A new 3,300-square-foot medical marijuana dispensary, Mynt, prepares to open on February 17 at 132 E. Second St. in downtown Reno, directly across from Greater Nevada Field. Local business owners position the outlet amid pawn shops, cheap steaks, and blackjack tables to serve both Nevada residents and out-of-state patients in a prime tourist zone. This venture underscores Nevada's rare allowance for medical cannabis sales to visitors, setting Northern Nevada dispensaries apart from most states.
Strategic Location Targets Patients and Tourists
Co-owner Scott Dunseath emphasizes patient access as the driving force behind the site selection. The dispensary sits near downtown Reno, the Truckee River, both major hospitals, and hotels where medical marijuana patients often stay. Nevada stands among roughly half a dozen states permitting sales to non-residents, a policy that draws clientele from beyond state lines to its dozen Northern Nevada outlets. This location capitalizes on heavy foot traffic outside Lake Tahoe, blending medical services with the area's entertainment draws.
Team Brings Cultivation Expertise to Retail
Mynt represents the latest project from Kynd Cannabis Co., led by co-owners Mark Pitchford, Joanna O'Neal, physician Dr. Sean Devlin, and Dunseath, who also runs retailer Reno Envy. Kynd handles marijuana cultivation and extraction in Reno. Additional stakes come from Strainz, a cannabis brand by Hugh and Chris Hempel, and Prestige Worldwide, a permitting, licensing, and lobbying firm run by Clint Cates, Kiera Sears, and attorney Joey Gilbert. The group transforms a recession-abandoned 2006 office space into a Nevada-themed interior with stone mosaics, oak slab counters, and planned vintage downtown Reno photos.
Revitalization Efforts Amid Urban Challenges
Owners view the opening as a step to redevelop blighted East Second Street, surrounded by vacant buildings and vagrants. Mynt joins a Vietnamese restaurant, pawn shop, and Cal-Neva club on the south side, with dozens of security cameras installed inside and out. Clint Cates highlights the area's rundown state and the business's role in renewal. While medical sales launch soon, retail marijuana awaits Nevada Department of Taxation regulations, with applications possibly starting late spring or early summer.
Nevada's Evolving Cannabis Landscape
Voters approved Question 2 in November, legalizing recreational possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or an eighth-ounce of concentrate, while medical cardholders may hold 2.5 ounces. This follows years of medical program growth, now extending to tourists and soon locals for recreational use. The dispensary's arrival signals broader economic shifts in Reno, where cannabis businesses address access gaps, boost vacant properties, and navigate security in high-traffic zones. As regulations solidify, such outlets could anchor further downtown investment.
