriciously replaced the mandatory requirement of . . . [a] background check of
27 each prospective owner, officer and board member with the 5% or greater
28
Page 44 of 55
1 standard in NAC 453.255(1) . . . . in violation of Article 19, Section 2(3) of the
2 Nevada Constitution”;
3 g. “[T]he [Department] clearly violated NRS Chapter 453D.”
4 250. Based upon its findings of fact and conclusions of law, the Court “enjoined [the
5 Department] from conducting a final inspection of any of the conditional licenses issued in or about
6 December 2018[, for applicants] who did not provide the identification of each prospective owner,
7 officer and board member as required by NRS 453D.200(6) pending a trial on the merits.”
8 251. Based upon the Court’s findings, Plaintiffs are informed and believe that the
9 injunction will prevent the Department from conducting a final inspection of the conditional
10 licenses issued to Defendant/Respondents Nevada Organic Remedies LLC; Greenmart of Nevada
11 NLV, LLC; Helping Hands Wellness Center, Inc.; and Lone Mountain Partners, LLC, who were
12 granted the following licenses:
13 a. 1 license in Carson City;
14 b. 2 licenses in Henderson;
15 c. 4 licenses in Las Vegas;
16 d. 3 licenses in North Las Vegas;
17 e. 4 licenses in Unincorporated Clark County;
18 f. 1 license in Douglas County;
19 g. 1 license in Esmeralda County;
20 h. 1 license in Eureka County;
21 i. 1 license in Lander County;
22 j. 1 license in Lincoln County;
23 k. 1 license in Mineral County;
24 l. 1 license in Nye County;
25 m. 1 license in White Pines County; and
26 n. 3 licenses in Washoe County-Reno.
27
28
Page 45 of 55
1 M. Plaintiffs Are Without Any Other Means to Obtain Review.
2 252. Neither NRS Chapter 453D nor the Department’s Approved Regulations expressly
3 provide for an appeal or reconsideration of the Department’s licensing determination and the
4 Department has denied Plaintiffs’ appeal filed under NRS Chapter 360.
5 253. Because the Department has failed to provide the Plaintiffs/Petitioners with written
6 notice of the specific reasons for the denial of their license applications, refused to let them review
7 the scoring for their license applications until after the time to appeal the licensing determination
8 had run (pursuant to NRS 233B.130), refused to provide them any explanation as to how their
9 scores for each criterion was determined, and refused to provide them copies of the scoring for their
10 own applications or the applications for any of the Successful Applicants or other Denied
11 Applicants, the Department has deprived the Plaintiffs/Petitioners of any means to: (1) determine
12 whether the Department accurately scored their applications; (2) appeal the Department’s licensing
13 determinations; or (3) obtain proper judicial review of the Department’s administrative decisions.
14 254. Upon information and belief, the Department did not properly score the
15 Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ license applications submitted between 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018 and
16 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018.
17 255. Upon information and belief, the Department’s ranking and scoring process was
18 corrupted and the applications of the Successful Applicants were not fairly and accurately scored in
19 comparison to the Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ applications.
20 256. Upon information and belief, the Department improperly allocated licenses and
21 improperly favored certain applicants to the detriment of the Plaintiffs/Petitioners.
22 257. Upon information and belief, the Department and/or the Commission and/or their
23 individual members or employees are now engaging in a cover-up of the rampant illegality and
24 corruption that infected the license application process for the recreational Dispensaries.
25 258. Plaintiffs/Petitioners are each parties to a proceeding by the Department which
26 determined their rights, duties, and privileges; namely, the Department’s scoring and ranking of
27 Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ applications for a recreational Dispensary license and the Department’s
28 refusal to issue a conditional license to Plaintiffs/Petitioners.
Page 46 of 55
1 259. The Department’s scoring and ranking process was marred by significant errors,
2 procedural flaws, violations of Nevada law, and/or illegality and corruption.
3 260. After publishing the Notice of Intent to Accept Applications on June 6, 2018, the
4 Department revised the application form in violation of the Approved Regulations and NRS
5 Chapter 453D.
6 261. As such, the Department’s scoring and ranking process and subsequent issuance of
7 conditional recreational Dispensary licenses was unlawful, arbitrary, capricious, in excess of the
8 Department’s jurisdiction, and clearly erroneous.
9 262. The Department’s scoring and ranking of the applications was unlawful and in
10 excess of its jurisdiction because the Department eliminated certain categories of application
11 information clearly required by the Approved Regulations and NRS 453D.210 (i.e., the physical
12 address and property ownership requirements) without following the proper procedures to amend its
13 Regulations and/or NRS 453D.210 to officially eliminate these requirements from the license
14 application process.
15 263. The Department’s scoring and ranking was also unlawful and in excess of its
16 jurisdiction because the Department added a new category of information to its scoring criterion
17 (i.e., information relating to key personnel of the proposed recreational Dispensary) after issuing its
18 Notice and without clearly informing applicants of the revision.
19 264. Further, the Department’s scoring and ranking of applications was arbitrary and
20 capricious because it was conducted by Temporary Employees whose training and qualifications
21 were concealed from the public.
22 265. The Department’s scoring and ranking of applications was also arbitrary and
23 capricious because the Department has not provided any information to the public regarding how
24 scores are assessed for each criterion in the Application or any information as to how the
25 Department ensures uniformity in the assessment of scores by the unknown persons conducting the
26 scoring process.
27 266. Moreover, the Department’s scoring and ranking was unlawful and in excess of its
28 jurisdiction because the process of scoring and ranking the license applications submitted between
Page 47 of 55
1 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018 was corrupted and certain
2 applicants and applications were favored over others.
3 267. Finally, the denial of the Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ applications for recreational retail
4 marijuana establishment licenses was clearly erroneous, unlawful, arbitrary, capricious, and in
5 excess of the Department’s jurisdiction, because the Department has failed to provide the specific
6 reasons for the denial of the applications and has not provided any record demonstrating the basis
7 for the denial of the applications.
8 268. Upon information and belief, a complete review of the record will show that the
9 Department’s final scoring and ranking of the Plaintiffs/Petitioners’, Denied Applicants’, and
10 Successful Applicants’ applications was arbitrary, capricious, and clearly erroneous.
11 269. Plaintiffs/Petitioners request that the entire record of the Department’s scoring and
12 ranking (not only for the Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ applications, but also the applications submitted by
13 each of the Denied Applicants and Successful Applicants) – including the process by which the
14 scorers were hired, the qualifications of the scorers, and the guidelines and procedures followed by
15 the scorers to ensure uniformity in assessing the scores and ranks – be immediately provided for
16 review.
17 IV. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
18 First Claim for Relief: Petition for Judicial Review
19 270. Plaintiffs/Petitioners reallege and incorporate by reference the allegations contained
20 in all previous paragraphs, inclusive.
21 271. Plaintiff/Petitioners are parties to a proceeding at the Department—specifically, the
22 review, scoring, and ranking of applications for and issuance of recreational dispensary licenses—
23 and have been aggrieved by what the Department claims is its final decision.
24 272. As set forth above,
25 a. The Department failed to comply with NRS 453D.210(4)(b) and Section 91(4) of
26 the Approved Regulations;
27 b. The Department’s scoring and ranking of the applications submitted for
28 recreational dispensary licenses between 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018 and
Page 48 of 55
1 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018 was arbitrary, capricious, unlawful, clearly
2 erroneous, and in excess of the Department’s jurisdiction;
3 c. The Department’s denial and award of Conditional Licenses for recreational
4 dispensaries was unlawful, clearly erroneous, arbitrary, capricious, and in excess
5 of the Department’s jurisdiction; and
6 d. The Department’s misconduct and failure to properly administer the application
7 process denied Plaintiffs of due process and equal protection as guaranteed by
8 the Nevada Constitution.
9 273. Under NRS 233B.010, et seq., Plaintiffs/Petitioners are entitled to Judicial Review
10 of the Department’s decision by which they were denied the rights and privileges afforded to them
11 by Nevada law.
12 a. Pursuant to NRS 360.245(1)(b), “Any natural person, partnership, corporation,
13 association or other business or legal entity who is aggrieved by [ ] a decision [of
14 the Executive Director or other officer of the Department] may appeal the
15 decision by filing a notice of appeal with the Department within 30 days after
16 service of the decision upon that person or business or legal entity.”
17 b. Furthermore, “[t]he Nevada Tax Commission, as head of the Department, may
18 review all decisions made by the Executive Director that are not otherwise
19 appealed to the Commission pursuant to this section.”
20 274. Plaintiffs/Petitioners timely appealed to the Commission for review of the
21 Department’s December 5, 2018 decision to deny them Dispensary licenses.
22 275. The Department abused its discretion when, without justification, it asserted that
23 Plaintiffs/Petitioners are not entitled to the Commission’s review of the Department’s decision to
24 deny them Dispensary licenses.
25 276. Accordingly, Plaintiffs/Petitioners petition this Court for Judicial Review of the
26 proceeding at the Department whereby the applications for recreational Dispensary licenses were
27 reviewed, scored, and ranked, and demand that the entire record of the proceeding (for each and
28 every application submitted by Plaintiffs/Petitioners, the Denied Applicants, and the Successful
Page 49 of 55
1 Applicants) be transmitted in accordance with NRS 233B.131.10 This includes, but is not limited
2 to:
3 a. All applications and scoring information for every application for a recreational
4 Dispensary license that was submitted between 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018
5 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018;
6 b. Information regarding the identities, qualifications, and training of the
7 Temporary Employees who scored the applications for recreational Dispensary
8 licenses;
9 c. The policies, procedures, guidelines, and/or regulations which governed how the
10 scorers assessed points to each criterion in the license application and how
11 uniformity was ensured in the scoring assessment process for the recreational
12 Dispensary licenses;
13 d. All communications between the Temporary Employees who scored the
14 applications and Department employees from the date of hire to the present,
15 including but not limited to, cell phone records, text messages, emails or
16 voicemails;
17 e. All communications among Department employees regarding implementation of
18 the Ballot Initiative, the drafting and adoption of the Approved Regulations, and
19 the drafting and adoption of Chapter 453D of the Nevada Administrative Code,
20 including but not limited to cell phone records, text messages, emails or
21 voicemails;
22 f. All communications related to the creating, adoption, and revision of the
23 application or the scoring process, including, but not limited to, cell phone
24 records, text messages, emails or voicemails (whether by or among Department
25 employees, with any applicant, or other third party)
26
10
“Within 45 days after the service of the petition for judicial review or such time as is allowed by the court: . . .
27 The agency that rendered the decision which is the subject of the petition shall transmit to the reviewing court the
original or a certified copy of the remainder of the record of the proceeding under review.” NRS 233.131(1)(b).
28
Page 50 of 55
1 g. All communications or other evidence of invitations by any licensee to any
2 Department Employee relating to social engagements, business meetings
3 occurring outside the Department’s offices, offers of employment, or any gift,
4 gratuity, or other item or service of value, including, but not limited to cell phone
5 records, text messages, emails or voicemails (whether by or among Department
6 employees, with any applicant, or other third party)
7 h. Communications between Department employees and applicants or other third
8 parties regarding revisions to an applicant’s or licensee’s compliance records
9 with the Department, including but not limited to cell phone records, text
10 messages, emails or voicemails; and
11 i. Non-privileged communications or policies relating to record retention or the
12 Preservation Order;
13 277. Specifically, following review and further proceedings in this Court, Plaintiffs seek
14 an order remanding this matter back to the Department for administrative appeal before the
15 Commission in accordance with NRS 360.245(1), with such instructions as the Court deems
16 necessary and appropriate.
17 Second Claim for Relief: Petition for Writ of Certiorari
20 279. The Department has exceeded its jurisdiction to review, score, and rank applications
21 for recreational Dispensary licenses and to issue recreational Dispensary licenses by, among other
22 things:
23 a. Employing unqualified and improperly trained employees to conduct the review,
24 scoring, and ranking of applications;
25 b. Failing to ensure uniformity in the assessment of the applications and the
26 assignment of scores to various categories of information in the applications;
27 c. Allowing the license application process to be corrupted by unfairly favoring
28 certain applicants over others and by eliminating categories of information from
Page 51 of 55
1 the license application despite such categories being required under the
2 Approved Regulations and/or NRS Chapter 453D;
3 d. Adding a new category of information to the license application after issuing the
4 Notice for license application submissions without providing adequate notice to
5 the license applicants;
6 e. Improperly omitting or destroying incident reports and/or other evidence of
7 statutory or regulatory infractions by licensees;
8 f. Failing to inform the Plaintiffs/Petitioners of the specific reasons for the denial of
9 their applications;
10 g. Improperly communicating with certain licensees (or their counsel) regarding the
11 application process; and
12 h. Failing to comply with the Preservation Order.
13 280. The Department has informed Plaintiffs that Plaintiffs have no right to appeal the
14 Department’s licensing decision. Therefore, Plaintiffs do not have any plain, speedy, and adequate
15 remedy for the Department’s improper actions.
16 281. Plaintiffs/Petitioners petition this Court for a writ of certiorari regarding the
17 Department’s reviewing, scoring, and ranking of Plaintiffs/Petitioners’ applications for recreational
18 Dispensary licenses, and that this Court undertake such review of the Department’s conduct as it
19 deems necessary and appropriate
20 282. Plaintiffs/Petitioners also request that the Court order the Department to provide the
21 complete record of the Department’s proceeding with respect to the Plaintiffs/Petitioners’
22 applications for recreational Dispensary licenses (along with the complete record of the
23 Department’s proceeding related to the licensing process and each of the applications for the
24 Denied Applicants and the Successful Applicants).
25 Third Claim for Relief: Petition for Writ of Mandamus
28
Page 52 of 55
1 284. The Department has failed to perform an act which the law compels it to perform;
2 specifically,
3 a. Use of an using an impartial and numerically scored competitive bidding process
4 to evaluate license applications and issue licenses in compliance with Nevada
5 laws and regulations; and
6 b. Preservation of public records and other evidence not subject to the Preservation
7 Order.
8 285. The Plaintiffs have already been denied a right to appeal the Department’s licensing
9 decision. Therefore, there is no plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law to
10 correct the Division’s failure to perform the acts required by law.
11 286. The Plaintiffs/Petitioners therefore petition this Court to issue a writ of mandamus to
12 the Department compelling it to issue a new Notice for recreational Dispensary license applications
13 and to conduct the scoring and ranking of such applications in accordance with Nevada law and the
14 Approved Regulations.
15 Fourth Claim for Relief: Petition for Writ of Prohibition
18 288. The Department has issued conditional recreational Dispensary licenses in excess of
19 its jurisdiction by, among other things: (1) eliminating key categories of information from the
20 application (despite the Approved Regulations and NRS Chapter 453D requiring that the
21 Department consider such information); (2) by adding a new category of information to the
22 application after it issued its Notice for license applications and failing to adequately inform license
23 applicants of this new category of information; and (3) failing to comply with NRS Chapter 453D
24 and the Approved Regulations related to dispensary licensing;
25 289. The Department has denied Plaintiffs/Petitioners the right to appeal the
26 Department’s licensing decision. Therefore, there is no plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the
27 ordinary course of law to correct the Department’s improper review, scoring, and ranking of the
28 license applications or the issuance of the conditional recreational Dispensary licenses.
Page 53 of 55
1 290. Plaintiffs/Petitioners therefore petition the Court to issue a writ of prohibition which
2 prohibits the Department from issuing and/or recognizing any new recreational Dispensary licenses
3 (conditional or final) for applicants who submitted a license application between 8:00 a.m. on
4 September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018.
5 WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs/Petitioners pray for the following relief:
6 1. Judicial Review of the Department’s decision denying Plaintiff’s appeal;
7 2. A writ of certiorari ordering the review of the Department’s review, scoring, and
8 ranking of applications for recreational Dispensary licenses submitted between 8:00 a.m. on
9 September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018; and order that the Department provide the
10 complete record of the Department’s proceeding (for each and every application submitted by
11 Plaintiffs/Petitioners, the Denied Applicants, and the Successful Applicants). This includes, but is
12 not limited to:
13 a. All applications and scoring information for every application for a recreational
14 Dispensary license that was submitted between 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018
15 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018;
16 b. Information regarding the identities, qualifications, and training of the
17 Temporary Employees who scored the applications for recreational Dispensary
18 licenses; and
19 c. The policies, procedures, guidelines, and/or regulations which governed how the
20 scorers assessed points to each criterion in the license application and how
21 uniformity was ensured in the scoring assessment process for the recreational
22 Dispensary licenses;
23 d. Communications related to the application or the scoring process, including, but
24 not limited to, cell phone records, text messages, emails or voicemails (whether
25 by or among Department employees, with any applicant, or other third party)
26 e. Communications or other evidence of (1) invitations by any licensee to any
27 Department Employee relating to social engagements or (3) any gift, gratuity, or
28 other item or service of value;
Page 54 of 55
1 f. Non-privileged communications or policies relating to record retention or the
2 Preservation Order.
3 3. A writ of mandamus compelling the Department to: issue a new Notice for
4 recreational Dispensary license applications and to conduct the scoring and ranking of such
5 applications in accordance with Nevada law and the Approved Regulations.
6 4. A writ of prohibition barring the Department from issuing and/or recognizing any
7 new recreational Dispensary licenses (conditional or final) based on applications submitted between
8 8:00 a.m. on September 7, 2018 and 5:00 p.m. on September 20, 2018.
9 DATED this 6th day of September, 2019.
10 BAILEYKENNEDY
11
By: /s/ Dennis L. Kennedy
12 DENNIS L. KENNEDY
JOSHUA M. DICKEY
13 SARAH E. HARMON
KELLY B. STOUT
14
Attorneys for Plaintiffs/Petitioners
APOTHECARY SHOPPE; CLARK
16 NATURAL MEDICINAL SOLUTIONS LLC,
d/b/a NuVEDA; NYE NATURAL
17 MEDICINAL SOLUTIONS LLC, d/b/a
NuVEDA; CLARK NMSD LLC, d/b/a
18 NuVEDA; and INYO FINE CANNABIS
DISPENSARY L.L.C., d/b/a INYO FINE
19 CANNABIS DISPENSARY
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
Page 55 of 55
EXHIBIT 1
12/13/2018 4:59 PM
Steven D. Grierson
CLERK OF THE COURT
Will Kemp, Esq. (# 1205)
Nathanael R. Rulis, Esq. (#11259)
2 n.rulis@kempjones.com
KEMP, JONES & COULTHARD, LLP
3
3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, 171h Floor
4 Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
Telephone: (702) 385-6000
5 Attorneys for Plaintiff
6 DISTRICT COURT
7
CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
8
MM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC., a Case No. : A-18-785818-W
9 Nevada corporation, Dept. No.: XVIII
10 ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND

