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Types of cannabis and industrial hemp licences - Canada.ca
Apr 18, 2025
legacy-hc-2025-04-21
ID 202037
Later capture
Types of cannabis and industrial hemp licences - Canada.ca
Jan 1, 2026
hc-20260101
ID 396660
updated30 sections changed; 7 added; 1 removed
30 sections changed7 added1 removed+120 / -108 linesChange ratio: 28%
--- +++ @@ -1,10 +1,4 @@ Types of cannabis and industrial hemp licences-Important:-Effective March 12, 2025, Health Canada announced the coming into force of the-Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Concerning Cannabis (Streamlining of Requirements)-. This web page will be updated in the coming months to reflect the amended regulations. You can refer to-Summary of changes following the streamlining of regulations-for how the changes may impact you. On this page Grow cannabis Process cannabis@@ -13,26 +7,28 @@ Research with cannabis Produce and sell drugs containing cannabis Grow, produce and sell industrial hemp-Combining licences at a single site+Multiple licences at a single site Apply for a licence or manage your licence Import and export+Other licences or notifications Contact information Related links-You need a licence from Health Canada to do activities with cannabis and industrial hemp. This page describes the different types and combinations of licences-,-and provides links for applying for or managing your licence, and import and export permits.+You need a licence from Health Canada to do certain activities with cannabis and industrial hemp. This page describes the different types and combinations of licences and provides links for applying for or managing your licence and import and export permits.+You don't need an industrial hemp or cannabis licence to process anything referred to in+Schedule 2+. This includes non-viable seeds, fibres, roots, mature stalks or any of their derivatives. However, if you isolate or concentrate phytocannabinoids from a mature stalk, you'll need a cannabis licence (not an industrial hemp licence). Disclaimer: You need to read this page along with the Cannabis Act-and the+(the Act), the Cannabis Regulations-. If there are differences between this page and the-Cannabis Act-and the-Cannabis Regulations-, the Act and the Regulations are correct.+(the Regulations) and the+Industrial Hemp Regulations+. If there are differences between this page and the Act and the regulations, the Act and the regulations are correct. Grow cannabis-A cultivation (micro, nursery, standard) licence allows you to grow cannabis indoors and outdoors by cultivating, propagating and harvesting.+A+cultivation (micro, nursery, standard) licence+allows you to grow cannabis indoors and outdoors by cultivating, propagating and harvesting. This licence also allows you to: possess cannabis do limited processing activities indoors, if necessary, such as:@@ -40,35 +36,31 @@ drying for nursery licences do analytical testing of cannabis do research and development within your authorized activities, such as developing new growing procedures (tissue culture, cloning techniques, trying different nutrients)-If you want to do research outside of your authorized activities, you need to apply for a+If you want to do research outside of your authorized activities, you may need to apply for a research licence-. This includes research such as sensory testing (organoleptic) of cannabis. For example, taste testing dried cannabis to assess its flavour profile.+. This includes non-therapeutic research on cannabis such as assessing the taste or flavour profile of edible cannabis (such as chocolates). Outdoor cultivation-You can grow cannabis outdoors. You can also do trimming and harvesting activities outdoors during harvest periods. However, you need to do all other processing activities (for example, drying, milling, trimming, storing and testing cannabis) inside a licensed building at-a site-.+You can grow cannabis outdoors. You can also do trimming and harvesting activities outdoors during harvest periods. Cultivation waste can be stored in any operations area; this includes both indoor and outdoor grow areas. Cultivation waste is defined as leaves, shoots or branches that are obtained during cultivation, propagation or harvesting of cannabis and are intended for destruction. Licence holders are required to meet the good production practices requirements to ensure the quality and safety of the cannabis that will be processed or stored with cultivation waste. However, you need to do all other processing activities (for example, drying, milling, trimming, storing and testing cannabis) inside a licensed building at a site. Cultivation licences Micro-cultivation licence-A micro cultivation licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds, and fresh and dried cannabis. With this licence, you can use a grow surface area (plant canopy) of up to 200 m-2-. There’s no size limit for areas used for non-cultivation activities and storage. For more information about calculating the grow surface areas, refer to-Micro-cultivation, nursery and micro-processing+A micro-cultivation licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds, pollen and fresh and dried cannabis. With this licence, you can use a grow surface area (plant canopy) of up to 800 m+2+. There's no size limit for areas used for non-cultivation activities and storage.