1. In determining whether to issue a medical cannabis establishment license pursuant to NRS 678B.210, the Board shall, in addition to the factors set forth in that section, consider criteria of merit established by regulation of the Board. Such criteria must include, without limitation:

(a) Whether the applicant controls liquid assets in an amount determined by the Board to be sufficient to cover the initial expenses of opening the proposed medical cannabis establishment and complying with the provisions of this title;

(b) The previous experience of the persons who are proposed to be owners, officers or board members of the proposed medical cannabis establishment at operating other businesses or nonprofit organizations;

(c) The educational and life experience of the persons who are proposed to be owners, officers or board members of the proposed medical cannabis establishment;

(d) Any demonstrated knowledge or expertise on the part of the persons who are proposed to be owners, officers or board members of the proposed medical cannabis establishment with respect to the compassionate use of cannabis to treat medical conditions;

(e) Whether the proposed location of the proposed medical cannabis establishment would be convenient to serve the needs of persons who are authorized to engage in the medical use of cannabis;

(f) The likely impact of the proposed medical cannabis establishment on the community in which it is proposed to be located;

(g) The adequacy of the size of the proposed medical cannabis establishment to serve the needs of persons who are authorized to engage in the medical use of cannabis;

(h) Whether the applicant has an integrated plan for the care, quality and safekeeping of medical cannabis from seed to sale;

(i) The diversity on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender or veteran status of the applicant or the persons who are proposed to be owners, officers or board members of the proposed medical cannabis establishment, including, without limitation, the inclusion of persons of backgrounds which are disproportionately underrepresented as owners, officers or board members of medical cannabis establishments; and

(j) Any other criteria of merit that the Board determines to be relevant.

2. The Board shall adopt regulations for determining the relative weight of each criteria of merit established by the Board pursuant to subsection 1.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 3794, effective July 1, 2020)