The city of Sparks has asked a judge to stay his order allowing the release of confidential information concerning the identities and other information of legal marijuana producers and distributors in the state. The lawyers filed a suit stating the legal protection given by the state to these owners. The newspaper, the Reno-Gazette, had previously asked for the information and were given documents that had the names of the owners redacted.
According to the Legal Sun, the case started when a reporter from the Reno-Gazette had filed a public records request seeking for business licenses of the establishments responsible for the legal growth and distributiion of marijuana in the state. The removal of the names from the documents caused the newspaper to file a lawsuit asking for their release, which the district judge gave.
A more lengthy reportage is given by the Reno-Gazette Journal itself. Nevada Judge Scott Freeman explains his motion, saying that the redaction of names from city documnets is not mandated or ordered by any state law.
However, also in the same report, the lawyers of the city of Spark have issued a statement saying they wil appeal the case to the Nevada Supreme Court. At the same time, it asked Judge Freeman to stay the order. They argue that the confidentiality extended by the law to marijuana owners in state documents also holds true for city files. They also point out a legal loophole, that the newspaper committed an error in its filing by not naming the actual city of Nevada in its lawsuit.
In a related story by the Honolulu Civil Beat, Hawaii is also embroiled in a legal furor over the confidentiality of its marijuana growers and owners. A lawyer is challenging Hawaii's Health Department on its position not to name the successful applicants who are given the medical marijuana license. The stiff competition is probably one reason: 59 companies are vying for the 8 licenses to legally operate marijuana in Hawaii. The lawyer contending with the Health Department is citing government transparency reasons.
