Riana Durrett

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Director, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Cannabis Policy Institute
Adjunct Professor, William S. Boyd School of Law
Expertise: Cannabis law, policy, and regulation, Cannabis industry, Marijuana dispensaries

Biography

Riana Durrett — a well-known figure in Nevada’s cannabis law and policy space — is the inaugural director of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's Cannabis Policy Institute, which launched in 2023. She also teaches cannabis law and regulation courses at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's William S. Boyd School of Law.

Durrett's background includes appointment by the governor as the first vice chair of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board. Prior to her work with the compliance board, Durrett served from 2015 to 2020 as the executive director of the Nevada Dispensary Association, where she established the association as the primary resource on best practices in Nevada's cannabis industry — developing the Nevada Dispensary Association into the primary regulatory and government affairs voice for Nevada's cannabis industry.

In addition to her work at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, Durrett currently serves on the boards of the Nevada Taxpayer Association and the Nevada Conservation League.

Durrett is an attorney admitted to practice law in Nevada and California. While pursuing her law degree, Durrett participated in several internship and externship programs, including a judicial internship for the Suquamish Tribe, where her mother is an enrolled tribal member. 

Education

  • LL.M., Gaming Law and Regulation, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
  • J.D., 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ
  • B.A., Political Science, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ

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Riana Durrett In The News

Weed Wonks
Jordan Wellington hosts Riana Durrett, vice chair of the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board and director of the Cannabis Policy Institute at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, for a discussion about the impact of legal cannabis in Nevada, its relationship with the gaming industry, and why it is so important to get cannabis hospitality right. They also discuss the importance of ongoing research and stakeholder engagement, which were at the heart of the policy symposium co-hosted by CPI and Strategies 64 during MJBizCon.
MMJ Daily
The Cannabis Policy Institute (CPI) at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ has released three new reports addressing key aspects of the cannabis industry. The reports were shared during the institute's inaugural symposium on Dec. 5 and highlighted critical challenges and opportunities related to regulatory reform, market trends, and emerging product categories.
Las Vegas Sun
Get ready to pay at a Las Vegas marijuana dispensary, and the substance’s illicit status at the federal level becomes quickly apparent. Cash, yes, please. Debit card, maybe. Credit card, no cannabis for you.
Benzinga
Nevada is taking its first serious steps toward exploring a potential merger of its gaming and cannabis industries, as policymakers and industry leaders discuss how these two major sectors can legally co-exist. A recent panel hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ) brought this conversation into the spotlight, as reported by Kolo.
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Articles Featuring Riana Durrett

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