+Calculating the grow surface areas . Nursery licence-A nursery licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds for starting materials. With this licence, you can:-use a grow surface area (plant canopy) of up to 50 m-2-for budding and flowering plants. There’s no size limit for non-budding and non-flowering plants, such as cannabis in their vegetative stage (mother plants, plant cuttings or clones)-have up to 5 kg of harvested flowering heads+A nursery licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds (starting material) and pollen. With this licence, you can:+use a grow surface area (plant canopy) of up to 200 m+2+for budding and flowering plants. There's no size limit for non-budding and non-flowering plants, such as cannabis in their vegetative stage (mother plants, plant cuttings or clones)+have up to 20 kg of harvested flowering heads at any given time (except seeds). You must destroy flowering heads (except seeds), leaves and branches within 30 days of harvesting them-For more information about determining the grow surface areas, refer to-Micro-cultivation, nursery and micro-processing-.+Calculating the grow surface areas Standard cultivation licence-A standard cultivation licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds, and fresh and dried cannabis with no size limit on grow surface areas (plant canopies).+A standard cultivation licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds, pollen and fresh and dried cannabis with no size limit on grow surface areas (plant canopies). Selling cannabis with a cultivation licence-Tables 1 and 2 provide a summary of the types of cannabis that cultivation licence holders can sell and distribute.+Table 1 provides a summary of the types of cannabis that micro-cultivation and standard cultivation licence holders can sell and distribute. Table 2 provides a summary of the types of cannabis that nursery licence holders can sell and distribute. Table 1: Stages and types of cannabis micro and standard cultivation licence holders can sell Stage of cannabis Type of cannabis@@ -76,6 +68,7 @@ Bulk or wholesale Plants Seeds+Pollen Micro or standard cultivation licence holders Nursery licence holders Micro or standard processing licence holders@@ -114,8 +107,7 @@ Research licence holders Cannabis drug licence holders Note: This table shows the most common scenarios; refer to-subsection 11(5) of the-Cannabis Regulations+subsection 11(5) of the Regulations for more information. Table 2: Stages and types of cannabis nursery licence holders can sell Stage of cannabis@@ -124,6 +116,7 @@ Bulk or wholesale Plants Seeds+Pollen Micro or standard cultivation licence holders Nursery licence holders Micro or standard processing licence holders@@ -144,25 +137,29 @@ Cannabis drug licence holders Provincial and territorial authorized retailer (non-medical sale) Note: This table shows the most common scenarios; refer to-subsection 14(5) of the-Cannabis Regulations+subsection 14(5) of the Regulations for more information. Process cannabis-A processing (micro and standard) licence allows you to process harvested cannabis and industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is a cannabis plant that has a low concentration of THC (0.3% or less) in flowering heads and leaves. This licence doesn’t allow you to grow cannabis.+A+processing (micro and standard) licence+allows you to process harvested cannabis, which includes industrial hemp flowering heads, leaves and branches. You can find more information on processing other parts of the hemp plant in the+Industrial hemp licensing application guide+. A processing licence doesn't allow you to grow cannabis. This licence also allows you to:-possess all types of cannabis+possess cannabis process cannabis into bulk or wholesale and packaged and labelled products+isolate or concentrate phytocannabinoids from mature cannabis stalk (including industrial hemp) do analytical testing of cannabis do research and development within your authorized activities, such as developing new processing procedures (formulation, extraction methods)-produce, distribute, and sell reference standards, and manufacture or assemble test kits+produce, distribute and sell reference standards and manufacture or assemble test kits Post-harvesting activities you have to do indoors with a processing licence include: drying trimming milling packaging and labelling-extracting THC and CBD from cannabis to make cannabis extracts, such as by:-chemical processes. For example, using ethanol or carbon dioxide solvents to make concentrates, isolates, resin, shatter and wax-physical processes. For example, sifting, beating, rubbing or other mechanical actions to separate trichomes from fresh or dried cannabis to make kief or hashish+extracting phytocannabinoids (such as THC and CBD) from cannabis to make cannabis extracts, such as by:+chemical processes. For example, using ethanol or carbon dioxide solvents to make concentrates, isolates, resin, shatter or wax+physical processes. For example, sifting, beating, rubbing, or other mechanical actions to separate trichomes or resins from fresh or dried cannabis to make kief or hashish heating or pressurized processes. For example, cooking to make rosin processing cannabis into: cannabis topicals@@ -170,37 +167,42 @@ edible cannabis , such as chocolates, baked goods or beverages cannabis extracts-, such as THC oil and isolates, and capsules containing CBD oil-Tip: How to determine your cannabis product type:-You’ll have consider both the definition of each type of cannabis and its intended use of your cannabis product.