Plaintiff, DENYING IN PART EMERGENCY
11
MOTION FOR ORDER REQUIRING
vs. THE SMC TO PRESERVE AND/OR
IMMEDIATELY TURN OVER
STA TE OF NEV ADA, DEPARTMENT OF RELEVANT ELECTRONICALLY
TAXATION; and DOES 1 through 10; and STORED INFORMATION FROM
ROE CORPORATIONS 1 through l 0. SERVERS, STAND-ALONE
COMPUTERS, AND CELL PHONES
Defendants. Date of Hearing: 12/13/ 18

_ _ _ _ _ ________ _____, Time of Hearing: 10:00 a.m.
Plaintiff MM Development having filed an Emergency Motion For Preservation Of
Electronic Data and having given the counsel for Department of Taxation notice of such
request, the Court conducting a hearing on December 13, 2018 at 10:00 a.m., Plaintiff appearing
by Will Kemp, Esq., and Nathanael R. Rulis, Esq., of the law firm of Kemp, Jones & Coulthard,
22 LLP, the State of Nevada, Department of Taxation (the " State") appearing by Robert Werbicky,
23 Esq., and David J. Pope, Esq., and it appearing that the State used employees retained by an
24 outside employment agency (i.e. Manpower) to evaluate and rate marijuana dispensary license
25 applications (hereinafter referred to as "Manpower"), and good cause appearing for the
26 preservation of electronic data of the State and Manpower, the Motion is GRANTED IN PART
27
28
1
Case Number: A-18-785818-W
1 regarding preservation and DENIED IN PART regarding immediate turnover and it is hereby
2 ORDERED, ADJUDGED and DECREED as follows:
3 ORDERED that the State shall preserve server or any standalone computers (including
4 laptops, iPads or thumb drives) in its possession and used in the evaluation and rating of
5 marijuana dispensary license applications as part of the September 2018 application period (the
6 " ESI" or " electronically-stored information"). The State shall also preserve communication
7 made with Manpower related to the hiring of the personnel by Manpower for the September
8 2018 application period. The State shall make the ESI available for copying by the State in the
9 presence of a computer expert retained by Plaintiff in the next IO business days after notice of
10 entry of this order. The State shall make 3 copies of the hard drive of the ESI with one copy
11 being preserved by the State as a master copy retained by the State and one additional copy
retained by the State, and one copy provided to the Court under seal. To allow Plaintiff and the
State (i.e., the Nevada Department of Taxation) to determine the most efficient way to allow the
State to make such copies, the State shall make their primary IT persons available for a
conference call with the ESI expert for Plaintiff and counsel for the Plaintiff, counsel for the
State (and counsel and IT manager for Manpower if desired by Manpower) to identify in
general the types of servers (including standalone computers and laptops) that will be subject to
the copying protocol and types and amount of data maintained on such servers (including
standalone computers and laptops). The conference call shall be held no later than 5 business
days after notice of entry of this order.
21 ORDERED that the State shall provide Plaintiffs a list of Department personnel
22 including Manpower personnel that primarily assisted in the evaluation and rating of all
23 applications for dispensary licenses and/or evaluated such license applications received in the
24 September 2018 application period and provide a list of any full or partial cell phone numbers
25 known to the Department sufficient to allow the identification of the cell phone (including but
26 not limited to personal cell phone numbers) for each such person within 5 business days of after
27 notice of entry of this order. At the same time, the State may use reasonable identifiers, e.g.
28 "Manpower Employee 1," instead of names if the State so desires. At the same time the State
2
may designate up to 6 persons on a list that the State believes were primarily involved on behalf
2 of Manpower and/or the State in the processing of all applications for dispensary licenses and/or
3 the evaluation of such license applications. If the State has a pre-existing organizational chart
4 of the Manpower employees, it shall provide the same to Plaintiff at such time but the State is
5 not obligated to create an organizational chart. Again, the State may use reasonable identifiers
6 instead of names. Within 10 business days after receiving the foregoing list from the State,
7 Plaintiffs shall be allowed to take the telephonic deposition of the PMK for the State to identify
8 the names (or reasonable identifiers) and job descriptions of all persons (including temporary
9 employees, if any) that were involved on behalf of State in assisting in the evaluation and rating
10 of applications for dispensary licenses and/or evaluating such licenses for the September 2018
11 application period. The purpose of the PMK deposition is to reasonably identify persons whose
cell phone data may contain relevant discoverable materials to ensure that all such data is
preserved. At its option, the State may provide a written response in lieu of the PMK
deposition.
ORDERED that the State shall make all cell phones (personal and/or business) of each
such person that assisted in the processing of applications for dispensary licenses and/or
evaluated such license applications, including but not limited to Steve F. Gilbert and a Northern
Nevada State employee, available for copying in the 10 business days after notice of entry of
19 this order at a location convenient to State and Manpower, and that the State, in the presence of
20 Plaintiffs computer expert, shall make 3 copies of the data from each cell phone with one copy
21 being preserved as a master copy, one copy provided to counsel for the State and one copy
22 provided to the Court under seal. In the event any such cell phones are not available, the State
23 shall file a sworn declaration regarding any cell phone that is not available explaining why such
24 cell phone is not available within 10 business days after notice of entry of this order.
25 ORDERED that neither Plaintiffs counsel nor Plaintiff or their agents or employees
26 shall access the cell phone data until the State and Plaintiff agrees to a procedure to protect non-
27 discoverable confidential data or the Court allows such access by subsequent order. The State is
28 authorized to inform any such persons whose cell phone data is copied that any and all personal
3
1 information will either be returned or destroyed at a later date. Plaintiffs counsel and Plaintiff
2 and their agents or employees are restricted from accessing ESI data except as authorized by a
3 confidentiality order or other order of the Court.
4 ORDERED that the State is directed to maintain any and all documents in its possession
5 regarding the processing of applications for dispensary licenses and/or evaluation of such
6 license applications, for the September 2018 application period including but not limited to the
7 following: (I) any and all communications between Manpower and the State; (2) any and all
8 directions provided by the State to Manpower regarding the processing of applications or the
9 evaluation of the applications and any requests for information from Manpower; (3) any and all
10 communications between Manpower or State employees and any applicant (or with the
11 attorneys or consultants for an applicant) regarding any subject matter; (4) the contract, if any,
between Manpower and the State and all invoices, if any, sent by Manpower to the State; (5)
any and all preliminary rankings of applicants by jurisdiction or otherwise by Manpower or the
State that pre-date the final ranking; (6) any and all work papers (including notes) used by
Manpower or the State in the processing of applications for dispensary licenses and/or
evaluation of such license applications; (7) any and all spread sheets created by Manpower or
the State regarding the applications for dispensary licenses; and (8) any and all notes of formal
or informal meetings among Manpower or the State personnel regarding the processing of
applications for dispensary licenses and/or evaluation of such license applications. The State
shall not be required to produce the documents set forth in categories 1 through 8 at an
21 expedited pace but shall be required to identify the same with specificity at the Rule 16.1
22 conference subject to all privileges and objections by the State to such production.
23 ORDERED that the State shall serve a copy of this Order up7n
Man /ower within one
24 business day of notice of entry of this Order.
25 1\---
DATED this ' 3 day of December, 2018
26
27
28
4
Respectfully Submitted by:
2
KEMP, JONES & COULTHARD, LLP
3
5
Will Kemp, Esq. (#l J O
6 Nathanael R. Rulis, Iii q. (#11259)
3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, 17th Floor
7 Las Vegas, Nevada 89169
Attorneys for Plaintiff
8
9
Approved as to content and form
10
~
.....:l
.....:l 11
Adam Paul Laxalt, Esq.

