Ordinance 2017-17 ORDINANCE NO.2017- 1 7
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING A TEMPORARY
MORATORIUM ON CANNABIS DISPENSING BUSINESSES AS
FURTHER DEFINED HEREIN; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES,
PROVIDING FOR NON-INCLUSION IN THE CODE OF LAWS AND
ORDINANCES; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT AND SEVERABILITY;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, in 2014,the Florida Legislature enacted a law legalizing low-THC medical cannabis
in Florida; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the Florida Legislature expanded the law to legalize medical cannabis in
Florida; and
WHEREAS, future constitutional amendments and legislation may further expand the legal use of
cannabis in Florida; and
WHEREAS, a comprehensive State licensing and regulatory framework for the cultivation,
processing, and dispensing of cannabis now exists; and
WHEREAS the comprehensive State licensing and regulatory framework directs that the criteria
for the number and location of, and other permitting requirements that do not conflict with state law or
department rule for, dispensing facilities of cannabis businesses may be determined by local ordinance;
and
WHEREAS, cannabis businesses licensed pursuant to the law have begun cultivating cannabis for
processing and dispensing; and
WHEREAS, the dispensing of cannabis is currently illegal under federal law and the United
States Drug Enforcement Agency has recently confirmed that cannabis remains a Schedule I drug under
federal law, but the United States Department of Justice has discussed federal enforcement of such laws
with respect to state regulated cannabis operations in the 2012 "Cole Memorandum,"and;
WHEREAS,potential adverse impacts on the health, safety, and welfare of residents and business
from secondary effects associated with the distribution of cannabis exist, potentially including, offensive
odors, trespassing, theft, fire hazards, increased crime in and about the dispensary, robberies, negative
impacts on nearby businesses, nuisance problems, and increased DUI incidents; and
WHEREAS, certain of the above potential adverse impacts are accentuated by the current
difficulties experienced by cannabis businesses in obtaining banking services necessitating such
businesses to operate on a cash basis; and
WHEREAS, there exists the potential for misappropriation of medical cannabis to non-medical
uses; and
WHEREAS, an overabundance of dispensing facilities can affect the viability of such facilities,
result in compliance issues, lead to the improper diversion of products, and accentuate threats to the
public health, safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, on November 8, Florida voted to amend the Florida Constitution to legalize the
cultivation, production, and dispensing of medical cannabis for a broader population of eligible patients;
and
WHEREAS, Florida laws relating to the cultivation, production, and dispensing of cannabis
products are rapidly changing—raising substantial questions about whether cannabis-related land uses, as
a category of commercial use, may have deleterious and negative secondary effects on surrounding land
uses and communities; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this ordinance is to place a temporary moratorium on the opening of
certain new cannabis dispensing facilities, and on the expansion or relocation of certain existing cannabis
dispensing facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) hereby finds that the temporary
moratorium imposed by this ordinance is intended to give the Board the time reasonably necessary to
investigate the impacts of cannabis dispensing facilities, and if necessary, to promulgate reasonable
regulations relating to such establishments; and
WHEREAS, the Board hereby finds that this ordinance advances an important government
purpose by reducing the likelihood of the unregulated negative secondary effects of cannabis dispensing
facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Board hereby finds that this ordinance is in the best interest of the public health,
safety, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined it is in the public interest to adopt this ordinance pursuant
to the Board's police powers and Section 381.986, Florida Statutes, to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the public.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
SECTION ONE: Purpose and intent.
The purpose of this Ordinance is to provide the Board of County Commissioners of Collier
County, Florida, with the opportunity to review the impact of recent changes in law and the potential
passage of a constitutional amendment, as well as the impact of cannabis dispensing in other jurisdictions,
to determine how such dispensing should be permitted or regulated in Collier County.
SECTION TWO: Definitions.
(1) The following words and phrases, when used in this Ordinance, shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in this Ordinance:
a. Cannabis means all parts of any plant of the genus Cannabis, whether growing or not;
the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound,
manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant or its seeds or resin.