-A body soap bar containing CBD isolates (a topical with cannabis extract) may be a cannabis topical. This is because it’s exclusively intended to be applied on hair, skin or nails, directly or indirectly-A chocolate containing cannabis oil (an edible with cannabis extract) may be an edible cannabis. This is because it’s intended to be consumed in the same manner as food-A pre-roll mixed with kief (dried cannabis with cannabis extract) is a cannabis extract. This is because it’s:-made from extracting THC and CBD from cannabis+, such as THC oil and isolates and capsules containing CBD oil+Note: How to determine your cannabis product type+You'll have to consider both the definition of each type of cannabis and the intended use of the cannabis product.+A body soap bar containing CBD isolates (a soap with cannabis extract) is a cannabis topical. This is because it's exclusively intended to be applied on hair, skin, or nails, directly or indirectly+A chocolate containing cannabis oil (chocolate with cannabis extract) is edible cannabis. This is because it's intended to be consumed in the same manner as food+A pre-roll mixed with kief (cannabis flower with cannabis extract) is a cannabis extract. This is because it's: made from extracted cannabis+it's not a cannabis topical or edible cannabis+Classification of edible cannabis Important:-Depending on your cannabis type, you’ll have to meet the applicable+Depending on your cannabis type, you'll have to meet the applicable testing requirements and the product requirements in Part 5 and-Part 6 of the-Cannabis Regulations-.-If you want to do research outside of your authorized activities, you need to apply for a+Part 6+of the Regulations+If you want to do research outside of your authorized activities, you may need to apply for a research licence-. This includes research such as sensory testing (organoleptic) of cannabis. For example, taste testing edible cannabis (chocolates) to assess its flavour profile.+. This includes non-therapeutic research on cannabis such as assessing the taste or flavour profile of edible cannabis (such as chocolates). Processing licences Micro-processing licence-A micro-processing licence allows you to produce all types of cannabis. However, you can’t produce cannabis synthetically, such as through chemical reactions or recombinant bacteria. You can only possess up to 600 kg of dried cannabis each calendar year, or its equivalent amount. This doesn’t apply to you if the only cannabis you possess is grown from your own micro-cultivation licence at the same site. For more information about the possession of cannabis limit, refer to-Micro-cultivation, nursery and micro-processing-.+A micro-processing licence allows you to produce cannabis, other than by synthesizing, cultivating, propagating or harvesting it. For example, you can't produce cannabis synthetically, such as through chemical reactions or recombinant bacteria. You can only possess up to 2,400 kg of dried cannabis each calendar year, or its equivalent amount. This doesn't apply to you if the only cannabis you possess is grown from your own micro-cultivation licence at the same site.+Calculating a possession limit Standard processing licence-A standard processing licence allows you to produce all types of cannabis with no limit on cannabis possession.+A standard processing licence allows you to produce cannabis, other than by cultivating, propagating or harvesting it with no limit on cannabis possession.+For processing drugs containing cannabis, refer to+Produce and sell drugs containing cannabis+.+For processing other products containing cannabis such as veterinary health products, natural health products, cosmetics, or medical devices, refer to+Other licences or notifications+. Selling cannabis with a processing licence-When you first get a new processing licence, there are restrictions on what you can sell.-The tables below provide a summary of the stages and types of cannabis that processing licence holders can sell and distribute at initial licensing and after a licence amendment. For packaged and labelled cannabis topical, extracts and edibles, you’re restricted to who you can sell to at initial licensing. You’ll need to-add sale activities for new cannabis class to your licence+When you first get a new processing licence, Health Canada will place conditions on your licence restricting what you can sell.+Table 3 provides a summary of the stages and types of cannabis that processing licence holders can sell and distribute at initial licensing and after a licence amendment. For packaged and labelled cannabis topicals, extracts and edibles, you're restricted to who you can sell to at initial licensing. You'll need to+submit an amendment application to change your licence if you want to remove this restriction. Table 3: Stages and types of cannabis micro and standard processing licence holders can sell at initial licensing Stage of cannabis@@ -225,6 +227,7 @@ Topicals Extracts Edibles+Pollen Micro or standard processing licence holders Analytical testing licence holders Research licence holders@@ -269,37 +272,40 @@ Sale for medical purposes licence holders Provincial and territorial authorized retailer (non-medical sale) Note: This table shows the most common scenarios; refer to-subsection 17(5) of the-Cannabis Regulations+subsection 17(5) of the Regulations for more information. Sell cannabis for medical purposes A-sale for medical purposes-licence allows you to sell or distribute packaged and labelled cannabis to registered clients for medical purpose.+sale for medical purposes licence+allows you to sell or distribute packaged and labelled cannabis to registered clients for medical purpose.