Few places in the U.S. illustrate the economics of legal cannabis as clearly as Clark County, home to Las Vegas. Since adult-use sales began in 2017, the county has become the engine of Nevada’s cannabis market—and a major contributor to state revenue that ultimately supports public education and regulation. Here’s a data-driven look at how much money the market generates, what share comes from Clark County, and how those dollars are used.

A two-tax system that feeds education

Nevada levies two statewide cannabis excise taxes. First is a 15% wholesale excise tax collected on the first wholesale sale from cultivators to other licensed businesses. Second is a 10% retail excise tax collected on adult-use sales to consumers (on top of regular sales tax). By statute, all revenue from the 10% retail excise tax is deposited into the State Education Fund (SEF)—the account that finances K-12 education statewide. Revenue from the 15% wholesale excise tax first pays the costs of cannabis regulation (the Cannabis Compliance Board, or CCB) and reimburses local governments up to $5 million annually; any remaining wholesale revenue then also goes to the SEF.

This structure matters because it defines cannabis as a consistent—if modest—pillar of school funding. The policy shift was made permanent in state law (NRS 372A.290) and has been repeatedly affirmed by regulators and legislative briefings.

How big is the market—and Clark County’s share?

State regulators reported $829.2 million in taxable cannabis sales in FY 2024 (July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024). Of that, Clark County accounted for about $628.4 million, roughly 76% of statewide sales—a reflection of the Las Vegas area’s dense population and tourism economy.

The same official FY 2024 table shows how the excise taxes add up:

• Retail excise tax (10%) statewide: $76.8 million
• Retail excise tax attributed to Clark County sales: $58.4 million
• Wholesale excise tax statewide: $43.7 million
• Total excise tax revenue (wholesale + retail) statewide: $120.5 million. (State of Nevada)

Because retail excise dollars flow directly into the SEF, Clark County’s dominant retail activity translates into a dominant share of the cannabis contribution to K-12 funding. In short: Las Vegas sales largely drive the education-funding portion of cannabis revenues.

Where cannabis dollars go—step by step

1) Retail excise (10%) → State Education Fund (SEF). Every dollar of the 10% adult-use retail excise tax is transferred to the SEF as it’s collected. In FY 2024, that totaled $76.8 million statewide. The overwhelming majority of those dollars were generated in Clark County.

2) Wholesale excise (15%) → regulation + locals → SEF. Wholesale revenues first cover the costs of the CCB and reimburse local governments (capped at 5M combined annually). Any remainder goes into the SEF. In FY 2024, statewide wholesale excise totaled **43.7 million**; after paying regulatory and local-government costs, the balance flowed to education.

3) What the SEF pays for. The SEF is the state’s main K-12 funding account; cannabis revenue is commingled with other sources and supports overall school operations (teachers, classrooms, and general education services) rather than one-off projects. Independent reporting and legislative analyses have emphasized that the statutory dedication to education is being followed, even as the exact classroom impact depends on broader school-finance formulas.

Totals since legalization: hundreds of millions to schools

Cumulatively, cannabis taxes have delivered more than $700 million to Nevada schools since 2018, according to a 2025 analysis, including about $108 million in the most recent year. Those totals combine both retail and the education-funded portion of wholesale revenue. While advocates once hoped cannabis would be a “silver bullet” for schools, experts note it functions as a meaningful supplement in a much larger K-12 budget.

Clark County’s outsized role

Why does Clark County matter so much? The FY 2024 breakdown makes it plain:

• Sales: 628.4M in Clark vs. 829.2M statewide (~76%).
• Retail excise: $58.4M from Clark County transactions vs. $76.8M statewide (~76%).

The county’s tourism and retail concentration—retail storefronts on and near the Strip, plus the growth of licensed consumption lounges—keeps it the gravitational center of Nevada cannabis. As Nevada adds lounges and continues to refine regulations, Clark County’s throughput is likely to continue shaping statewide revenue.

Market trends: growth, then normalization

After peaking just above 1 billion in FY 2021, taxable sales have **eased to 829 million** as the market normalizes and contends with price compression and competition from the illicit market—challenges common across mature legal states. Still, cannabis remains a steady revenue line for schools and regulators. READ MORE: The Nevada Independent

Regulatory fine-tuning has continued as well. For example, AB 430 (effective Jan. 1, 2024) clarified how the wholesale excise is calculated—using fair market value for affiliate transfers and sale price for non-affiliate transactions—aimed at consistency and transparency in collections.

Why the distribution rules matter

Tying retail excise proceeds directly to the SEF was a deliberate policy choice to give schools a predictable, recurring stream rather than episodic grants. Routing wholesale dollars first through regulatory and local-government costs ensures the market is self-funding for oversight and enforcement—critical for product safety, combating illicit activity, and maintaining public confidence. Once those necessities are covered, the remainder bolsters education. The relevant statute (NRS 372A.290) encodes these priorities in law.

The bottom line

• Clark County is the backbone of Nevada cannabis—roughly three-quarters of FY 2024 sales and retail excise collections, led by Las Vegas tourism and population density.
• Cannabis taxes are a stable support for schools. In FY 2024, $76.8M in retail excise went directly to the State Education Fund, with additional dollars from wholesale after covering regulation and local reimbursements; cumulatively, $700M+ has supported Nevada K-12 since 2018. READ MORE: State of Nevada
• Policy makes the dollars count. By statute, retail taxes go straight to education; wholesale first sustains oversight, then supports schools—an approach designed to keep the program safe, compliant, and fiscally responsible. READ MORE: Justia Law

As cannabis tourism expands and lounges roll out, Clark County’s market will likely continue to anchor Nevada’s cannabis revenues. For Nevadans, the key takeaway is simple: every adult-use purchase feeds the State Education Fund, and the lion’s share of those purchases happen in and around Las Vegas.