Report: Majority of Nevada Cannabis Industry is White and Male

The majority of cannabis industry operators in Nevada are white, male, and older than 34-years-old, according to a Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) report dated January 29. The 5,501 returned surveys by registered industry agents included a 100% response rate from company owners, officers, or board members of cannabis companies. In all, the CCB sent 9,890 surveys.

The survey found 58% of respondents were male, with 38% female (2% declined to answer); 53% identified as white, 24% identified as Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish, 11% identified as Black, 6% identified as Asian, and about 3% identified as American Indian.

CCB Executive Director Tyler Klimas told the Nevada Independent that the report could help address the industry’s lack of diversity and potentially lead to the creation of social equity licenses. He added that the first Cannabis Advisory Commission subcommittee would be focused on social equity issues.

“If something like that moves forward, then that right there is an opportunity to bring some new people into the industry and focus on diversity if we’re going to issue new license types.” – Klimas to the Independent

Most company officers and executive board members were 35 to 44-years-old, while the majority of owners or managers, employees, and consultants were between 25 to 34. Twenty percent of responding consultants were 18 to 24-years-old; the demographic also comprised about 18% of industry employees. Those 55 to 64-years-old predominately served on the board of directors or as an executive board member, 13% and 11%, respectively.

Of the respondents, 49% were affiliated with a retail dispensary, 42% with cultivation, 28% with production, 12% with distribution, 7% with testing laboratories, and 8% with “another type” of establishment, including consulting and delivery.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 48% of Nevadans are white, 29% are Hispanic or Latino, 10% are Black, 8.7% are Asian, and 1.7% are Native American.