To give law enforcement the upper hand when combating hooligans, thugs and other unsavory products of uncivil society, Nevada lawmakers are pushing for a policy that would give police departments emergency access to the live surveillance feeds of medical marijuana dispensaries.
On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee heard a proposal (Senate Bill 329) that aims to strengthen the state’s medical marijuana program by offering more security for the businesses most exposed to criminal activity.
However, the bill is somewhat controversial, as industry leaders are concerned that it might open up the possibility for police to conduct clandestine investigations without permission.
According to a report from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Senator Tick Segerblom, who is one of the most aggressive political animals in the state legislature fighting for marijuana-related matters, has introduced an amendment to the proposal that attempts “to take out all of the controversial parts.”
So far, the committee has yet to take up a vote.
Because the federal government has refused to allow the cannabis industry access to banking services, dispensaries are often forced to operate on a cash-only basis. The situation has left the industry susceptible to a string of violent robberies in legal states all across the nation.
Under Senate Bill 329, officers responding to robbery alarms at dispensaries would have access to “real time information” that police believe could assist them in tracking down the culprits. These surveillance feeds could possibly provide police with details on how many suspects they are dealing with, the weapons involved, and other pertinent details that could prove beneficial.
Supporters of the bill say the proposal would only give law enforcement the right to monitor security camera feeds in emergency situations.
“We would not just be able to go in and look at what’s going on in there randomly,” said Chuck Callaway, a lobbyist for the Metropolitan Police Department “We would have no desire to do that.”
Although the measure is specifically geared to protect the medical marijuana sector, it is possible the recreational market could see a similar course of action in the near future.