Robert Werbicky, Esq.
David J. Pope, Esq.
555 East Washington Ave., Suite 3900
Las Vegas, Nevada 89101
Attorneys for Defendant
State ofNevada, Department of Taxation
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
5
EXHIBIT 2
1 STATE OF NEVADA
TAX COMMISSION
2 VIDEO CONFERENCE OPEN MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2019
3 CARSON CITY, NEVADA
7 THE BOARD: MELANIE YOUNG, Executive

Director
8 JIM DEVOLLD, Chairman
CRAIG WITT, Member
9 RANDY BROWN, Member
TONY WREN, Member
10 GEORGE KELESIS, Member
ANN BERSI, Member
11 FRANCINE LIPMAN, Member
12
13
14 FOR THE DEPARTMENT: SHELLIE HUGHES,

Chief Deputy Executive
15 Director
16
TINA PADOVANO,
17 Executive Assistant
18
19
20 ATTORNEY GENERAL'S JENNIFER CRANDELL,

OFFICE: Special Counsel
21
22
23
24
REPORTED BY: NICOLE J. HANSEN, CCR #446
25
CAPITOL REPORTERS (775) 882-5322

1
1 AGENDA/INDEX
2 AGENDA ITEM PAGE
3 I. Public Comment 8
5 II. Meeting Minutes 9

Consideration for Approval of the December 3, 2018
6 Nevada Tax Commission Meeting Minutes
(for possible action.)
7
8 III. CONSENT CALENDAR:

A. Matters of General Concern: 9
9 1) Bonds Administratively Waived (dates as
indicated)(Sales/Use Tax)(for possible action):
10 a) B&D Healthy Homes LLC
b) Desert Footwear LLC
11 c) Diversified Capital Inc.
d) DQ Grill N Chill of Carson City LLC
12 e) DW Quality Tools LLC
f) Echo & Rig Las Vegas 1 LLC
13 g) JMM/RKG Ltd.
h) Nevada Steam Inc.
14 i) Oscar L. Carrescia
j) Parkway Flamingo LLC
15 k) PBR Rock LLC
l) Sharmark-Las Vegas Inc.
16 m) Thiel & Thiel Inc.
n) WBF McDonalds Management LLC
17 o) Zhuliang Investment LLC
18
B. Waiver of Penalty and Interest Pursuant
19 to a Request on a Voluntary Disclosure (Sales/Use
Tax:
20 1) Insitu Inc. (for possible action)
2) International Systems of America, LLC
21 (ISA Fire & Security (for possible action)
3) MDK Ventures LLC (Medical Department Stores)
22 (for possible action)
4) Miller Rentals Inc. (for possible action)
23 5) OCuSOFT Inc. (for possible action)
6) Parkway Recovery Care Center LLC
7) Quad Graphics Inc. (for possible action)
25 8) Russell Bay Fee Owner LLC (for possible action)
9) Silver Ticket Products (for possible action)

2
1 AGENDA/INDEX
2 AGENDA ITEM PAGE
3 C. Waiver of Penalty and/or Interest Pursuant to NRS

360.419 that exceeds $10,000:
4 1) Oscars Auto Sales LLC (for possible action)
5
D. Consideration for Approval of the Recommended
6 Settlement Agreement and Stipulations
(sales/use/and/pr modified business tax)
1. Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino dba LVH Las
8 Vegas Hotel & Casino
2. Benos Flooring Services
9 3. AG Production Services, Inc.
4. AG Light and Sound, Inc.
10 5. Goldland Capital, Inc. dba Lee's Sandwiches
6. Executive Housewares
11
12 E. Consideration for Approval of the Recommended 7

Settlement Agreements and Stipulations (request
13 for refund of Net Proceeds of Minerals Tax)
1) University of Nevada, Reno (for possible action)
14
15 F. Consideration for Approval of the Recommended 14

Settlement Agreements and Stipulations (excise tax)
16
1) Vegas Bros Ltd. dba Boulder City Cigarette
17 Factory (for possible action)
2) Vegas Bros. Ltd. dba Pahrump Valley Smokes
18 (For possible action)
3) Vegas Bros. Ltd. dba Sin City Cigarette Factory
4) Vegas Bros. Ltd. dba Laughlin Cigarette Factory
5) RYO Cigarettes of Nevada Inc. dba Double D's
21 Tobacco Emporium (for possible action)
6) RYO Cigarettes of Nevada Inc. dba Smokes 4 Less
7) SCCF Craig dba Sin City Cigarette Factory 2
8) SCS Nellis LLC dba Sin City Smokes
25

3
1 AGENDA/INDEX
2 AGENDA ITEM PAGE
3 G. Consideration for the Approval of the Administrative

Law Judge's Recommended Decision regarding an Appeal of
4 the Department's Denial of Waiver of Penalty and/or
Interest pursuant to NRS 360.419:
5 1) J&R Flooring, Inc. (For possible action)
2) NTNDQ dba Dairy Queen 19561
7
DIVISION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES:
8
A. Local Government Services 18
9 1. REGULATION
a) Consideration for Approval of Adoption of
10 Permanent Regulation - LCB File No. R021-17 relating to
property taxes; revising the methods for determining the
11 applicability and amount of the partial abatement of
property taxes for remainder parcels of property; and
12 providing other matters properly relating thereto. (For
possible action)
13
14 V. COMPLIANCE DIVISION:
24
15 A. Status of Commission's July 9, 2018, Decision and
Department's Request for the Commission to affirm
16 Administrative Law Judge's Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law dated December 27, 2017.
17 1) Gato Malo dba Carson City Harley Davidson
(For possible action)
18
B. Department's Recommendation to the Commission for
19 Denial of an Offer-In-Compromise pursuant to NRS
360.263;
20 1) Jeremy and Heidi Duncan (for possible action) 29
2) Joel and Leah Martin (for possible action) 31
21
C. Petition for Reconsideration of Department's Denial
22 of Exemption Status for Organization Created for
Religious, Charitable or Educational Purposes
23 pursuant to NRS 372.3261 (Sales/Use Tax):
1) National Council of University Research 33
2) The Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors 35
25 Club (for possible action)

4
1 AGENDA/INDEX
2 AGENDA ITEM PAGE
3 D. Taxpayer's Appeal of Administrative Law Judge's

Decision pursuant to NRS 360.245 and NAC 360.175:
4
1) Sophia's Sticks, LLC 43
2) Temple Auto Care LLC 51
7
VI. Informational Items:
8 A Penalty and Interest Waivers granted by the 53
Department for Sales/Use Tax, Modified Business
9 Tax and Excise Tax (dates as indicated.)
10 B Approval and Denial Status Report Log for 53

Organizations Created for Religious, Charitable
11 or Educational Purposes (dates as indicated)
(Sales/Use Tax Exemption.)
12
VII. BRIEFING: 53
13
14 A. Briefing to/from the Commission and the

Executive Director.
15
16
VIII. Next Meeting Date: March 4, 2019 54
17
18
IX. Public Comment 54
19
20
X. Items for Future Agendas. 61
21
22
XI. Adjourn. 66
23
24
25

5
1 Governor's recommended budget. And we'll be able to
2 present that at the next meeting. Thank you.
3 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Okay. Thanks so much.
4 Our next meeting is March 4th, 2019.
5 I would ask for any public comment in Las
6 Vegas. Is there any public comment?
7 COMMISSIONER BERSI: There is public comment,
8 Mr. Chairman.
9 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Thank you.
10 DR. SPIRTOS: Good morning. My name is Nick
11 Spirtos, and I'd like to comment about the marijuana
12 retail application process. I have three, maybe four
13 comments regarding that process.
14 In my opinion, it was manipulated by an
15 individual or individuals who were either allowed to make
16 changes to the language in the regulations or made them
17 unilaterally, and thus calling into serious question any
18 of the results of that process.
19 In my opinion, in an effort approaching the
20 Nixon White House, this person or group of people are
21 going to great lengths to deny applicants information
22 that is rightfully theirs regarding their conduct.
23 Most egregious and recent example of this is
24 the refusal to provide us scores, as required by Section
25 93 or RO97-012, where it specifically states: If an

54
1 applicant who receives an application score from the
2 Department -- pursuant to Subsection 1 -- wishes to
3 review the scores assigned to each criterion in the
4 application to generate that application score, the
5 applicant may submit to the Department a request to
6 review scoring information. Such a request must include
7 the name of the owner, operator, board member of the
8 applicant who reviews scoring information on behalf of
9 applicant.
10 Upon receipt of the request to review the
11 scoring information pursuant to Subsection 2, the
12 Department will designate an employee of the Department
13 to respond to the request and schedule and conduct the
14 review of scoring information.
15 Before conducting the review, the employee
16 designated by the Department shall confirm that the
17 identity of the person attending the review matches the
18 person named in the request and make a copy of a
19 document.
20 We were denied this. We were flat-out told
21 we are not going to receive the individual scores
22 associated with these sections in the application. We
23 were given an aggregate score. And when I asked one that
24 was supposed to be one person assigned by the Department
25 when, in fact, three people showed up: Two in person and

55
1 Steve Gilbert on the phone. Not an individual. And
2 frankly, I think, the one individual was there to
3 continue the pattern of intimidation that's been ongoing
4 with the marijuana program.
5 If you make a complaint, all of a sudden, you
6 get an audit. If you make a second complaint, you get
7 two audits. It's insanity, but we were denied our
8 scores. I scheduled time out of my surgical schedule. I
9 appeared. I made all of the proper requests, and I was
10 told, "We're just not going to do this." And the basis
11 of that was: Well, then, you'll then be able to discover
12 the tools of how we come up with these scores.
13 I wasn't asking for any of their tools. I'll
14 speak to that in a moment. I just wanted our scores by
15 the category. And again, denied. And that's consistent
16 with this whole process.
17 I'd also like to comment that in receiving
18 scores related to the identical applications but with
19 different locations with different levels of public
20 access, different size spaces, we received scores that
21 were identical, identical to the second decimal place.
22 And being aware of other similar results, I
23 would tell you that I have a significant mathematical and
24 statistical background. And this kind of result, in and
25 of themselves, speak to data manipulation and nothing

56
1 else. If I got that kind of data in a medical journal
2 article that I were to review, I would send it
3 immediately back to investigate fraud.
4 There is no way these applications could be
5 identically scored in a fair-and-unbiased manner when
6 you've got identical scores to the second decimal place.
7 I would also like to comment that in
8 receiving -- the last comment I'd like to make is our
9 group of five physicians has published the absolute only
10 work regarding the successful use of a cannabis product
11 made in Nevada to reduce the chronic opiate injections in
12 patients with chronic pain. We demonstrated a 75 percent
13 reduction in opiate use, presented it at the American
14 Society of Clinical Oncology in June of this last year in
15 Chicago.
16 And so you understand how bizarre -- I'll use
17 the word "bizarre" the scoring was, we scored less than
18 the average for our impact on this community. That, in
19 and of itself, should give you some idea the extent that
20 the application process was not fair, just and unbiased.
21 I'll leave those comments at this point, and
22 hopefully, others will add to it. Thank you.
23 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Could you please restate your
24 name and spell it for the record, please?
25 MR. SPIRTOS: Nicola: N-I-C-O-L-A, middle

