A new 3,300-square-foot medical marijuana dispensary, Mynt, prepares to open on February 17 at 132 E. Second St. in downtown Reno, steps from the Greater Nevada Field ballpark. Local business owners position the shop amid $5.99 steaks, pawn shop guitars, and blackjack tables, targeting both residents and tourists in a high-traffic area. This launch underscores Nevada's unique allowance for out-of-state medical marijuana purchases, one of only a handful of states with such provisions.
Strategic Location Serves Patients and Visitors
Co-owner Scott Dunseath emphasizes patient access as the driving force behind the site selection. The dispensary sits near downtown Reno, the Truckee River, and both major hospitals, while also close to hotels where out-of-state medical marijuana patients often stay. Northern Nevada's nearly dozen dispensaries gain an edge from Nevada's policy, which permits sales to non-residents—a rarity nationwide that draws medical users from beyond state lines.
Team Draws on Local Cannabis Expertise
Mynt marks 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 and lobbying firm owned by Clint Cates, Kiera Sears, and attorney Joey Gilbert. This collective brings established operations to the retail front.
Nevada Design Revives Blighted Space
The interior features Nevada-centric touches: stone mosaics winding through rooms, oak slabs as counters and benches, and planned vintage photos of downtown Reno on the walls. Built in 2006 as offices, the space sat vacant after the recession. Owners like Cates see it as a redevelopment anchor for East Second Street, an area marked by rundown buildings, a Vietnamese restaurant, pawn shop, and the Cal-Neva club. Security cameras, numbering several dozen inside and out, address vagrant presence nearby.
Future Retail License Awaits Regulations
Mynt launches with medical sales first, but owners plan a retail marijuana license application once the Nevada Department of Taxation finalizes rules—potentially by late spring or early summer. Nevada voters approved Question 2 in November, legalizing recreational possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or an eighth-ounce of concentrate; medical cardholders may possess 2.5 ounces. This dual-market setup positions downtown Reno to blend medical access with emerging recreational demand, spurring urban renewal amid shifting cannabis policy.
