Federal Cannabis Licensing Services

There are several different federal cannabis licenses that are available under the Cannabis Act depending on the specific activities you wish to conduct with cannabis.

Those looking to cultivate cannabis are required to hold one of the following licenses:

• Standard Cultivation license (permits cultivation in an unlimited-sized grow space).
• Micro-Cultivation license (allows for cultivation in a grow space of up to 2,152 square feet).
• Nursery license (permits the cultivation of cannabis genetics such as clones and seeds, within a maximum of 540 square feet).

Those looking to sell packaged cannabis products to medical patients will require a Sale for Medical Purposes license. This licence can be sought with possession of cannabis or without possession of cannabis.

A Research license will permit all kinds of cannabis-related studies, from advancements toward better growing and processing techniques, to improving upon cannabis-based products, and more.

An Analytical Testing license will permit the testing of cannabis products. Testing can include chemical and microbial contaminants, cannabinoid content, pesticides, dissolution/disintegration, solvents, sterility, stability, etc.

An Industrial Hemp Licence opens doors for hemp production businesses. Holders of an Industrial Hemp Licence may grow hemp and produce products using the grain from that crop (e.g. for hulled hemp seed, hemp protein powder, hemp seed oil).

OCS Applications (including Psilocybin); Psilocybin R & D license, Psilocybin Clinical Trials License and Dealer’s License.

• An application for Controlled Drugs and Substances Dealer’s Licence authorizes a company or organization to possess a controlled substance and conduct activities specified by the license (such as production, packaging, sale, sending, transportation, delivery, laboratory analysis, research & development, clinical studies, import/export, or distribution under special access program only). A Dealer’s License will only be issued once a complete license application package has been reviewed by Health Canada’s Office of Controlled Substances (OCS), and an inspection of the facilities has been conducted to ensure compliance with the Directive and the CDSA and its associated regulations.
• An application for an exemption to use a controlled substance for clinical studies A qualified investigator (QI) (practitioners affiliated to universities and/or private industry) requiring a controlled substance for research purposes which include administration to humans in a clinical trial must receive an exemption under subsection 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA).Thus, once issued, an exemption will authorize the qualified investigator (practitioner) to purchase (if applicable), possess and administer specific controlled substances in specific quantities for a specific clinical study protocol.
• An R & D Application for an exemption to use a controlled substance for scientific purposes is required to conduct research and development using controlled substances on animals as test subjects. Health Canada Office of Controlled Substances regulates the use of controlled drugs within Canada. The use of controlled drugs is limited to individuals whom have a valid practice or research license and their authorized personnel.