57
1 initial M. Last name: S-P-I-R-T-O-S. Forgive my cold.
2 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Thank you, Mr. Spirtos.
3 Is there any other public comment in Las
4 Vegas?
5 DR. BADY: Yes. My name is Page Bady:
6 B-A-D-Y. 2700 Las Vegas Boulevard, Unit 2709.
7 I want to agree with Dr. Spirtos's comments.
8 We applied, in 2014, scored highest amount amongst any
9 applicants that were not publicly traded.
10 We possess seven current licenses. We also
11 had the largest number of applications: 28 applications
12 from anybody else in the state. Our scoring from 20 of
13 the 28 were identical to the second decimal point.
14 The way that criteria for the applications --
15 as we were informed -- would give more weight for people
16 who have dispensary experience because this application
17 was for dispensaries.
18 Our eight applications from our dispensaries
19 applications scored lower than our 20 other applications
20 that were just from our cultivation and productions,
21 which is -- and they're all identical -- statistically
22 impossible. Since then, we have formed the Nevada
23 Cannabis Medical Association.
24 I'm a local physician of 20 years. I was a
25 medical director for Davita Health Care Partners, a

58
1 publicly-traded $18 billion-dollar company. We have
2 Harvard-trained physicians in our group, and we sit on
3 the Governor's Task Force for Opiates. We scored lower
4 than average on impact on the community. I don't know
5 what's going on in there. I don't want to accuse anyone
6 of anything, but it's difficult to maneuver.
7 And it had a quality that we used to
8 experience in a publicly-traded company, and I wanted to
9 bring that quality and sophistication into this industry
10 when we have to fight these kind of obstacles.
11 I just wanted to thank the Commission for
12 hopefully taking the time to investigate this. Look. I
13 might be absolutely wrong. Everybody's baby seems to be
14 the prettiest baby in the world, right? All we ask is to
15 have a thorough investigation on how these were applied.
16 Thank you.
18 DR. THANOS: Good morning. I'm Dr. Nicholas
19 Thanos.
20 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Could you spell your last
21 name for me, please?
22 DR. THANOS: I'm sorry. Thanos. T, as in
23 Tom, H-A-N-O-S. And I'm also concerned about how it is
24 that we're denied the information regarding why our
25 applications were turned down when the regulation

59
1 specifically allow us access.
2 Subparagraph four states: If the Department
3 denies an application for issuance or renewal of the
4 license for marijuana establishment or revokes such a
5 license, the Department will provide notice to applicant
6 or marijuana establishment that includes, without
7 limitation, the specific reasons for the denial or
8 revocation.
9 Not only didn't we get the specific reasons,
10 but we've been denied access to the breakdown of our
11 scores. It doesn't make any sense.
12 I'd also like to inquire of the Commissioners
13 if they were apprised of any of the changes that were
14 made to the retail marijuana applications that differ
15 from the regulations in R097-012.
16 If they were, if there were changes, were
17 they formally approved, and when did this happen? If
18 they weren't, under whose authority were they made?
19 Because the scoring system includes stuff that was not --
20 there were changes made between the time that we got
21 applications and the time the scoring system was done.
22 There's some discrepancies here and, you know, someone
23 needs to look into this, please. Thank you.
25 Are there any other public comments in Las

60
1 Vegas?
2 COMMISSIONER BERSI: One is coming,
3 Mr. Chairman.
4 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Thank you. Is there new
5 public comment on the telephone?
6 Is there any public comment in Carson City?
7 Okay.
8 Are there any items for future agendas?
9 COMMISSIONER KELESIS: Mr. Chairman, this is
10 George.
11 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Commissioner Kelesis?
12 COMMISSIONER KELESIS: Yes, I do have couple
13 of questions. If the Commission could be patient with
14 me, I want to give a little bit of background why I'm
15 making those requests. I know you are familiar with it,
16 Mr. Chairman, as well as I know Ms. Crandall is familiar
17 with it. So, for my fellow Commissioners, I'm making
18 these requests, but let me give you a little context of
19 how it happened.
20 In December, when these licenses began to be
21 issued or notified, at least in Southern Nevada, there
22 was quite an uproar among a number of the companies,
23 individuals, whatever you want to call it, that owned the
24 marijuana establishments.
25 I placed a call to our Chairman. I asked him

61
1 if he was aware of what was happening. Our Chairman at
2 the time was not aware. And Mr. DeVolld started looking
3 into it. He spoke with Mr. Anderson, spoke with
4 Mr. Pupa.
5 At one point, it was my understanding we were
6 going to have an informational item set at this meeting
7 so at least the public can have an understanding of why
8 and what, in fact, happened in the course of all of this.
9 That was taken off, unbeknownst to me.
10 I found out after the fact -- which I
11 personally found distressing, because when I looked at
12 these items -- and there's an e-mail I sent to the
13 Chairman that I want to make part of the record so that
14 way, it's accessible to all of the Commissioners. That
15 way, if anybody wants to add something, add something,
16 don't add something. It's completely up to you, but it's
17 available to the public that way as well.
18 I found things that, you know, quite
19 honestly, smacked me in the face immediately:
20 Regulations that were applied beyond the scope of the
21 regulation, things that were changed that I know we did
22 not rule on as a Commission. This is public knowledge.
23 There's public information. Two companies were
24 announcing mergers in October and November with companies
25 that had applied. They received an inordinate amount of

62
1 licenses.
2 And my question is: On September 5th, when
3 the grading was closed, did they all put everybody on
4 notice that they were going to do this merger in mid
5 October-November?
6 They were Canadian companies. How did we
7 take into account the fact that in Canada, you can bank
8 marijuana and you can go to a banking institution. Was
9 that taken into account? Whereas the folks down here
10 can't bank it. They work off cash completely. Not just
11 what Dr. Spirtos said. I've heard that from other
12 people, people who I know have contributed to the
13 community, scored lower than a publicly-traded Canadian
14 company. It makes no sense to me what has been
15 happening.
16 I found probably one of the most distressing
17 parts -- and I don't know if the Commission is aware of
18 this or not, if you are aware of it. But our graders
19 were hired through Manpower.
20 Now, I checked the Manpower drop-down box.
21 And I'm telling you guys, nowhere in there does it say:
22 "Hire marijuana graders." It doesn't say it. So why are
23 we even going to Manpower? I know we budgeted so we
24 could have this Department handle these items. So who
25 trained these people in Manpower? Who oversaw these

63
1 people in Manpower?
2 In fact, were these scores aggregated? They
3 weren't supposed to be aggregated. The one regulation
4 clearly states County. That's it. That's the monopoly
5 provision. It doesn't say Las Vegas, North Las Vegas,
6 City of Henderson. Who made those changes? So I'm
7 troubled across the board with this whole thing.
8 So my request is this, Mr. Chairman: That we
9 have a special meeting as soon as possible, have this as
10 an action item so we can address these problems. And I
11 will give Paulina the e-mail so it can be distributed
12 among the Commissioners.
13 And just one last thing in closing. I've
14 been on this Commission probably the longest of
15 everybody. And I'll say this. We have successfully
16 prevailed in numerous, numerous court battles. I've
17 always believed the reason why we have been successful is
18 because the matter is brought to the Commission, and I'll
19 give you the example. Live entertainment tax. Cal
20 Anderson. I could go through them.
21 We have had extensive, detailed hearings, and
22 then we've gone -- and then if they wanted to appeal it,
23 they appeal it to the Court. Somewhere here though,
24 what's happening is people are denied licenses. And it's
25 just not these two people I heard it from. I've heard it

64
1 from the countless people down here. They're not being
2 provided their scores. They're not making these things
3 available to them. So how can they even exercise their
4 procedure or their substantive due process rights when we
5 don't even give them the information?
6 And we're going to go from the issuance of
7 the license directly to the court. It's like they're
8 skipping us. Somebody is under the distinct impression
9 that we, as a Commission, do not have jurisdiction over
10 this. I suggest they read 360 real close. We are the
11 head of the Department, and we are the head of the
12 Division, and it comes to us.
13 So that's why I'm asking for the action item
14 as soon as possible, not to wait, because it seems like
15 anytime -- and I am frustrated and disappointed. I'm
16 told we're going to have something. I don't even get the
17 courtesy of a phone call told we're taking it off. I got
18 to go find out myself. Well, you know, that's an insult.
19 So, having said that, that's my request for a
20 special meeting. And I'll give Ms. Oliver the e-mail.
21 CHAIR DEVOLLD: Thank you, Commissioner
22 Kelesis. I believe I did call you, so we'll discuss that
23 later. I'll make sure that it's on a future agenda.
24 Thank you.
25 Is there any other items for future agendas?

65
1 Very good. The meeting is adjourned. We have a
2 non-meeting afterwards. So after both rooms have been
3 cleared, can you please let me know? Thank you.
4 MS. HUGHES: And just so the public is aware,
5 a non-meeting is an opportunity for attorneys to meet
6 with the Commission about ongoing litigation, and that's
7 what this meeting is about.
8 (The meeting concluded at 10:36 a.m.)
9 -o0o-
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25

66
1 STATE OF NEVADA )
2 )
3 CARSON TOWNSHIP)
6 I, NICOLE J. HANSEN, Official Court Reporter for the
7 State of Nevada, Nevada Tax Commission Meeting, do hereby
8 Certify:
9
That on the 14th day of January, 2019, I was
10
present at said meeting for the purpose of reporting in
11
verbatim stenotype notes the within-entitled public
12
meeting;
13
14 That the foregoing transcript, consisting of pages 1
15 through 66, inclusive, includes a full, true and correct
16 transcription of my stenotype notes of said public
17 meeting.
18
Dated at Reno, Nevada, this 14th day of
19
January, 2019.
20
21
22
23 NICOLE J. HANSEN, NV CCR #446
24
25

67
EXHIBIT 3
8/23/2019 2:03 PM
Steven D. Grierson
CLERK OF THE COURT
1 FFCL
2
3
4 DISTRICT COURT
5 CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
6 SERENITY WELLNESS CENTER, LLC, a Case No. A-19-786962-B

Nevada limited liability company, TGIG, LLC, Dept. No. 11
7 a Nevada limited liability company, NULEAF
INCLINE DISPENSARY, LLC, a Nevada
8 limited liability company, NEVADA
HOLISTIC MEDICINE, LLC, a Nevada limited FINDINGS OF FACT AND
9 liability company, TRYKE COMPANIES SO CONCLUSIONS OF LAW GRANTING
NV, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company, PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION
10 TRYKE COMPANIES RENO, LLC, a Nevada
limited liability company, PARADISE
11 WELLNESS CENTER, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company, GBS NEV ADA PARTNERS,
12 LLC, a Nevada limited liability company,
FIDELIS HOLDINGS, LLC, a Nevada limited
13 liability company, GRAVITAS NEVADA,
LLC, a Nevada limited liability company,
14 NEV ADA PURE, LLC, a Nevada limited
liability company, MED IFARM, LLC, a Nevada
15 limited liability company, DOE PLAINTIFFS I
through X; and ROE ENTITY PLAINTIFFS I
16 throughX,
17 Plaintiff(s),
18 vs.
19 THE STATE OF NEVADA, DEPARTMENT

OF TAXATION,
20
Defendant(s).
21 and
22 NEVADA ORGANIC REMEDIES, LLC;

