Recreational cannabis is a $1 billion annual industry in Nevada that continues to grow — long-awaited consumption lounges finally are starting to open — since it launched in 2017. Yet, the illegal drug market remains strong here, industry experts said.

As the Mega Millions and Powerball lotteries surge once again with no winners and Nevadans make the trip to border gas stations for tickets, FOX5 looks at the next steps necessary to make a lottery legal-- and why the November 2024 election matters.

Nevada remains stuck at 5.3% unemployment despite job growth statistics that suggest there’s plenty of work out there. Why hasn’t the state’s unemployment rate returned to pre-pandemic levels, when it was around 3.6%? That was the lowest it had been since 1976, and it was roughly equal to the national average just before the COVID-19 lockdown four years ago.

Nevada remains stuck at 5.3% unemployment despite job growth statistics that suggest there’s plenty of work out there. Why hasn’t the state’s unemployment rate returned to pre-pandemic levels, when it was around 3.6%? That was the lowest it had been since 1976, and it was roughly equal to the national average just before the COVID-19 lockdown four years ago.

In order to attract businesses to relocate to Southern Nevada, economic development agencies need to start going “spearfishing,” a economic development leader told lawmakers. 

Employees at the newest resort on the Strip can get additional well-being and family support in new benefits announced Thursday. Existing and future Fontainebleau employees — called members by the resort — will get access to child care, fertility, gym and wellness programs, according to a news release.

Nevada Republicans received significantly more money from the pharmaceutical industry last year than Democrats, with Gov. Joe Lombardo making up the majority of his party’s haul, according to a Nevada Independent analysis of campaign finance data.

President Joe Biden will deliver his State of the Union address to members of Congress Thursday night. Each member is allowed to bring one guest to the address in the U.S. Capitol. 

One of the biggest challenges facing the burgeoning cannabis industry – both in Nevada and nationwide – is the illegal market, experts say. Although it’s hard to know for certain exactly how much business the illegal cannabis market is drawing away from the legal one, experts say it could threaten the future of legal cannabis as the industry begins to grow into adolescence.