DELAWARE CANNABIS PROGRAM

DELAWARE
STATE STATUS
The state of Delaware legalized medical cannabis in 2011, through a Legislative Bill – Senate Bill 17, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment.
Delaware legalized adult-use marijuana in April 2023 through the passing of HB 1 and HB2, which legalized recreational marijuana for individuals 21 years or older, and allows for access through licensed businesses.
To learn more about cannabis business opportunities in Delaware contact us.
For more about cannabis business opportunities in Delaware, see below!
Hemp
Yes
Medical Marijuana
Yes
Adult-Use Marijuana
Yes
When to Apply
Closed
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DELAWARE ADULT-USE MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSES
Cannabis Cultivator – an entity licensed to cultivate, prepare, and package marijuana and sell marijuana to retail marijuana stores, to marijuana product manufacturing facilities, and to other marijuana cultivation facilities, but not to consumers. A marijuana cultivation facility may not produce marijuana concentrates, tinctures, extracts, or other marijuana products. A license issued is valid for 2 years. Beginning 15 months after the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner shall issue the following number of cultivation facility licenses provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exist:
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- Indoor facility with a cannabis plant grow canopy area ≤ 2500 square feet or an outdoor facility with a cannabis plant grow canopy area ≤ 1 acre:
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- 20 microbusiness licenses
- 10 social equity licenses.
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- Indoor facility with a cannabis plant grow canopy area ≤ 2500 square feet or an outdoor facility with a cannabis plant grow canopy area ≤ 1 acre:
Cannabis Product Manufacturer – a person who is licensed to manufacture and distribute marijuana. A license issued under this section is valid for 2 years. Beginning 16 months after the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner shall issue the following number of product manufacturing facility licenses provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exist:
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- 10 open licenses
- 10 social equity licenses
- 10 microbusiness licenses
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Cannabis Retailer – a person licensed to sell retail marijuana or retail marijuana products. A license issued under this section is valid for 2 years. Any holder of a license for a retail marijuana store who wishes to sell marijuana or marijuana products on Sundays must pay a biennial license fee of $500.00 for the issuance of a special license to sell marijuana and marijuana products on Sundays, which is in addition to any other license fees which may be required of the holder. Beginning 19 months after the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner shall issue the following number of licenses provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exist:
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- 15 open licenses
- 15 social equity licenses
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Testing Facility – a person that a person who performs testing and research on retail marijuana. A license issued is valid for 2 years. Beginning 19 months after the effective date of this Act, the Commissioner shall issue the following number of licenses provided a sufficient number of qualified applicants exist:
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- 3 open licenses
- 2 social equity licenses
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Delaware’s application process was open from August 16th through September 30th of 2024. The lottery was held on October 24th for all license types except standard retail licenses, which received a seperate lottery. Delaware is currently not accepting applications for any license type.
DELAWARE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESS LICENSES
Delaware Compassion Care Centers– is a vertically integrated license allowing a licensee to grow medical cannabis plants; extract, process and produce medical cannabis products; and dispense/sell to registered patients. There is a limit of six (6) business licenses allowed for Delaware Compassion Care Centers within the state.
HOW TO START A MARIJUANA BUSINESS IN DELAWARE
To obtain a marijuana business license in Delaware, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, some of the plans you will need to include the following:
- Security Plan.
- Environmental Impact Plan.
- Quality Control and Quality Assurance Plan.
- Business History Plan.
- Financial Plan.
- Community Benefits Plan.
- Research Plan.
- Cultivation, Manufacturing and/or Dispensing Plan.
- Labor Compliance Plan.
- Staffing and Training Plan.
DELAWARE MARIJUANA TIMELINE
2012 – Delaware legalized medical cannabis
2014 – Delaware licensing period for cannabis businesses (Phase 1)
Dec 2015 to March 2016 – Delaware licensing period for cannabis businesses (Phase 2)
2017 – First Delaware cannabis business opened
April 2023 – Delaware legalized adult-use marijuana
By July of 2023 – Deadline for the adoption of regulations required to administer the licensing of recreational cannabis businesses
September 2024 – Application opens for ALL types of business and licenses
November 2024 – State shall begin issuing licenses
November 2024 – State shall issue cultivation licenses
December 2024 – States shall issue manufacturing licenses
March 2025 – State shall issue retail and testing licenses
Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application team to learn more about how we may be able to assist you. Need more help? Book an Hourly Delaware Cannabis Consultation today!
CONTACT US
"Cannabis Business Advisors is a world-class company. Their tactical and strategic knowledge will guide any business to success. CB Advisors' advice and counsel played a key role in making Strive Life the only locally awarded dispensary in North Dakota."
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Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner"Sara reduced much of the management team’s stress by her knowledge, execution, resolving conflicts, and firm but confident approach."
Chairman, Solevo Wellness"Sara’s success speaks for itself. Our company continues to engage Sara for ongoing consulting and her advice remains solid and relevant to our growth."
Owner, Firefly Dispensaries in Pennsylvania."Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."
Arizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner