California Cannabis Licensing

Nursery

Cultivation of cannabis solely as a nursery (examples of typical nursery activities include cloning and seed propagation)

Specialty Cottage Indoor

An indoor cultivation site with up to 500 square feet or less of total canopy

Specialty Cottage Outdoor

An outdoor cultivation site with up to 25 mature plants

Specialty Cottage Mixed-Light

A mixed-light cultivation site with 2,500 square feet or less of total canopy

Specialty Outdoor

An outdoor cultivation site with 5,000 square feet or less of total canopy—or up to 50 mature plants on noncontiguous plots

Specialty Indoor

An indoor cultivation site of between 501 and 5,000 square feet of total canopy

Specialty Mixed-Light

A mixed-light cultivation site of between 2,501 and 5,000 square feet of total canopy

Small Outdoor

An outdoor cultivation site of between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy

Small Indoor

An indoor cultivation site of between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy

Small Mixed-Light

A mixed-light cultivation site of between 5,001 and 10,000 square feet of total canopy

Medium Mixed-Light

A mixed-light cultivation site of between 10,001 and 22,000 square feet of total canopy

Medium Indoor

An indoor cultivation site of between 10,001 and 22,000 square feet of total canopy

Medium Outdoor

An outdoor cultivation site of between 10,001 square feet and 1 acre of total canopy

Large Mixed-Light

Note: DCC will not issue any Large Mixed-Light licenses prior to January 1, 2023

For cultivation using a combination of natural and supplemental artificial lighting at a maximum threshold (which will be determined by the licensing authority) for more than 22,000 square feet of total canopy size on one premises

Large Outdoor

Note: DCC will not issue any Large Outdoor licenses prior to January 1, 2023

For outdoor cultivation that uses no artificial lighting for more than 1 acre of total canopy size on one premises

Large Indoor

Note: DCC will not issue any Large Indoor licenses prior to January 1, 2023

For indoor cultivation that exclusively uses artificial lighting for more than 22,000 square feet of total canopy size on one premises

Processor

A cultivation site that conducts only trimming, drying, curing, grading, or packaging of cannabis and nonmanufactured cannabis products

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.

Testing laboratory: A laboratory, facility, or entity in the state that offers or performs tests of cannabis goods. Testing laboratories must obtain and maintain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. Testing laboratories may be issued a provisional license allowing them to operate while they obtain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, provided they meet all other licensure requirements.

Retailer (nonstorefront): Sells and delivers cannabis goods to customers. A retailer (nonstorefront) must have a licensed premises, but it is not open to the public.

Microbusiness: Allows a licensee to engage in cultivation (on an area less than 10,000 square feet), manufacturing (Level 1 manufacturing, Type 6), distribution, and retail sale, or any combination of the four activities. Licensees will be required to comply with all rules and regulations, which will include, where applicable, regulations adopted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Public Health, governing the activities they are engaged in.

Distributor: Is responsible for transporting cannabis goods, arranging for testing of cannabis goods, and conducting quality assurance review of cannabis goods to ensure they comply with all packaging and labeling requirements.

Cannabis Event Organizer: This is an annual license, with fees based on the number of events organized by the licensee per year. Cannabis events can only be held by a person who has been issued a cannabis event organizer license by the Bureau. The cannabis event organizer is not authorized to cultivate, distribute, manufacture, or sell cannabis or cannabis products unless the organizer also holds a separate license to engage in such commercial cannabis activities

Distributor transport: Allows a licensee to transport cannabis goods between licensed cultivators, manufacturers, and distributors. A licensee may not transport cannabis goods to a licensed retailer and may not engage in any other distributor activities.