INTEGRAL ASSOCIATES LLC d/b/a
fl 23 ESSENCE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES, a
£8 Nevada limited liability company; ESSENCE
A ~ ,f[ROPICANA, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
o ~.., ;iompany; ESSENCE HENDERSON, LLC, a
; ~ ~evada limited liability company; CPCM
im ·.BOLDINGS, LLC d/b/a THRIVE CANNABIS
~o $ 11(tv!ARKETPLACE, COMMERCE PARK
g ,t,:.., 'MEDICAL, LLC, a Nevada limited liability
;;a
27 company; and CHEYENNE MEDICAL, LLC, a
-:i Nevada limited liability company; LONE
28 MOUNTAIN PARTNERS, LLC, a Nevada
Page 1 of 24
Case Number: A-19-786962-B
limited liability partnership; HELPING HANDS
1 WELLNESS CENTER, INC., a Nevada
corporation; GREENMART OF NEV ADA
2 NLV LLC, a Nevada limited liability company;
and CLEAR RIVER, LLC,
3
Intervenors.
4
5 This matter having come before the Court for an evidentiary hearing on Plaintiffs' Motion for
6 Preliminary Injunction beginning on May 24, 2019, and occurring day to day thereafter until its
7 1
completion on August 16, 2019; Dominic P. Gentile, Esq., Vincent Savarese III, Esq., Michael V.
8 Cristalli, Esq., and Ross J. Miller, Esq., of the law firm Gentile Cristalli Miller Armeni Savarese,
9 appeared on behalf of Serenity Wellness Center, LLC, TGIG, LLC, Nuleaflncline Dispensary, LLC,
10 Nevada Holistic Medicine, LLC, Tryke Companies SO NV, LLC, Tryke Companies Reno, LLC,
11 Paradise Wellness Center, LLC, GBS Nevada Partners, LLC, Fidelis Holdings, LLC, Gravitas Nevada,
12 LLC, Nevada Pure, LLC, Medifarm, LLC (Case No. A786962-B) (the "Serenity Plaintiffs"); Adam K.
13 Bult, Esq. and Maximilien D. Fetaz, Esq., of the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP,
14 appeared on behalf of Plaintiffs ETW Management Group LLC, Global Harmony LLC, Green Leaf
15 Farms Holdings LLC, Green Therapeutics LLC, Herbal Choice INC., Just Quality, LLC, Libra
16 Wellness Center, LLC, Rombough Real Estate Inc. dba Mother Herb, NevCann LLC, Red Earth LLC,
17 THC Nevada LLC, Zion Gardens LLC, and MMOF Vegas Retail, Inc. (Case No. A787004-B) ( the
18 "ETW Plaintiffs"); William S. Kemp, Esq. and Nathaniel R. Rulis, Esq., of the law firm Kemp, Jones
19 & Coulthard LLP, appeared on behalf of MM Development Company, Inc. and LivFree Wellness LLC
20 (Case No. A785818-W) (the "MM Plaintiffs"); Theodore Parker III, Esq., of the law firm Parker
21 Nelson & Associates, appeared on behalf of Nevada Wellness Center (Case No. A787540-W)
22 (collectively the "Plaintiffs"); Steven G. Shevorski, Esq., Ketan D. Bhirud, Esq., and Theresa M. Haar,
23 Esq., of the Office of the Nevada Attorney General, appeared on behalf of the State of Nevada,
24 Department of Taxation; David R. Koch, Esq., of the law firm Koch & Scow LLC, appeared on behalf
25
Although a preservation order was entered on December 13, 2018, in A785818, no discovery in any case was done
26 prior to the commencement of the evidentiary hearing, in part due to procedural issues and to statutory restrictions on
disclosure of certain information modified by SB 32 just a few days before the commencement of the hearing. As a result,
27 the hearing was much longer than anticipated by any of the participating counsel. In compliance with SB 32, the State
produced previously confidential information on May 21, 2019. These documents were reviewed for confidentiality by the
Defendants in Intervention and certain redactions were made prior to production consistent with the protective order entered
28 on May 24, 2019.
Page 2 of 24
1 of Nevada Organic Remedies, LLC; Brigid M. Higgins, Esq. and Rusty Graf, Esq., of the law firm
2 Black & Lobello, appeared on behalf of Clear River, LLC; Eric D. Hone, Esq., of the law firm Hl Law
3 Group, appeared on behalf of Lone Mountain Partners, LLC; Alina M. Shell, Esq., of the law firm
4 McLetchie Law, appeared on behalf of GreenMart of Nevada NLV LLC; Jared Kahn, Esq., of the law
5 firm JK Legal & Consulting, LLC, appeared on behalf of Helping Hands Wellness Center, Inc.; and
6 Joseph A. Gutierrez, Esq., of the law firm Maier Gutierrez & Associates, and Philip M. Hymanson,
7 Esq., of the law firm Hymanson & Hymanson; Todd Bice, Esq. and Jordan T. Smith, Esq. of the law
8 firm Pisanelli Bice; and Dennis Prince, Esq. of the Prince Law Group appeared on behalf of Integral
9 Associates LLC d/b/a Essence Cannabis Dispensaries, Essence Tropicana, LLC, Essence Henderson,
10 LLC, CPCM Holdings, LLC d/b/a Thrive Cannabis Marketplace, Commerce Park Medical, LLC, and
11 Cheyenne Medical, LLC (the "Essence/Thrive Entities"). The Court, having read and considered the
12 pleadings filed by the parties; having reviewed the evidence admitted during the evidentiary hearing;
13 and having heard and carefully considered the testimony of the witnesses called to testify; having
14 considered the oral and written arguments of counsel, and with the intent of deciding the Motion for a
15 Preliminary Injunction, 2 makes the following preliminary findings of fact and conclusions of law:
16 PROCEDURAL POSTURE
17 Plaintiffs are a group of unrelated commercial entities who applied for, but did not receive,
18
licenses to operate retail recreational marijuana establishments in various local jurisdictions throughout
19 the state. Defendant is Nevada's Department of Taxation ("DoT"), which is the administrative agency
20
responsible for issuing the licenses. Some successful applicants for licensure intervened as Defendants.
21 The Serenity Plaintiffs filed a Motion for Preliminary Injunction on March 19, 2019, asking for
22
a preliminary injunction to:
23
a. Enjoin the denial of Plaintiffs applications;
24
b. Enjoin the enforcement of the licenses granted;
25
c. Enjoin the enforcement and implementation ofNAC 453D;
26
2
27 The findings made in this Order are preliminary in nature based upon the limited evidence presented after very
limited discovery permitted on an expedited basis and may be modified based upon additional evidence presented to the
Court at the ultimate trial of the business court matters.
28
Page 3 of 24
1 d. An order restoring the status quo ante prior to the Do T's adoption ofNAC 453D;
2 and
3 e. Several orders compelling discovery.
4 This Court reviewed the Serenity Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction and at a hearing on
5 April 22, 2019, invited Plaintiffs in related cases, not assigned to Business Court, to participate in the
6 evidentiary hearing on the Motion for Preliminary Injunction being heard in Department 11 for the
7 purposes of hearing and deciding the Motions for Preliminary Injunction. 3
8 PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
9 The Attorney General's Office was forced to deal with a significant impediment at the early
10 stages of the litigation. This inability to disclose certain information was outside of its control because
11 of confidentiality requirements that have now been slightly modified by SB 32. Although the parties
12 stipulated to a protective order on May 24, 2019, many documents produced in preparation for the
13 hearing and for discovery purposes were heavily redacted because of the highly competitive nature of
14 the industry and sensitive financial and commercial information being produced.
15 All parties agree that the language of an initiative takes precedence over any regulation that is in
16 conflict and that an administrative agency has some discretion in determining how to implement the
17 initiative. The Court gives deference to the agency in establishing those regulations and creating the
18 framework required to implement those provisions in conformity with the initiative.
19
20
The complaints filed by the parties participating in the hearing seek declaratory relief, injunctive relief and writs of
21 mandate, among other claims. The motions andjoinders seeking injunctive relief which have been reviewed by the Court in
conjunction with this hearing include:
22
A786962-B Serenity: Serenity Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction filed 3/19/19 (Joinder to Motion by
23 Compassionate Team: 5/17; Joinder to Motion by ETW: 5/6 (filed in A787004); and Joinder to Motion by Nevada
Wellness: 5/10 (filed in A787540)); Opposition by the State filed 5/9/19 (Joinder by Essence/Thrive Entities: 5/23);
24 Opposition by Nevada Organic Remedies: 5/9 (Joinder by Lone Mountain: 5/13; Joinder by Helping Hands: 5/21; and
Joinder by Essence/Thrive Entities: 5/23). Application for TRO on OST filed 5/9/19 (Joinder by Compassionate Team:
25 5/17; and Joinder by ETW: 5/10 (filed in A787004)); Opposition by Nevada Organic Remedies: 5/9 (Joinder by Clear River:
5/9); Opposition by Essence/Thrive Entities: 5/10 (Joinder by GreenMart: 5/10; Joinder by Lone Mountain: 5/11; and
26 Joinder by helping Hands: 5/12).
27 A785818-W MM Development: MM Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction or Writ of Mandamus filed 5/9/19
(Joinder by Serenity: 5/20 (filed in A786962); Joinder by ETW: 5/6 (filed in A 787004 and A785818); and Joinder by
28 Nevada Wellness: 5/10 (filed in A787540)).
Page 4 of 24
1 The initiative to legalize recreational marijuana, Ballot Question 2 ("BQ2"), went to the voters
2 in 2016. The language ofBQ2 is independent of any regulations that were adopted by the DoT. The
3 Court must balance the mandatory provisions of BQ2 (which the DoT did not have discretion to
4 modify);4 those provisions with which the DoT was granted some discretion in implementation;5 and
5 the inherent discretion of an administrative agency to implement regulations to carry out its statutory
6 duties. The Court must give great deference to those activities that fall within the discretionary
7 functions of the agency. Deference is not given where the actions of the DoT were in violation of BQ2
8 or were arbitrary and capricious.

FINDINGS OF FACT
9
10 1. Nevada allows voters to amend its Constitution or enact legislation through the initiative
11 process. Nevada Constitution, Article 19, Section 2.

