Source article targets U.K. readers, "in the western state" is just a phrase used to orient readers to the general location of Nevada.
It does annoy that here in the UK, the only licensed use for medical Marijuana (Sativex) is to treat MS. This has to be a better option than using strong opiates such Fentanyl for people like myself.
For some - even intelligent people - it's so firmly ngrained that it's impossible to even have a sensible discussion about it.
Sadly, I don't think we'll see meaningful medical usage any time soon, let alone recreational.