§ 14-170. Numerical limit on medical marijuana treatment centers.

(a)

The county shall consider issuance of certificates of approval for medical marijuana treatment centers for qualified applicants based upon the county population. The maximum number of certificates of approval in the jurisdiction shall not exceed one (1) for every one hundred thousand (100,000) residents, as certified in the most recent census or periodic demographic studies conducted by the University of Florida. For example:

Residents Indicated	Certificates of Approval Authorized
0—100,000	1
100,001—200,000	2
200,001—300,000	3
300,001—400,000	4
400,001—500,000	5

 

For each subsequent one hundred thousand (100,000) residents an additional certificate of approval may be authorized.

(b)

A dispensing organization may hold more than one (1) certificate of approval, but may not hold all available certificates of approval issued by the county if more than one (1) is available.

(c)

In order to ensure that the population of the jurisdiction has access to the best qualified dispensing organizations, while likewise maintaining competition in the cannabis dispensing industry within the jurisdiction, when multiple certificates of approval are available applicants shall be entitled to receive, upon request, up to the number of certificates of approval set forth in the below table, and shall identify in their application the number of certificates of approval that they are requesting:

Number of Certificates Available	First Ranked Applicant	Second Ranked Applicant	Third Ranked Applicant	Fourth Ranked Applicant
1	1	0	0	0
2	1	1	0	0
3	2	1	0	0
4	2	1	1	0
5	3	1	1	0
6	3	2	1	0
7	4	2	1	0
8	4	2	1	1
9	5	2	1	1
10	5	2	2	1
11	6	2	2	1
12	6	3	2	1
13	7	3	2	1
14	7	4	2	1
15	8	4	2	1
16	8	4	2	2
17	9	4	2	2
18	9	4	3	2
19	10	4	3	2
20	10	5	3	2

 

If any certificates of approval remain available following the distribution of requested certificates of approval to applicants in accordance with the above table, one (1) certificate of approval shall be offered to each remaining eligible applicant, in declining order of rank, until all certificates of approval have been distributed. If, following the completion of such process, certificates of approval still remain available, one (1) additional certificate of approval shall be offered to each applicant, in declining order of rank, until all certificates of approval have been distributed.

(d)

If additional certificates of approval are made available, the county manager or designee shall provide notice of a new application process conducted pursuant to this article.

(e)

Each certificate of approval authorizes the holder to operate a single licensed premises pursuant to an approved premises authorization.

(Ord. No. 2016-97, § 1, 10-17-16)