4
12 Article 19, Section 2(3) provides the touchstone for the mandatory provisions:
13 .... An initiative measure so approved by the voters shall not be amended, annulled, repealed, set aside or
suspended by the Legislature within 3 years from the date it takes effect.
14 ' 5
NRS 453D.200(1) required the adoption ofregulations for the licensure and oversight of recreational marijuana
15 cultivation, manufacturing/production, sales and distribution, but provides the DoT discretion in exactly what those
regulations would include.
16
... the Department shall adopt all regulations necessary or convenient to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
The regulations must not prohibit the operation of marijuana establishments, either expressly or through regulations
17 that make their operation unreasonably impracticable. The regulations shall include:
(a) Procedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of a license to operate a marijuana
18 establishment;
(b) Qualifications for licensure that are directly and demonstrably related to the operation of a marijuana
19 establishment;
(c) Requirements for the security of marijuana establishments;
20 (d) Requirements to prevent the sale or diversion of marijuana and marijuana products to persons under 21
years of age;
21 (e) Requirements for the packaging of marijuana and marijuana products, including requirements for child-
resistant packaging;
22 (f) Requirements for the testing and labeling of marijuana and marijuana products sold by marijuana
establishments including a numerical indication of potency based on the ratio of THC to the weight of a product
23 intended for oral consumption;
(g) Requirements for record keeping by marijuana establishments;
24 (h) Reasonable restrictions on signage, marketing, display, and advertising;
(i) Procedures for the collection of taxes, fees, and penalties imposed by this chapter;
25 (j) Procedures and requirements to enable the transfer of a license for a marijuana establishment to another
qualified person and to enable a licensee to move the location of its establishment to another suitable location;
26 (k) Procedures and requirements to enable a dual licensee to operate medical marijuana establishments and
marijuana establishments at the same location;
27 (I) Procedures to establish the fair market value at wholesale of marijuana; and
(m) Civil penalties for the failure to comply with any regulation adopted pursuant to this section or for any
violation of the provisions ofNRS 453D.300.
28
Page 5 of 24
2. In 2000, the voters amended Nevada's Constitution to allow for the possession and use
1
2 of marijuana to treat various medical conditions. Nevada Constitution, Article 4, Section 38(1)(a). The
3 initiative left it to the Legislature to create laws "[a]uthoriz[ing] appropriate methods for supply of the
4 plant to patients authorized to use it." Nevada Constitution, Article 4, Section 38(l)(e).
5
3. For several years prior to the enactment ofBQ2, the regulation of medical marijuana
6
dispensaries had not been taken up by the Legislature. Some have argued in these proceedings that the
7
delay led to the framework ofBQ2.
8
4. In 2013, Nevada's legislature enacted NRS 453A, which allows for the cultivation and
9
10 sale of medical marijuana. The Legislature described the requirements for the application to open a
11 medical marijuana establishment. NRS 453A.322. The Nevada Legislature then charged the Division of
12 Public and Behavioral Health with evaluating the applications. NRS 453A.328.
13
5. The materials circulated to voters in 2016 for BQ2 described its purpose as the
14
amendment of the Nevada Revised Statutes as follows:
15
Shall the Nevada Revised Statutes be amended to allow a person, 21 years old or older, to
16 purchase, cultivate, possess, or consume a certain amount of marijuana or concentrated
marijuana, as well as manufacture, possess, use, transport, purchase, distribute, or sell marijuana
17
paraphernalia; impose a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale sales of marijuana; require the
18 regulation and licensing of marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, distributors, suppliers, and
retailers; and provide for certain criminal penalties?
19
6. BQ2 was enacted by the Nevada Legislature and is codified at NRS 453D. 6
20
7. BQ2 specifically identified regulatory and public safety concerns:
21
22 The People of the State of Nevada proclaim that marijuana should be regulated in a manner
similar to alcohol so that:
23 (a) Marijuana may only be purchased from a business that is licensed by the State of
Nevada;
24 (b) Business owners are subject to a review by the State of Nevada to confirm that the
business owners and the business location are suitable to produce or sell marijuana;
25
( c) Cultivating, manufacturing, testing, transporting and selling marijuana will be strictly
26 controlled through State licensing and regulation;
27 6
As the provisions ofBQ2 and the sections NRS 453D currently in effect (with the exception ofNRS 453D.205) are
identical, for ease ofreference the Court cites to BQ2 as enacted by the Nevada Legislature in NRS 453D.
28
Page 6 of 24
(d) Selling or giving marijuana to persons under 21 years of age shall remain illegal;
1
(e) Individuals will have to be 21 years of age or older to purchase marijuana;
2 (:t) Driving under the influence of marijuana will remain illegal; and
(g) Marijuana sold in the State will be tested and labeled.
3
NRS 453D.020(3).
4
8. BQ2 mandated the DoT to "conduct a background check of each prospective owner,
5
officer, and board member of a marijuana establishment license applicant." NRS 453D.200(6).
6
9. On November 8, 2016, by Executive Order 2017-02, Governor Brian Sandoval
7
8 established a Task Force composed of 19 members to offer suggestions and proposals for legislative,
9 regulatory, and executive actions to be taken in implementing BQ2.
10 10. The Task Force's findings, issued on May 30, 2017, referenced the 2014 licensing
11
process for issuing Medical Marijuana Establishment Registration Certificates under NRS 453A. The
12
Task Force recommended that "the qualifications for licensure of a marijuana establishment and the
13
impartial numerically scored bidding process for retail marijuana stores be maintained as in the medical
14
marijuana program except for a change in how local jurisdictions participate in selection oflocations."
15
16 11. Some of the Task Force's recommendations appear to conflict with BQ2. 7
17
18
The Final Task Force report (Exhibit 2009) contained the following statements:
19
The Task Force recommends that retail marijuana ownership interest requirements remain consistent with the
20 medical marijuana program.
at 2510.
21
The requirement identified by the Task Force at the time was contained in NAC 453A.302(1) which states:
22
Except as otherwise required in subsection 2, the requirements of this chapter concerning owners of medical
23 marijuana establishments only apply to a person with an aggregate ownership interest of 5 percent or more in a
medical marijuana establishment.
24
The second recommendation of concern is:
25
The Task Force recommends that NRS 453A be changed to address companies that own marijuana establishment
26 licenses in which there are owners with Jess than 5% ownership interest in the company. The statute should be
amended to:
27 *Limit fingerprinting, background checks and renewal of agent cards to owners officers and board members with
5% or less cumulatively of the company to once every five years;
*Only require owners officers and board members with 5% or more cumulatively and employees of the company to
28
obtain agent registration cards; and
Page 7 of 24
12. During the 2017 legislative session Assembly Bill 422 transferred responsibility for the
1
2 registration, licensing, and regulation of marijuana establishments from the State of Nevada Division of
3 Public and Behavioral Health to the DoT. 8
4 13. On February 27, 2018, the DoT adopted regulations governing the issuance, suspension,
5
or revocation of retail recreational marijuana licenses in LCB File No. R092-17, which were codified in
6
NAC 453D (the "Regulations").
7
14. The Regulations for licensing were to be "directly and demonstrably related to the
8
operation of a marijuana establishment." NRS 453D.200(1)(b). The phrase "directly and demonstrably
9
10 related to the operation of a marijuana establishment" is subject to more than one interpretation.
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 *Use the marijuana establishments governing documents to determine who has approval rights and signatory
authority for purposes of signing ownership transfers, applications and any other appropriate legal or regulatory
19 documents.
There was Task Force dissent on the recommendation. The concern with this recommendation was that by
20 changing the requirements on fingerprinting and background checks, the state would have less knowledge of when
an owner, officer, and board member commits an offense not allowed under current marijuana law, potentially
21 creating a less safe environment in the state.
at 2515-2516.
22 8
Those provisions (a portion of which became NRS 453D.205) are consistent with BQ2:
23
I. When conducting a background check pursuant to subsection 6 ofNRS 453D.200, the Department may
24 require each prospective owner, officer and board member of a marijuana establishment license applicant to submit
a complete set of fingerprints and written permission authorizing the Department to forward the fingerprints to the
25 Central Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for submission to the Federal Bureau ofinvestigation
for its report.
26 2. When determining the criminal history ofa person pursuant to paragraph (c) of subsection I ofNRS
453D.300, a marijuana establishment may require the person to submit to the Department a complete set of
fingerprints and written permission authorizing the Department to forward the fingerprints to the Central
27 Repository for Nevada Records of Criminal History for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its
report.
28
Page 8 of 24
15. A person holding a medical marijuana establishment registration certificate could apply
1
2 for one or more recreational marijuana establishment licenses within the time set forth by the DoT in
3 the manner described in the application. NAC 453D.268. 9
4
Relevant portions of that provision require that application be made
5
.... by submitting an application in response to a request for applications issued pursuant to NAC 453D.260 which
6
must include:
7 ***
2. An application on a form prescribed by the Department. The application must include, without limitation:
(a) Whether the applicant is applying for a license for a marijuana establishment for a marijuana cultivation
8 facility, a marijuana distributor, a marijuana product manufacturing facility, a marijuana testing facility or a retail
marijuana store;
9 (b) The name of the proposed marijuana establishment, as reflected in both the medical marijuana establishment
registration certificate held by the applicant, if applicable, and the articles of incorporation or other documents filed
10 with the Secretary of State;
(c) The type of business organization of the applicant, such as individual, corporation, partnership, limited-liability
11 company, association or cooperative, joint venture or any other business organization;
(d) Confirmation that the applicant has registered with the Secretary of State as the appropriate type of business,
12 and the articles of incorporation, articles of organization or partnership or joint venture documents of the applicant;
(e) The physical address where the proposed marijuana establishment will be located and the physical address of
13 any co-owned or otherwise affiliated marijuana establishments;
(f) The mailing address of the applicant;
14 (g) The telephone number of the applicant;
(h) The electronic mail address of the applicant;
15 (i) A signed copy of the Request and Consent to Release Application Form for Marijuana Establishment License
prescribed by the Department;
16 U) If the applicant is applying for a license for a retail marijuana store, the proposed hours of operation during
which the retail marijuana store plans to be available to sell marijuana to consumers;
(k) An attestation that the information provided to the Department to apply for the license for a marijuana
17 establishment is true and correct according to the information known by the affiant at the time of signing; and
(1) The signature of a natural person for the proposed marijuana establishment as described in subsection 1 ofNAC
18 453D.250 and the date on which the person signed the application.
3. Evidence of the amount of taxes paid, or other beneficial financial contributions made, to this State or its
19 political subdivisions within the last 5 years by the applicant or the persons who are proposed to be owners, officers
or board members of the proposed marijuana establishment.
20 4. A description of the proposed organizational structure of the proposed marijuana establishment, including,
without limitation:
21 (a) An organizational chart showing all owners, officers and board members of the proposed marijuana
establishment;
22 (b) A list of all owners, officers and board members of the proposed marijuana establishment that contains the
following information for each person:
23 ( 1) The title of the person;
(2) The race, ethnicity and gender of the person;
24 (3) A short description of the role in which the person will serve for the organization and his or her
responsibilities;
25 (4) Whether the person will be designated by the proposed marijuana establishment to provide written notice to
the Department when a marijuana establishment agent is employed by, volunteers at or provides labor as a
26 marijuana establishment agent at the proposed marijuana establishment;
(5) Whether the person has served or is currently serving as an owner, officer or board member for another
27 medical marijuana establishment or marijuana establishment;
(6) Whether the person has served as an owner, officer or board member for a medical marijuana establishment
or marijuana establishment that has had its medical marijuana establishment registration certificate or license, as
28
applicable, revoked;
Page 9 of 24
NRS 453D.210(6) mandated the DoT to use "an impartial and numerically scored competitive bidding
1
2 process" to determine successful applicants where competing applications were submitted.
3 16. NAC 453D.272(1) provides the procedure for when the DoT receives more than one
4 "complete" application. Under this provision the DoT will determine if the "application is complete and
5
(7) Whether the person has previously had a medical marijuana establishment agent registration card or
marijuana establishment agent registration card revoked;
6 (8) Whether the person is an attending provider of health care currently providing written documentation for the
issuance of registry identification cards or letters of approval;
7 (9) Whether the person is a law enforcement officer;
(10) Whether the person is currently an employee or contractor of the Department; and
8 (11) Whether the person has an ownership or financial investment interest in any other medical marijuana
establishment or marijuana establishment.
9 5. For each owner, officer and board member of the proposed marijuana establishment:
(a) An attestation signed and dated by the owner, officer or board member that he or she has not been convicted of
10 an excluded felony offense, and that the information provided to support the application for a license for a
marijuana establishment is true and correct;
11 (b) A narrative description, not to exceed 750 words, demonstrating:
(1) Past experience working with governmental agencies and highlighting past experience in giving back to the
12 community through civic or philanthropic involvement;
(2) Any previous experience at operating other businesses or nonprofit organizations; and
13 (3) Any demonstrated knowledge, business experience or expertise with respect to marijuana; and
(c) A resume.
14 6. Documentation concerning the size of the proposed marijuana establishment, including, without limitation,
building and general floor plans with supporting details.
15 7. The integrated plan of the proposed marijuana establishment for the care, quality and safekeeping of marijuana
from seed to sale, including, without limitation, a plan for testing and verifying marijuana, a transportation or
delivery plan and procedures to ensure adequate security measures, including, without limitation, building security
16 and product security.
8. A plan for the business which includes, without limitation, a description of the inventory control system of the
17 proposed marijuana establishment to satisfy the requirements ofNRS 453D.300 and NAC 453D.426.
9. A financial plan which includes, without limitation:
18 (a) Financial statements showing the resources of the applicant;
(b) If the applicant is relying on money from an owner, officer or board member, evidence that the person has
19 unconditionally committed such money to the use of the applicant in the event the Department awards a license to
the applicant and the applicant obtains the necessary approvals from the locality to operate the proposed marijuana
20 establishment; and
(c) Proof that the applicant has adequate money to cover all expenses and costs of the first year of operation.
21 10. Evidence that the applicant has a plan to staff, educate and manage the proposed marijuana establishment on a
daily basis, which must include, without limitation:
22 (a) A detailed budget for the proposed marijuana establishment, including pre-opening, construction and first-year
operating expenses;
23 (b) An operations manual that demonstrates compliance with this chapter;
(c) An education plan which must include, without limitation, providing educational materials to the staff of the
24 proposed marijuana establishment; and
(d) A plan to minimize the environmental impact of the proposed marijuana establishment.
25 11. If the application is submitted on or before November 15, 2018, for a license for a marijuana distributor,
proof that the applicant holds a wholesale dealer license issued pursuant to chapter 369 ofNRS, unless the
26 Department determines that an insufficient number of marijuana distributors will result from this limitation.
12. A response to and information which supports any other criteria the Department determines to be relevant,
which will be specified and requested by the Department at the time the Department issues a request for
27 applications which includes the point values that will be allocated to the applicable portions of the application
pursuant to subsection 2 ofNAC 453D.260.
28
Page 10 of 24
in compliance with this chapter and Chapter 453D of NRS, the Department will rank the applications ..
1
2 . in order from first to last based on the compliance with the provisions of this chapter and chapter
3 453D ofNRS and on the content of the applications relating to ... " several enumerated factors. NAC
4 453D.272(1).
5
17. The factors set forth in NAC 453D.272(1) that are used to rank competing applications
6
(collectively, the "Factors") are:
7
(a) Whether the owners, officers or board members have experience operating another kind
8 of business that has given them experience which is applicable to the operation of a marijuana
establishment;
9
(b) The diversity of the owners, officers or board members of the proposed marijuana
10 establishment;
(c) The educational achievements of the owners, officers or board members of the proposed
11 marijuana establishment;
(d) The financial plan and resources of the applicant, both liquid and illiquid;
12 (e) Whether the applicant has an adequate integrated plan for the care, quality and
safekeeping of marijuana from seed to sale;
13
(f) The amount of taxes paid and other beneficial financial contributions, including, without
14 limitation, civic or philanthropic involvement with this State or its political subdivisions, by the
applicant or the owners, officers or board members of the proposed marijuana establishment;
15 (g) Whether the owners, officers or board members of the proposed marijuana establishment
have direct experience with the operation of a medical marijuana establishment or marijuana
16 establishment in this State and have demonstrated a record of operating such an establishment in
17 compliance with the laws and regulations of this State for an adequate period of time to
demonstrate success;
18 (h) The (unspecified) experience of key personnel that the applicant intends to employ in
operating the type of marijuana establishment for which the applicant seeks a license; and
19 (i) Any other criteria that the Department determines to be relevant.
20
18. Each of the Factors is within the Do T's discretion in implementing the application
21
22 process provided for in BQ2. The DoT had a good-faith basis for determining that each of the Factors
23 1s "directly and demonstrably related to the operation of a marijuana establishment."
24 19. The DoT posted the application on its website and released the application for
25
recreational marijuana establishment licenses on July 6, 2018. 10
26
27 IO
The DoT made a change to the application after circulating the first version of the application to delete the
requirement of a physical location. The modification resulted in a different version of the application bearing the same
28
"footer" with the original version remaining available on the DoT's website.
Page 11 of 24
20. The DoT utilized a question and answer process through a generic email account at
1
2 marijuana@tax.state.nv.us to allow applicants to ask questions and receive answers directly from the
3 Department, which were not consistent with NRS 453D, and that information was not further
4 disseminated by the DoT to other applicants.