+This licence doesn't allow you to sell drugs containing cannabis. For selling drugs containing cannabis, refer to+Produce and sell drugs containing cannabis+. Sale for medical purposes with possession licences This licence also allows you to:-possess packaged and labelled cannabis-sell and distribute packaged and labelled cannabis+possess packaged and labelled cannabis products+sell and distribute packaged and labelled cannabis products register clients and do sales transactions-You can have this licence alone or+You can have this licence on its own or you can combine it with others-at the same site. If you combine this licence with a micro-cultivation, nursery or micro-processing licence, you’ll need to have in place the+at the same site. If you combine this licence with a micro-cultivation, nursery or micro-processing licence, you'll need to meet the physical security requirements of a standard licence .+This licence doesn't allow you to sell directly to provincial and territorial authorized retailers (non-medical sale). Sale for medical purposes without possession licences For a licence without possession-of cannabis, you can have this licence either alone,+of cannabis, you can have this licence either on its own, or-you can combine it with a micro-cultivation, nursery or micro-processing licence at the same site. You can’t have a licence for sale for medical purpose with possession and without possession at the same time.+you can combine it with a micro-cultivation, nursery or micro-processing licence at the same site. You can't have a licence for sale for medical purpose with possession and without possession at the same time at the same site. On its own On its own, this licence allows you to:-sell another licence holder’s packaged and labelled cannabis without possessing it on your site+sell another licence holder's packaged and labelled cannabis product without possessing it on your site register clients and do sales transactions-This licence doesn’t allow you to have cannabis on your site. You’d+This licence doesn't allow you to have cannabis on your site. You'd coordinate the sale-with a holder of a licence with a cultivation, nursery or processing licence. That other licence holder would fulfill the order and distribute directly to your registered client. This licence also doesn’t allow you to sell directly to provincial and territorial authorized retailers (non-medical sale).-If you only want this licence, you‘ll only need to meet the requirements for a+with a holder of a cultivation, nursery or processing licence. That other licence holder would fulfill the order and distribute directly to your registered client. This licence also doesn't allow you to sell directly to provincial and territorial authorized retailers (non-medical sale).+If you only want this licence, you'll only need to meet the requirements for a sale for medical purposes without possession licence . Combined with another licence@@ -307,23 +313,18 @@ micro-cultivation licence nursery licence micro-processing licence-You’ll have to meet the+You'll have to meet the physical security measures for all of the licences on your site. Combined with another licence, the sale for medical purposes without possession licence allows you to:-sell and distribute cannabis from your micro-cultivation, nursery, or micro-processing licence directly to registered clients on behalf of your sale for medical purposes without possession licence-micro-cultivation licences are allowed to distribute cannabis plants and seeds, and fresh and dried cannabis-nursery licences are allowed to distribute cannabis plants and seeds-micro-processing licences are allowed to distribute all types of packaged and labelled cannabis products on your site-(with amendment, where applicable)-sell another licence holder’s packaged and labelled cannabis without possessing it on your site. You’d+sell and distribute cannabis products from your micro-cultivation, nursery, or micro-processing licence directly to registered clients of your sale for medical purposes without possession licence+sell another licence holder's packaged and labelled cannabis without possessing it on your site. You'd coordinate the sale with the other licence holder. That other licence holder will fulfill the order and distribute directly to your registered client register clients and do sales transactions-You’ll have the same authorizations to sell and distribute non-medical cannabis as your combined micro-cultivation, nursery or micro-processing licence.+You'll have the same authorizations to sell and distribute non-medical cannabis as your combined micro-cultivation, nursery or micro-processing licence. Note:-When micro-processing licences are combined with a sale for medical purposes without possession licence, you are only allowed to possess up to 600 kg of dried cannabis, or its equivalent amount, on your site per calendar year. For more information about calculating the possession of cannabis limit, refer to-Micro-cultivation, nursery and micro-processing-.+When micro-processing licences are combined with a sale for medical purposes without possession licence, you are only allowed to possess up to 2,400 kg of dried cannabis, or its equivalent amount, on your site per calendar year. This doesn't apply to you if the only cannabis you possess is grown from your own micro-cultivation licence at the same site.