CALIFORNIA CANNABIS PROGRAM

CALIFORNIA
Licenses Available

STATE STATUS

Both medical and adult-use marijuana has been legalized in California. California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, through Proposition 215, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis. In 2016, California legalized recreational medical marijuana through a ballot, Proposition 64, which provided a legal system and access to marijuana for persons 21 years and older. Marijuana businesses are allowed to grow, manufacture/process, delivery/transport, and sell marijuana are required to be licensed by local and state government.

Learn more about how to get a California marijuana business license or schedule a complimentary consultation with our licensing expert, below.

Hemp

Yes

Medical Marijuana

Yes

Adult Use

Yes

When to Apply

Now

News

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NUMBER OF CALIFORNIA CANNABIS BUSINESS LICENSES AVAILABLE

The number of marijuana business licenses available are subject to each local municipality (city, township, borough, county) and its local ordinances. Local governments will be allowed to regulate the number and types of licenses allowed to operate within their jurisdiction. Types of licenses allowed include the following:

 

California Cultivation License: can grow cannabis plants and sell wholesale to other licensed California Cannabis Businesses. There are no state-wide limits on the number of cultivation licenses available.

There are multiple types of Cannabis Cultivation Licenses Available:

  • Type 1 – Cultivation; Specialty outdoor; Small.
  • Type 1A – Cultivation; Specialty indoor; Small.
  • Type 1B – Cultivation; Specialty mixed-light; Small.
  • Type 1C – Cultivation; Specialty cottage; Small.
  • Type 2 – Cultivation; Outdoor; Small.
  • Type 2A – Cultivation; Indoor; Small.
  • Type 2B – Cultivation; Mixed-light; Small.
  • Type 3 – Cultivation; Outdoor; Medium.
  • Type 3A – Cultivation; Indoor; Medium.
  • Type 3B – Cultivation; Mixed-light; Medium.
  • Type 4 – Cultivation; Nursery.
  • Type 5 – Cultivation; Outdoor; Large.
  • Type 5A – Cultivation; Indoor; Large.
  • Type 5B – Cultivation; Mixed-light; Large.

 

California Manufacturing License: can extract, process, and produce cannabis products such as edibles, concentrates, tinctures, etc. and sell to retail stores. There are no state-wide limits on the number of cultivation licenses available.

There are multiple types of Cannabis Manufacturing Licenses Available:

  • Type 6 – Manufacturer 1; or extraction using a mechanical method or non-volatile solvent (ex: CO2, ethanol, water, or food-grade dry ice, cooking oils, or butter)
  • Type 7 – Manufacturer 2; for extraction using a volatile solvent (ex: butane, propane, and hexane)
  • Type N – Manufacturer; for infusions
  • Type P – Manufacturer; for packaging and labeling only

 

California Retail License: can purchase cannabis from licensed cultivation and manufacturing facilities and sell cannabis to persons 21 years and older or qualifying patients with a valid medical marijuana card. There are no state-wide limits on the number of cultivation licenses available.

There are multiple types of Cannabis Retail Licenses Available:

  • Type 9 – Non-Storefront Retailer (delivery); Sells and delivers cannabis goods to customers. A retailer (brick & mortar) must have a licensed premise, but it is not open to the public.
  • Type 10 – Retailer; Sells cannabis goods to customers at its premises or by delivery. A retailer must have a licensed physical location(premises)where commercial cannabis activities are conducted.

HOW TO START A CANNABIS BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA

To obtain a marijuana business license in California, you will be required to submit an application. As part of the application, you will be required to submit marijuana business plans such as the following:

  • Business Plan
  • Financial Plan
  • Cultivation, Production, and/or Dispensing Plan
  • Inventory Control Plan
  • Security Plan
  • Recordkeeping Plan
  • Patient/Customer Education Plan
  • Community Benefits Plan

 

Schedule for a complimentary 15-min consult with our licensing/application expert to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.


CALIFORNIA MARIJUANA TIMELINE

1996 – California legalized medical cannabis

2016 – California legalized adult-use cannabis

2018 – California adult-use cannabis went into effect

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    "Working with Sara was a pleasure. We don’t know how we would have gotten through the application process without her."

    -Kristina BeglarianArizona Vertically Integrated Facility Owner