When Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak signed Assembly Bill 101 Nevada became the first state to legalize cannabinoids as a veterinary treatment. The Nevada Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners helped write AB 101, which the Nevada VMA supported. AB 101 encountered no opposition and passed the state Assembly and Senate without a single no vote

State Assemblyman Steve Yeager, the bill’s sponsor, introduced the measure because Nevada law was unclear about whether veterinarians were allowed to administer or even discuss CBD products with pet owners.

“Because of the ambiguity in our law, I learned that many veterinarians chose not to talk about CBD with pet owners for fear of being disciplined,” Yeager said. “This left pet owners in a tough spot because CBD products are generally unregulated, and it would be difficult for a pet owner to know exactly what to purchase or administer without the professional advice of a veterinarian.”

Starting October 2021, licensed Nevada veterinarians can recommend and administer hemp and cannabidiol products containing not more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol without fear of sanction from the state licensing board.

“I certainly hope that other states follow Nevada’s lead and provide reassurances to licensed veterinarians that they can administer CBD or talk about it with patients without fear of facing disciplinary proceedings,” said Yeager. “The bill itself is fairly simple and, thus, is a good model for other states.”