+Calculating a possession limit Selling cannabis with a sale for medical purposes licence This table provides a summary of the types of packaged and labelled cannabis that sale for medical purposes licence holders can sell and distribute. Table 4: Stages and types of cannabis sale for medical purposes licence holders can sell@@ -379,62 +380,86 @@ Research licence holders Cannabis drug licence holders Note: This table shows the most common scenarios; refer to-subsection 27(1) of the-Cannabis Regulations+subsection 27(1) of the Regulations for more information.+To grow cannabis for your own medical purposes or designate someone to grow it for you, refer to+Registering to produce or possess cannabis for your own medical purposes+.+For selling other products containing cannabis such as veterinary health products, natural health products, cosmetics or medical devices, refer to+Other licences or notifications+. Test cannabis Analytical testing licence-An analytical testing licence allows you to do analytical testing of cannabis, including for other licence holders. This includes the+An+analytical testing licence+allows you to do analytical testing of cannabis, including for other licence holders. This includes the required testing-before cannabis can be sold to sale for medical purposes licence holders, registered clients, and provincial and territorial authorized retailers (non-medical sale). You must destroy the cannabis sample and all cannabis obtained from that sample within 90 days of completing the test. If you don’t start the test within 120 days of receiving the cannabis sample, then you must, by the end of this period, either destroy it or distribute it to:+before cannabis can be sold to sale for medical purposes licence holders, registered clients and provincial and territorial authorized retailers (non-medical sale). You must destroy the cannabis sample and all cannabis obtained from that sample within 90 days after completing the test. If you don't start the test within 120 days of receiving the cannabis sample, then you must, by the end of this period, either destroy it or distribute it to: another analytical testing licence holder individuals referred to in-section 4 of the-Cannabis Regulations+section 4 of the Regulations This licence also allows you to: possess cannabis for analytical testing-obtain cannabis by altering its chemical or physical properties-distribute cannabis to another analytical testing licence holder for the purpose of testing+obtain cannabis by altering its chemical or physical properties for the purpose of testing+isolate or concentrate phytocannabinoids from mature cannabis stalk (including industrial hemp) for the purpose of testingdistribute cannabis to another analytical testing licence holder or individuals referred to in section 4 of the Regulations for the purpose of testing+distribute cannabis to another analytical testing licence holder or individuals referred to in section 4 of the Regulations for the purpose of testing do research and development within your authorized activities, such as development and validation of testing methodologies-produce, distribute, and sell reference standards, and manufacture and assemble test kits-Analytical testing activities you can do with an analytical testing licence include testing for:+produce, distribute and sell reference standards and manufacture and assemble test kits+Examples of analytical testing activities you can do with an analytical testing licence include testing for: cannabinoid content microbial and chemical ( including pesticides ) contaminants dissolution or disintegration sterility or stability-If you want to do research outside of your authorized activities, you need to apply for a+If you want to do research outside of your authorized activities, you may need to apply for a research licence-. This includes research such as sensory testing (organoleptic) of cannabis. For example, taste testing edible cannabis (chocolates) to assess its flavour profile.+. This includes non-therapeutic research on cannabis such as assessing the tase or flavour profile of edible cannabis (such as chocolates). Research with cannabis Research licence-A research licence allows you to do research and development with cannabis, including research outside the authorized activities for other cannabis licences.+A+research licence+allows you to do research and development with cannabis, including research outside the authorized activities for other cannabis licences. This licence also allows you to, for the purpose of research: possess cannabis grow cannabis produce cannabis+isolate or concentrate phytocannabinoids from mature cannabis stalk (including industrial hemp) transport, send or deliver cannabis between your licensed sites-administer and distribute any types of cannabis to a human participant, for example:-conduct sensory testing with individuals by ingestion, inhalation, or applied on hair, skin or nails, indirectly or directly. For example, taste testing edible cannabis (chocolates) to assess its flavour profile do research activities, such as: in vivo and in vitro-studies, cultivation (including plant genetics), cannabis product development, non-cannabis product development and other research (for example, educational programs)-administer and distribute cannabis to a human participant as part of a non-therapeutic research on cannabis (NTRC) study, such as:+studies+cultivation (including plant genetics)+cannabis product development+other research that requires you to possess cannabis (for example, developing grow lights or educational programs)+administer and distribute cannabis to a human participant. This could be a part of:Diff output was truncated for readability.