5
21. In addition to the email question and answer process, the DoT permitted applicants and
6
their representatives to personally contact the DoT staff about the application process.
7
22. The application period ran from September 7, 2018 through September 20, 2018.
8
23. The DoT accepted applications in September 2018 for retail recreational marijuana
9
10 licenses and announced the award of conditional licenses in December 2018.
11 24. The DoT used a listserv to communicate with prospective applicants.
12 25. The DoT published a revised application on July 30, 2018. This revised application was
13
sent to all participants in the DoT's listserv directory. The revised application modified a sentence on
14
attachment A of the application. Prior to this revision, the sentence had read, "Marijuana
15
Establishment's proposed physical address (this must be a Nevada address and cannot be a P.O. Box)."
16
The revised application on July 30, 2018, read: "Marijuana Establishment's proposed physical address
17
18 if the applicant owns property or has secured a lease or other property agreement (this must be a
19 Nevada address and not a P.O. Box). Otherwise, the applications are virtually identical.
20 26. The DoT sent a copy of the revised application through the listserv service used by the
21
DoT. Not all Plaintiffs' correct emails were included on this listserv service.
22
27. The July 30, 2018 application, like its predecessor, described how applications were to
23
be scored. The scoring criteria was divided into identified criteria and non-identified criteria. The
24
25 maximum points that could be awarded to any applicant based on these criteria was 250 points.
26 28. The identified criteria consisted of organizational structure of the applicant (60 points);
27 evidence of taxes paid to the State of Nevada by owners, officers, and board members of the applicant
28
Page 12 of 24
in the last 5 years (25 points); a financial plan (30 points); and documents from a financial institution
1
2 showing unencumbered liquid assets of $250,000 per location for which an application is submitted.
3 29. The non-identified criteria consisted of documentation concerning the integrated plan of
4 the proposed marijuana establishment for the care, quality and safekeeping of marijuana from seed to
5
sale (40 points); evidence that the applicant has a plan to staff, educate and manage the proposed
6
recreational marijuana establishment on a daily basis (30 points); a plan describing operating
7
procedures for the electronic verification system of the proposed marijuana establishment and
8
describing the proposed establishment's inventory control system (20 points); building plans showing
9
10 the proposed establishment's adequacy to serve the needs of its customers (20 points); and, a proposal
11 explaining likely impact of the proposed marijuana establishment in the community and how it will
12 meet customer needs (15 points).

13
30. An applicant was permitted to submit a single application for all jurisdictions in which it
14
was applying, and the application would be scored at the same time.
15
31. By September 20, 2018, the DoT received a total of 462 applications.
16
32. In order to grade and rank the applications the DoT posted notices that it was seeking to
17
18 hire individuals with specified qualifications necessary to evaluate applications. The DoT interviewed
19 applicants and made decisions on individuals to hire for each position.

20 33. When decisions were made on who to hire, the individuals were notified that they would
21
need to register with "Manpower" under a pre-existing contract between the DoT and that company.
22
Individuals would be paid through Manpower, as their application-grading work would be of a
23
temporary nature.
24
25 34. The DoT identified, hired, and trained eight individuals to grade the applications,
26 including three to grade the identified portions of the applications, three to grade the non-identified
27
28
Page 13 of 24
portions of the applications, and one administrative assistant for each group of graders (collectively the
1
2 "Temporary Employees").
3 35. It is unclear how the DoT trained the Temporary Employees. While portions of the
4 training materials were introduced into evidence, testimony regarding the oral training based upon
5
example applications was insufficient for the Court to determine the nature and extent of the training of
6
the Temporary Employees. 11
7
36. NAC 453D.272(1) required the DoT to determine that an Application is "complete and
8
in compliance" with the provisions ofNAC 453D in order to properly apply the licensing criteria set
9
10 forth therein and the provisions of the Ballot Initiative and the enabling statute.
11 37. When the DoT received applications, it undertook no effort to determine if the
12 applications were in fact "complete and in compliance."

13
38. In evaluating whether an application was "complete and in compliance" the DoT made
14
no effort to verify owners, officers or board members (except for checking whether a transfer request
15
was made and remained pending before the DoT).
16
39. For purposes of grading the applicant's organizational structure and diversity, if an
17
18 applicant's disclosure in its application of its owners, officers, and board members did not match the
19 Do T's own records, the DoT did not penalize the applicant. Rather the DoT permitted the grading, and
20 in some cases, awarded a conditional license to an applicant under such circumstances, and dealt with
21
the issue by simply informing the winning applicant that its application would have to be brought into
22
conformity with DoT records.
23
40. The DoT created a Regulation that modified the mandatory BQ2 provision "[t]he
24
25 Department shall conduct a background check of each prospective owner, officer, and board member of
26 a marijuana establishment license applicant" and determined it would only require information on the
27
11
Given the factual issues related to the grading raised by MM and LivFree, these issues may be subject to additional
28 evidentiary proceedings in the assigned department.
Page 14 of 24
application from persons "with an aggregate ownership interest of 5 percent or more in a marijuana
1
2 establishment." NAC 453D.255(1).
3 41. NRS 453D.200(6) provides that "[t]he DoT shall conduct a background check of each
4 prospective owner, officer, and board member of a marijuana establishment license applicant." The
5
DoT departed from this mandatory language in NAC 453D.255(1) and made no attempt in the
6
application process to verify that the applicant's complied with the mandatory language of the BQ2 or
7
even the impermissibly modified language.
8
42. The DoT made the determination that it was not reasonable to require industry to
9
10 provide every owner of a prospective licensee. The DOT's determination that only owners of a 5% or
11 greater interest in the business were required to submit information on the application was not a
12 permissible regulatory modification of BQ2. This determination violated Article 19, Section 3 of the
13
Nevada Constitution. The determination was not based on a rational basis.
14
4 3. The limitation of "unreasonably impracticable" in BQ2 12 does not apply to the
15
mandatory language of BQ2, but to the Regulations which the DoT adopted.
16
44. The adoption ofNAC 453D.255(1), as it applies to the application process is an
17
13
18 unconstitutional modification of BQ2. The failure of the DoT to carry out the mandatory provisions
19 ofNRS 453D.200(6) is fatal to the application process. 14 The DoT's decision to adopt regulations in
20 direct violation of BQ2's mandatory application requirements is violative of Article 19, Section 2(3) of
21
the Nevada Constitution.
22
12
NRS 453D.200(1) provides in part:
23
The regulations must not prohibit the operation of marijuana establishments, either expressly or through regulations
24 that make their operation unreasonably impracticable.
13
25 For administrative and regulatory proceedings other than the application, the limitation of 5% or greater ownership
appears within the DoT's discretion.
26 14
That provision states:
27
6. The Department shall conduct a background check of each prospective owner, officer, and board member of a
marijuana establishment license applicant.
28
Page 15 of 24
45. Given the lack of a robust investigative process for applicants, the requirement of the
1
2 background check for each prospective owner, officer, and board member as part of the application
3 process impedes an important public safety goal in BQ2.
4 46. Without any consideration as to the voters mandate in BQ2, the DoT determined that
5
requiring each prospective owner be subject to a background check was too difficult for
6
implementation by industry. This decision was a violation of the Nevada Constitution, an abuse of
7
discretion, and arbitrary and capricious.
8
47. The DoT did not comply with BQ2 by requiring applicants to provide information for
9
10 each prospective owner, officer and board member or verify the ownership of applicants applying for
11 retail recreational marijuana licenses. Instead the DoT issued conditional licenses to applicants who
12 did not identify each prospective owner, officer and board member. 15
13
48. The DoT's late decision to delete the physical address requirement on some application
14
forms while not modifying those portions of the application that were dependent on a physical location
15
(i.e. floor plan, community impact, security plan, and the sink locations) after the repeated
16
communications by an applicant's agent; not effectively communicating the revision; and, leaving the
17
18 original version of the application on the website, is evidence of conduct that is a serious issue.
19 49. Pursuant to NAC 453D.295, the winning applicants received a conditional license that
20 will not be finalized unless within twelve months of December 5, 2018, the licensees receive a final
21
inspection of their marijuana establishment.
22
23
24
15
25 Some applicants apparently provided the required information for each prospective owner, officer and board
member. Accepting as truthful these applicants' attestations regarding who their owners, officers, and board members were
26 at the time of the application, these applications were complete at the time they were filed with reference to NRS
453D.200(6). These entities are Green Therapeutics LLC, Eureka NewGen Farms LLC, Circle S Farms LLC, Deep Roots
27 Medical LLC, Pure Tonic Concentrates LLC, Wellness Connection of Nevada LLC, Polaris Wellness Center LLC, and
TRNVP098 LLC, Clear River LLC, Cheyenne Medical LLC, Essence Tropicana LLC, Essence Henderson LLC, and
Commerce Park Medical LLC. See Court Exhibit 3 (post-hearing submission by the DoT).
28
Page 16 of 24
50. The few instances of clear mistakes made by the Temporary Employees admitted in
1
2 evidence do not, in and of themselves, result in an unfair process as human error occurs in every
3 process.
4 51. Nothing in NRS 453D or NAC 453D provides for any right to an appeal or review of a
5
decision denying an application for a retail recreational marijuana license.
6
52. There are an extremely limited number of licenses available for the sale of recreational
7
manJuana.
8
53. The number of licenses available was set by BQ2 and is contained in NRS
9
10 453D.210(5)(d).
11 54. Since the Court does not have authority to order additional licenses in particular
12 jurisdictions, and because there are a limited number of licenses that are available in certain
13
jurisdictions, injunctive relief is necessary to permit the Plaintiffs, if successful in the NRS
14
453D.210(6) process, to actually obtaining a license, if ultimately successful in this litigation.
15
55. The secondary market for the transfer of licenses is limited. 16
16
56. If any findings of fact are properly conclusions oflaw, they shall be treated as if
17
18 appropriately identified and designated.
19 CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
20 57. "Any person ... whose rights, status or other legal relations are affected by a statute,
21
municipal ordinance, contract or franchise, may have determined any question of construction or
22
validity arising under the instrument, statute, ordinance, contract or franchise and obtain a declaration
23
ofrights, status or other legal relations thereunder." NRS 30.040.
24
25 58. A justiciable controversy is required to exist prior to an award of declaratory relief. Doe
26 v. Bryan, 102 Nev. 523, 525, 728 P.2d 443,444 (1986).
27 16
The testimony elicited during the evidentiary hearing established that multiple changes in ownership have occurred
since the applications were filed. Given this testimony, simply updating the applications previously filed would not comply
28 with BQ2.
Page 17 of 24
59. NRS 33.010 governs cases in which an injunction may be granted. The applicant must
1
2 show (1) a likelihood of success on the merits; and (2) a reasonable probability that the non-moving
3 party's conduct, if allowed to continue, will cause irreparable harm for which compensatory damage is
4 an inadequate remedy.
5
60. Plaintiffs have the burden to demonstrate that the DoT's conduct, if allowed to continue,
6
will result in irreparable harm for which compensatory damages is an inadequate remedy.
7
61. The purpose of a preliminary injunction is to preserve the status quo until the matter can
8
be litigated on the merits.
9
10 62. In City of Sparks v. Sparks Mun. Court, the Supreme Court explained, "[a]s a
11 constitutional violation may be difficult or impossible to remedy through money damages, such a
12 violation may, by itself, be sufficient to constitute irreparable harm." 129 Nev. 348, 357, 302 P.3d
13
1118, 1124 (2013).
14
63. Article 19, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada provides, in pertinent
15
part:
16
"1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of article 4 of this constitution, but subject to the
17
limitations of section 6 of this article, the people reserve to themselves the power to propose,
18 by initiative petition, statutes and amendments to statutes and amendments to this
constitution, and to enact or reject them at the polls.
19
20
3. If the initiative petition proposes a statute or an amendment to a statute, the person who
21 intends to circulate it shall file a copy with the secretary of state before beginning circulation
22 and not earlier than January 1 of the year preceding the year in which a regular session of the
legislature is held. After its circulation, it shall be filed with the secretary of state not less than
23 30 days prior to any regular session of the legislature. The circulation of the petition shall cease
on the day the petition is filed with the secretary of state or such other date as may be prescribed
24 for the verification of the number of signatures affixed to the petition, whichever is earliest. The
secretary of state shall transmit such petition to the legislature as soon as the legislature
25 convenes and organizes. The petition shall take precedence over all other measures except
26 appropriation bills, and the statute or amendment to a statute proposed thereby shall be enacted
or rejected by the legislature without change or amendment within 40 days. If the proposed
27 statute or amendment to a statute is enacted by the legislature and approved by the governor in
the same manner as other statutes are enacted, such statute or amendment to a statute shall
28 become law, but shall be subject to referendum petition as provided in section 1 ofthis article.
Page 18 of 24
If the statute or amendment to a statute is rejected by the legislature, or if no action is taken
1
thereon within 40 days, the secretary of state shall submit the question of approval or
2 disapproval of such statute or amendment to a statute to a vote of the voters at the next
succeeding general election. If a majority of the voters voting on such question at such election
3 votes approval of such statute or amendment to a statute, it shall become law and take effect
upon completion of the canvass of votes by the supreme court. An initiative measure so
4 approved by the voters shall not be amended, annulled, repealed, set aside or suspended
by the legislature within 3 years from the date it takes effect."
5
6 (Emphasis added.)
7 64. The Nevada Supreme Court has recognized that "[i]nitiative petitions must be kept
8 substantively intact; otherwise, the people's voice would be obstructed ... [I]nitiative legislation is not
9 subject to judicial tampering-the substance of an initiative petition should reflect the unadulterated will
10
of the people and should proceed, if at all, as originally proposed and signed. For this reason, our
11
constitution prevents the Legislature from changing or amending a proposed initiative petition that is
12
under consideration." Rogers v. Heller, 117 Nev. 169, 178, 18 P.3d 1034,1039-40 (2001).
13
65. BQ2 provides, "the Department shall adopt all regulations necessary or convenient to
14
15 carry out the provisions of this chapter." NRS 453D.200(1). This language does not confer upon the
16 DoT unfettered or unbridled authority to do whatever it wishes without constraint. The DoT was not
17 delegated the power to legislate amendments because this is initiative legislation. The Legislature itself
18
has no such authority with regard to NRS 453D until three years after its enactment under the
19
prohibition of Article 19, Section 2 of the Constitution of the State of Nevada.
20
66. Where, as here, amendment of a voter-initiated law is temporally precluded from
21
22 amendment for three years, the administrative agency may not modify the law.
23 67. NRS 453D.200(1) provides that "the Department shall adopt all regulations necessary or
24 convenient to carry out the provisions of this chapter." The Court finds that the words "necessary or
25 convenient" are susceptible to at least two reasonable interpretations. This limitation applies only to
26
Regulations adopted by the Do T.
27
28
Page 19 of 24
68. While the category of diversity is not specifically included in the language of BQ2, the
1
2 evidence presented in the hearing demonstrates that a rational basis existed for the inclusion of this
3 category in the Factors and the application.
4 69. The DoT's inclusion of the diversity category was implemented in a way that created a
5
process which was partial and subject to manipulation by applicants.
6
70. The DoT staff provided various applicants with different information as to what would
7
be utilized from this category and whether it would be used merely as a tiebreaker or as a substantive
8
category.
9
10 71. Based upon the evidence adduced, the Court finds that the DoT selectively discussed
11 with applicants or their agents the modification of the application related to physical address
12 information.
13
72. The process was impacted by personal relationships in decisions related to the
14
requirements of the application and the ownership structures of competing applicants. This in and of
15
itself is insufficient to void the process as urged by some of the Plaintiffs.
16
17 73. The Do T disseminated various versions of the 2018 Retail Marijuana Application, one
18 of which was published on the DoT's website and required the applicant to provide an actual physical
19 Nevada address for the proposed marijuana establishment, and not a P.O. Box, (see Exhibit 5), whereas
20 an alternative version of the DoT's application form, which was not made publicly available and was
21
distributed to some, but not all, of the applicants via a DoT listserv service, deleted the requirement that
22
applicants disclose an actual physical address for their proposed marijuana establishment. See Exhibit
23
SA.
24
25 74. The applicants were applying for conditional licensure, which would last for 1 year.
26 NAC 453D.282. The license was conditional based on the applicant's gaining approval from local
27
28
Page 20 of 24
authorities on zoning and land use, the issuance of a business license, and the Department of Taxation
1
2 inspections of the marijuana establishment.
3 75. The DoT has only awarded conditional licenses which are subject to local government
4 approval related to zoning and planning and may approve a location change of an existing license, the
5
public safety apsects of the failure to require an actual physical address can be cured prior to the award
6
of a final license.
7
76. By selectively eliminating the requirement to disclose an actual physical address for
8
each and every proposed retail recreational marijuana establishment, the DoT limited the ability of the
9
10 Temporary Employees to adequately assess graded criteria such as (i) prohibited proximity to schools
11 and certain other public facilities, (ii) impact on the community, (iii) security, (iv) building plans, and
12 (v) other material considerations prescribed by the Regulations.

