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​Nevada reveals personal data for medical marijuana sellers

The state has taken a website offline after a security researcher found 11,700 dispensary applications were available publicly.

Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
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Nevada state seal

Nevada state seal

 NV.gov

Did you apply to sell medical marijuana in Nevada? The US state might have published a lot of your personal information online.

Nevada accidentally published 11,700 eight-page applications from those seeking to run medical marijuana dispensaries, CNET sister site ZDNet reported Wednesday. The data was available through the state's website.

Information in the applications made public included applicants' names, home addresses, weight, height, race, hair and eye color, and driver's license and Social Security numbers.

Security researcher Justin Shafer found the problem, and the Nevada Health and Human Services Department told ZDNet it took the website offline after its discovery. The department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.