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The Cannabis Act and Licensing
Health Canada Licensing Information:
A Free Licensing Resource to get you Licensed for Cannabis and Psychedelics Fast.
Health Canada application & Licensing INformation
About
Cannabis businesses in Canada require a licence from Health Canada to grow cannabis or hemp, to manufacture cannabis products, or to conduct research, analyze or sell cannabis and cannabis products. Presented here is an introduction to the licence types, their corresponding authorized activities, the licensing conditions and other key considerations that are required to become a licensed entity.
This information is a privately updated resource. This site is not associated with Health Canada. The following licence descriptions cover general information and are not exhaustive – there are many details to include in a successful application. To review the Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations refer to this link.
Request more information should further information be required about licensing, costs, licensing timelines and other important considerations that might impact project timelines.
This resource will help to ensure a smooth, cost-effective experience in obtaining a federal cannabis licence. Whether the goal is to cultivate, process, extract, test or sell cannabis, there is information for everyone.
Apply Here
Once the required licence(s) are identified, get started on an application by clicking below.
Resources available to assist with licensing application
Getting Started
To get started, determine the necessary license(s) required to conduct the desired business activities. Next, it is important to understand the application process flow relating to the application.
Become familiar with the federal legislation and regulatory requirements and local or municipal zoning requirements for the proposed site and operations. In some instances, it may be required to seek a letter of approval from the local government that the site satisfies the municipal requirements. In some areas, a zoning variance or amendment may be required by the local government. Zoning is an important topic that can create significant delays including disqualification of your licence without the proper permissions in place. Questions regarding site suitability, site inspections, or zoning confirmation are possible. There are resources that can be leveraged to assist with this process. Additionally, these resources can assist with finding a suitable property or even purchasing a site that has a licence already associated with it.
Although a site is not required to begin the application process, a facility that meets the requirements under the Cannabis Regulations that satisfies the Physical Security, and the Good Production Practices (GPP) is required to submit an application to Health Canada. Typically, proposed sites do not require any equipment needed to produce or possess cannabis, such as grow lights, tables, extraction equipment, or analytical testing equipment. A site is required to have a robust security system and that has the finishes on surfaces to show that this possession
LIcence Consultation
To help determine which licence is best suited to your business, book a free consultation with a Cannabis Regulations Expert.
Licence Resources and INformation
Outdoor Cultivation
Outdoor Cultivation
Outdoor Cultivation
Growing cannabis outdoors requires a cultivation licence. A small indoor space is required to retain samples and store products...
Standard Processing
Outdoor Cultivation
Outdoor Cultivation
Packaging cannabis into primary packaging with an excise stamp, performing extraction (solvent or solventless), infusing beverages and edible products are all ways to leverage a standard processing licence. This should be combined with a Sales Amendment...
Analytical Testing
Outdoor Cultivation
Sales for Medical Purposes
Using instrumentation to test cannabis for pesticides, elemental impurities, foreign matter, water content, microbial limits or cannabinoid profiles requires an Analytical Testing licence. Learn about this here...
Sales for Medical Purposes
Dealer's Licence for Psilocybin
Sales for Medical Purposes
Brokering cannabis sales between licence holders to selling cannabis products directly to patients can be done with Sales for Medical Purposes Licence.
Dealer's Licence for Psilocybin
Dealer's Licence for Psilocybin
Dealer's Licence for Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a controlled substance under Part J of the Food and Drugs Act. Under a dealer's licence a holder of this licence can cultivate, propagate, extract and test psilocybin mushrooms and their related constituents, such as psilocin.
Video Attestations
Dealer's Licence for Psilocybin
Dealer's Licence for Psilocybin
A site evidence package is a crucial component to a cannabis licence application package. The video attestation is Health Canada's first view into your proposed facility. Here's how to show off your site in the best possible light.
Site Evidence Packages
Site Evidence Packages
Site Evidence Packages
A complete site evidence package is a multi-component document that wraps up alarm reports, camera still, coherent floor plans with device names as well as the video attestation package. Knowing that your security integrator has experience in this area will assist in making this go smoothly.
Sales Amendments
Site Evidence Packages
Site Evidence Packages
A Sales Amendment allows a licence holder (processor) to sell finished cannabis products in their final packaging to the provincial wholesalers fr public sale (or directly to patients if a medical sales licence is held).
Stability Studies
Site Evidence Packages
Cannabis Physical Security (Facility)
Environmental conditions such as light and humidity can affect cannabis products' shelf-life and potency. A well-planned out stability study can help to determine an appropriate expiry or best before date for a cannabis product.
Cannabis Physical Security (Facility)
Cannabis Security Clearances (individuals)
Cannabis Physical Security (Facility)
A robust physical security plan includes visual surveillance, access controls and intrusion detection. This should be paramount to any proposed licence holder's application to Health Canada and in Cannabis Retail stores.
Cannabis Security Clearances (individuals)
Cannabis Security Clearances (individuals)
Cannabis Security Clearances (individuals)
Seeking out Security Clearances requires time and attention to detail. The process can become more complicated with those seeking a Health Canada cannabis security clearance in a country outside of Canada.
Cannabis Retail
Cannabis Security Clearances (individuals)
Cannabis Security Clearances (individuals)
The cannabis retail store application varies significantly from province to province to territory. It is imperative to understand the provincial framework. Licence holders for cannabis retail can sell finished cannabis products for adult-use.
Micro Cultivation
Preventive Control Plans for Edibles
Micro Cultivation
A micro cultivation cannabis licence allows for commercial growing and propagating with a canopy maximum of 200 square meters.
Micro Processing
Preventive Control Plans for Edibles
Micro Cultivation
A micro processing licence can include packaging, extraction and infusion of cannabis products with a limit on dried cannabis of 600 kg or equivalent.
Preventive Control Plans for Edibles
Preventive Control Plans for Edibles
Cannabis Research and Palatability Studies
Health Canada requires that processors that are producers of edibles (food products infused with cannabis) have a preventive control plan in place to protect consumers against risk, contamination, and food-borne illness.
Cannabis Research and Palatability Studies
Cannabis Research and Palatability Studies
Cannabis Research and Palatability Studies
Late-stage applicants and holders of a licence for processing may benefit from a research licence that allows for palatability studies. This licence class allows for access to cannabis activities such as cultivation, processing, testing and human research.
Site Audits and Inspections
Cannabis Research and Palatability Studies
Site Audits and Inspections
The best way to prepare for a Health Canada audit or inspection is to prepare with an experienced auditor. Compliance and enforcement officers follow a regimented plan when conducting inspections and may target certain areas such as quality, SOPs, or physical security.
Buying a Licensed Facility
Cannabis Research and Palatability Studies
Site Audits and Inspections
Purchasing a site that has been licensed for cannabis requires care and consideration. Both a share sale and an asset sale are possible with very different timelines for implementation. Health Canada cannabis security clearance assistance is vital for ensuring a smooth transaction. Performing regulatory due diligence on the existing licence holder is usually recommended.
Cannabis Retail Farm Gate
Cannabis Retail Farm Gate
Cannabis Retail Farm Gate
Selling cannabis from the site of a licensed producer directly to adults is feasible with a Farm Gate licence for Cannabis Retail. This licence requires harmonizing provincial application documents with the existing Health Canada licence documents. Each application must show how each operation will continue to satisfy the regulations and operate in compliance with the act.
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Help with Obtaining a Cannabis Licence
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If you have questions about submitting a licence application for cannabis or psychedelics connect with us today.