Grow Cannabis

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Produce dried or fresh cannabis, plants and seeds

License Requirements to Grow Cannabis

Cannabis growers have three licence options to choose from under the new Cannabis Act & Regulations: The Standard Cultivation License, Standard Cultivation (outdoor) Licence, Micro Cultivation License, and Nursery License. In contrast to the Standard Cultivation and Micro-Cultivation licences, which permit companies to cultivate plants, a Nursery License permits the growth of cannabis genetics (seeds and clones).

Personnel Requirements:

• Responsible person
• Alternate responsible person (permitted but not required)
• Head of security
• Alternate head of security (permitted but not required)
• Master grower
• Alternate master grower (permitted but not required)

A cannabis licence application typically requires several documents to be submitted to the regulator. This documentation can include items such as:

• a copy of your incorporation documents;
• financial documents (e.g. tax returns, a notice of assessment);
• an aerial view of your site;
• a floor plan;
• a site plan/survey;
• a physical security plan;
• an organizational security plan;
• a good production practices report, and more.

These documents must be submitted at the time of application and will be reviewed thoroughly by the reviewer/officer. You may have to wait longer to get your licence if you submit an incomplete or “messy” application, which will slow down the review of your file. Trichome Consulting Services can assist you in submitting a thorough, accurate, and full application package so you may quickly and effectively get your licence.

Nursery Cultivation License

Cannabis Nursery Licence allows its Licence Holders to possess cannabis; as well as to propagate, cultivate, and harvest cannabis plants and seeds, as well as to engage in auxiliary operations and change the chemical or physical characteristics of the drug for testing. The licence also permits the sale and distribution of cannabis plants and seeds to other licence holders as well as to licence holders who are permitted to sell cannabis for medical purposes or in accordance with provincial or territorial law.

Operations with a focus on seed and clone starting materials that are smaller than 540 square feet. Holders of Nursery licences may change the Cannabis’ chemical or physical characteristics for testing purposes. The sale and distribution of seeds and plants to other licence holders is allowed under the terms of this agreement.

A nursery licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds for starting material. Up to 5 kg of harvested flower heads are available to you at any time (except seeds). Within 30 days of harvesting the plants, you must destroy all flowering heads (aside from the seeds), leaves, and branches.

You can use a grow surface area (plant canopy) of up to 50 m² for growing flowering and budding cannabis plants. The grow surface areas include:

• all horizontally and vertically arranged surfaces
• all indoor and outdoor cultivation operation areas that you are using at any single time

Your size limit only includes operations areas where you’ll be growing flowering and budding cannabis plants.

There is no size limit for:

• areas used to grow cannabis plants in their vegetative stage (mother plants, or plant cuttings or clones that are non-budding or non-flowering)
• areas used for non-cultivation activities and storage

Standard Cultivation License

For large-scale growth operations (over 2150 sq. ft. of growing space). A Standard Cultivation license allows the holder to obtain dried or fresh cannabis, cannabis plants or cannabis plant seeds by propagating, cultivating, harvesting, including but not limited to using aeroponics, hydroponics, aquaponics, vertical planters, and in traditional soil.

Our cannabis consulting services can be specifically tailored to assist you with particular components of the standard cultivation licence application, ongoing regulatory compliance, or we’re pleased to help you at every stage. Start your cannabis production company with confidence to avoid future hassles.

Capacity Limits: (none)

Physical Security Requirements: To be discussed with our team of security experts
Recommended Personnel: Skilled/experienced Master Grower
Est. Application Review Timeline: 4-6 months with consultant, 12+ months without a consultant
Permitted Activities: Propagation, cultivation, harvesting, drying, trimming, milling, and selling bulk (unpackaged) cannabis within licensed areas of the site perimeter only.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Cultivation (Outdoor) Licence

If the intention is to cultivate and harvest fresh cannabis plants and seeds outside, dry them, and then distribute bulk-packaged cannabis to other licence holders, a Standard Cultivation (Outdoor) Licence is required in Canada. With the exception of nursery licensees, to whom only cannabis plants and seeds may be sold or distributed, the licence holder may sell and distribute fresh and dried cannabis, plants, and seeds to other cannabis licence holders. In addition, owners of a Standard Cultivation Licence are allowed to conduct ancillary activities (e.g., drying, trimming, milling) for testing purposes. This licence prohibits licensees from packaging products, applying excise taxes, or selling products directly to provincial wholesalers, retailers, or patients.

Trichome consulting services cover the full scope of what is needed for a Standard Cultivation Licence (Indoor and Outdoor).

Capacity Limits: (none)
Physical Security Requirements: tbd
Recommended Personnel: Skilled/experienced Master Grower
Est. Application Review Timeline: 4-6 months with consultant, 12+ months without a consultant

Permitted Activities: Propagation, cultivation, harvesting, drying, trimming, milling, and selling bulk (unpackaged) cannabis within licensed areas of the site perimeter only.

A micro-cultivation licence allows you to produce cannabis plants and seeds, fresh and dried cannabis. You can use a grow surface area (plant canopy) of up to 200 m² for growing cannabis plants. The grow surface areas include:

• all horizontally and vertically arranged surfaces

• all indoor and outdoor cultivation operation areas that you are using at any single time

Your size limit only includes operations areas where you’ll be:

• growing cannabis plants

• propagating and harvesting cannabis plants and seeds

There’s no size limit for areas used for non-cultivation activities and storage.

You need Health Canada’s approval to add outdoor grow areas after you’ve received your licence. You won’t be able to use the area until Health Canada approves it. After the grow areas are approved, you don’t need to notify Health Canada if you decide not to use them.