13
77. The hiring of Temporary Employees was well within the Do T's discretionary power.
14
78. The evidence establishes that the DoT failed to properly train the Temporary
15
Employees. This is not an appropriate basis for the requested injunctive relief unless it makes the
16
17 grading process unfair.
18 79. The DoT failed to establish any quality assurance or quality control of the grading done
19 by Temporary Employees. 17 This is not an appropriate basis for the requested injunctive relief unless it
20 makes the grading process unfair.
21
80. The DoT made licensure conditional for one year based on the grant of power to create
22
regulations that develop "[p ]rocedures for the issuance, renewal, suspension, and revocation of a
23
license to operate a marijuana establishment." NRS 453D.200(1)(a). This was within the Do T's
24
25 discretion.
26
27
17
The Court makes no determination as to the extent which the grading errors alleged by MM and Live Free may be
28 subject to other appropriate writ practice related to those individualized issues by the assigned department.
Page 21 of 24
81. Certain of Do T's actions related to the licensing process were nondiscretionary
1
2 modifications ofBQ2's mandatory requirements. The evidence establishes DoT's deviations
3 constituted arbitrary and capricious conduct without any rational basis for the deviation.
4 82. The DoT's decision to not require disclosure on the application and to not conduct
5
background checks of persons owning less than 5% prior to award of a conditional license is an
6
impermissible deviation from the mandatory language of BQ2, which mandated "a background check
7
of each prospective owner, officer, and board member of a marijuana establishment license applicant."
8
NRS 453D.200(6).
9
10 83. The argument that the requirement for each owner to comply with the application
11 process and background investigation is "umeasonably impracticable" is misplaced. The limitation of
12 umeasonably impracticable applied only to the Regulations not to the language and compliance with
13
BQ2 itself.
14
84. Under the circumstances presented here, the Court concludes that certain of the
15
Regulations created by the DoT are umeasonable, inconsistent with BQ2 and outside of any discretion
16
17 permitted to the DoT.
18 85. The DoT acted beyond its scope of authority when it arbitrarily and capriciously
19 replaced the mandatory requirement of BQ2, for the background check of each prospective owner,
20 officer and board member with the 5% or greater standard in NAC 453.255(1). This decision by the
21
DoT was not one they were permitted to make as it resulted in a modification ofBQ2 in violation of
22
Article 19, Section 2(3) of the Nevada Constitution.
23
86. As Plaintiffs have shown that the DoT clearly violated NRS Chapter 453D, the claims
24
25 for declaratory relief, petition for writ of prohibition, and any other related claims is likely to succeed
26 on the merits.
27 87. The balance of equities weighs in favor of Plaintiffs.

28
Page 22 of 24
88. "[N]o restraining order or preliminary injunction shall issue except upon the giving of
1
2 adequate security by the applicant, in such sum as the court deems proper, for the payment of such
3 costs and damages as may be incurred or suffered by any party who is found to be wrongfully enjoined
4 or restrained." NRCP 65(d).

5
89. The DoT stands to suffer no appreciable losses and will suffer only minimal harm as a
6
result of an injunction.
7
90. Therefore, a security bond already ordered in the amount of $400,000 is sufficient for
8
the issuance of this injunctive relief. 18
9
10 91. If any conclusions of law are properly findings of fact, they shall be treated as if
11 appropriately identified and designated.
12
I I I I I
13
I I I I I
14
I I I I I
15
I I I I I
16
I I I I I
17
I I I I I
18
19 I I I I I
20 I I I I I
21 I I I I I
22 I I I I I
23 I I I I I
24 I I I I I
25
26
27 18
As discussed during the preliminary injunction hearing, the Court sets a separate evidentiary hearing on whether to
increase the amount of this bond. That hearing is set for August 29, 2019, at 9:00 a.m.
28
Page 23 of 24
ORDER
1
2 IT IS HEREBY ADJUDGED ORDERED AND DECREED that Plaintiffs' Motions for
3 Preliminary Injunction are granted in part.
4 The State is enjoined from conducting a final inspection of any of the conditional licenses
5
issued in or about December 2018 who did not provide the identification of each prospective owner,
6
officer and board member as required by NRS 453D.200(6) pending a trial on the merits. 19
7
The issue of whether to increase the existing bond is set for hearing on August 29, 2019, at
8
9:00 am.
9
10 The parties in A786962 and A787004 are to appear for a Rule 16 conference September 9,
11 2019, at 9:00 am and submit their respective plans for discovery on an expedited schedule by noon on
12 September 6, 2019.
13
DATED this 23rd day of August 2019.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
I hereby certify that on t date filed, this Order was electronically served, pursuant to
22 N.E.F.C.R. Rule 9, to all reg· tered parties in the Eighth Judicial District Court Electronic Filing
23 Program.
24
25
26
27 19
As Court Exhibit 3 is a post-hearing submission by the DoT, the parties may file objections and/or briefs related to
this issue. Any issues related to the inclusion or exclusion from this group will be heard August 29, 2019, at 9:00 am.
28
Page 24 of 24

NV Tax Department Lawsuit

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Electronically Filed

12 Attorneys for Plaintiffs/Petitioners

13 D.H. FLAMINGO, INC., d/b/a THE

20 D.H. FLAMINGO, INC., d/b/a THE

Case Number: A-19-787035-C

4 FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT AND PETITION FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW AND/OR

8 9. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Cheyenne Medical, LLC is a

10 Marketplace, Thrive, and/or Cheyenne Medical.

11 10. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Circle S Farms, LLC is a

18 Atomicrockz, and/or Giddystick.

19 12. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Commerce Park Medical

21 Cannabis Marketplace, LivFree Las Vegas, and/or Commerce Park Medical.

25 14. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Essence Henderson, LLC is a

11 28. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent 3AP Inc. is a Nevada

14 29. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent 5Seat Investments LLC is a

16 30. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Acres Dispensary LLC is a

18 31. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Acres Medical LLC is a

22 Research & Wellness Center.

23 33. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Alternative Medicine

25 name AMA MFG, AMA Production, and/or AMA Cultivation.

26 34. Upon information and belief, Defendant/Respondent Bioneva Innovations of Carson

7 Nevada Recreational Marijuana Application Criteria Total Points

4 included in the application.

7 Application: Recreational Retail Marijuana Store Only (“Revised Application”).

10 “Version 5.4 – 06/22/2018 Recreational Marijuana Establishment License Application” and

16 address of the prospective marijuana establishment;

17 b. Elimination of the requirement that applicants prove ownership of the physical

18 address of the prospective marijuana establishment or written permission of the

19 property owner to operate the proposed marijuana establishment on that property;

21 c. Revision to the highest-scored category of information in the application

22 (regarding the organizational structure of the proposed marijuana establishment)

23 to now require information about “key personnel” of the proposed marijuana

28 45 days after the Revised Application was released).

4 each submitted a Recreational Marijuana Establishment License Application: Recreational Retail

6 September 20, 2018.

9 a. 5701 West Charleston Boulevard in Las Vegas;

10 b. Sunset Road & Decatur Boulevard in Unincorporated Clark County; and

11 c. 1901 Civic Center in North Las Vegas.

13 applications seeking licenses for the following locations:

14 a. 9744 West Flamingo Road in in Unincorporated Clark County;

15 b. 2301 North Decatur Boulevard in Las Vegas;

16 c. 43 W. Cheyenne Avenue in North Las Vegas; and

17 d. 634 Ryland Street in Reno.

23 a. 2180 East Craig Road in North Las Vegas;

24 b. 330 Emery Street in Nye County;

25 c. Two locations to be determined in Unincorporated Clark County;

26 d. A location to be determined in Las Vegas;

27 e. A location to be determined in Henderson;

28 f. A location to be determined in Carson City;

8 Documentation concerning the integrated plan of the

22 H. Corruption Within the Department.

22 4. A public officer or employee shall not accept any salary, retainer,

12 1. Department Whistleblowers Report Corruption

22 Dr. Spirtos your [sic] on

22 committed by the clients of [Individual #2]

23 2. Offers of Employment and Other Perks

27 State of Nevada. NRS 197.010.