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b. Cannabis dispensing business or business shall mean a business location offering
cannabis for retail sale pursuant to a license to dispense cannabis issued under applicable
law.
c. Compassionate Use Act shall mean section 381.986, Florida Statutes, and chapter
2016-123, Laws of Florida, as amended from time to time, and any rules or regulations
promulgated thereunder.
d. State shall mean the State of Florida.
(2) In addition to the definitions contained in Subsection (1), other terms used in this
Ordinance shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Compassionate Use Act, and such definitions
are incorporated into this Ordinance by this reference.
SECTION THREE: Temporary Moratorium.
Beginning on the effective date of this Ordinance, a moratorium is hereby imposed on the
opening of new cannabis dispensing businesses and on the expansion or relocation of existing cannabis
dispensing businesses in Collier County.
a. During the moratorium, it is unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any person or
entity to open or cause to be opened any cannabis dispensing business within Collier County.
b. During the moratorium, it is unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any person or
entity to relocate or cause to be relocated any cannabis dispensing business within Collier
County.
c. During the moratorium, it is unlawful and a violation of this ordinance for any person or
entity to expand or cause to be expanded any cannabis dispensing business within Collier County.
d. During the moratorium, Collier County shall not accept, process or approve any
application for business tax receipts, licenses, building permits, land use permits, or any
development permits concerning or related to a cannabis dispensing business.
e. During the moratorium, Collier County shall not accept, process or approve any business
tax receipts, building permits, land use permits, or any development permits concerning or related
to a cannabis dispensing business.
f. During the moratorium, Collier County shall not accept, process or approve any licenses,
permits, or approvals for any property, entity, or individual for the sale or dispensation of
cannabis so long as this Ordinance is in effect.
g. Absent further action by the Board,this moratorium will expire on October 10, 2017.
Nothing in this temporary moratorium shall be construed to prohibit the use of cannabis pursuant
to the Compassionate Use Act or other applicable Florida Law, or the delivery of cannabis in compliance
with the Compassionate Use Act or other applicable Florida Law.
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SECTION FOUR: Study and Recommendations.
The County Manager is hereby directed to study, land development regulations for cannabis
dispensaries and the impact of such regulations in other jurisdictions.
SECTION FIVE: Penalties.
Any person or entity who violates any provision of this Ordinance or who fails to comply
therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, shall be fined in an amount not exceeding five
hundred dollars ($500.00) per violation, per day, or be imprisoned for a period of time not to
exceed sixty (60) days.
SECTION SIX: Conflict and Severability.
In the event this Ordinance conflicts with any other ordinance of Collier County or other
applicable law, the more restrictive shall apply. If any phrase or portion of this Ordinance is held
invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a
separate, distinct and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the
remaining portion.
SECTION SEVEN: Non-Inclusion in the Code of Laws and Ordinances.
Given the temporary nature and effect of this Ordinance, it is the intent of the Board of
County Commissioners that this Ordinance not be codified.
SECTION EIGHT: Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall be effective upon filing with the Department of State.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Collier
County, Florida, this c\day of , 2017.
ATTEST: . ,,;; r.: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
DWIGHT E. BROCK, Clerk COLL UNTY, FLORIDA
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Approvy —,.- ''e 'orm and legality:
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Jeffrey A. .tzkow, County Attorney and �
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FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OfSTATE
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RICK SCOTT KEN DETZNER
Governor Secretary of State
May 11, 2017
Honorable Dwight E. Brock
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Collier County
Post Office Box 413044
Naples, Florida 34101-3044
Attention: Ann P. Jennejohn, Deputy Clerk
Dear Mr. Brock:
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 125.66, Florida Statutes, this will acknowledge receipt of your
electronic copy of Collier County Ordinance No. 17-17, which was filed in this office on May 10, 2017.
Sincerely,
Ernest L. Reddick
Program Administrator
ELR/lb
R. A. Gray Building • 500 South Bronough Street • Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Telephone: (850) 245-6270
www.dos.state.fl.us