{"id":459,"date":"2017-11-28T12:18:46","date_gmt":"2017-11-28T20:18:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/?p=459"},"modified":"2023-06-01T10:58:14","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T18:58:14","slug":"licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california\/","title":{"rendered":"What Licenses Are Needed to Start a Recreational Marijuana Dispensary in California?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-461\" src=\"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california.jpg\" alt=\"licenses for opening a marijuana dispensary in California\" width=\"820\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california-200x134.jpg 200w, https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california-400x268.jpg 400w, https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california-600x402.jpg 600w, https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california-800x537.jpg 800w, https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/licenses-marijuana-dispensary-california.jpg 820w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On January 1, 2018, the use of recreational marijuana became legal in the state of California. Under the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, individuals 21 years or older are now permitted to use marijuana recreationally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does that mean for potential recreational marijuana dispensary owners who want to enter the business? While it&#8217;s now legal to start a marijuana dispensary for recreational use in California, that doesn&#8217;t mean they make it easy. Here are a few of the steps you will need to go through:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Obtaining a Seller&#8217;s Permit<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like other businesses selling goods, individuals and startups interested in selling cannabis or cannabis products will need to register for a seller\u2019s permit. This is a basic prerequisite when applying for a cannabis dispensary license. There is no cost to<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/services.cdtfa.ca.gov\/ereg\/index.boe\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obtain a seller\u2019s permit in California<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few cases where you may be exempt from registering for a seller\u2019s permit, specifically if you operate a collective that dispenses medical marijuana. For recreational marijuana dispensary owners, there is no exemption.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Cannabis License Durations and Other Types of Licenses<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are primarily two different license durations \u2014 temporary (valid for 120 days) and non-temporary. A non-temporary license is valid for up to 12-months and must be annually renewed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any license issued by the state will be valid for only a year. Until the Bureau of Cannabis Control finalizes a draft for what is required at the time of license application, a checklist for<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cannabis.ca.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2017\/03\/17-188_Application_Checklist_v2.pdf\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anticipated annual license application requirements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has been made available to the public.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few of those requirements from The Bureau of Cannabis Control are listed below:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Business Information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; e.g., name, seller\u2019s permit number, financial information, operating procedures<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Individual Owner Information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; e.g., government-issued identification, criminal history<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Premises Information<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; e.g., physical address, proof the business is not within 600 ft of a grade school or daycare<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For those wanting to start a recreational marijuana dispensary, this checklist will help ensure you have time to gather what is necessary in order to apply for a state license.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Types of Cannabis Dispensary Licenses<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on how your recreational marijuana dispensary operates, there are three, different license types defined by The Bureau of Cannabis Control that you will need:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Retailer License<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; a licensee is permitted to sell cannabis goods to customers on-premise or by delivery<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Retailer (non-storefront) License<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; a licensee is permitted to sell and deliver cannabis products to customers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Micro-business License<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; a licensee can engage in cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, and retail sale, or any combination of the four activities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All licensees must also hold an A-license to sell recreational cannabis (as opposed to an M-license for medical cannabis) in order to own and operate their marijuana dispensary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Receiving a Recreational Dispensary License in California<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The licensure requirements for medical and recreational cannabis products are now the same since Senate Bill No. 94 passed. In the state of California, there are three agencies involved in making the regulations on how marijuana can be grown, transported, sold, and where it can be consumed by legal adults. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The three agencies responsible for distributing licenses are listed here:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/calcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov\/\"><b>CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 responsible for distributing licenses to cultivators.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bcc.ca.gov\/\"><b>The Bureau of Cannabis Control<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 the lead agency; responsible for distributing licenses to retailers, distributors, testing labs and micro-businesses.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdph.ca.gov\/Programs\/CEH\/DFDCS\/Pages\/MCSB.aspx\"><b>The Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 responsible for distributing licenses to manufacturers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with any other business operation, owning and operating a recreational marijuana dispensary can be a challenge. Since California passed Senate Bill No. 94, it paved the way for new regulations that took effect on January 1, 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is great news for aspiring recreational marijuana business owners!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ever since SB 94 passed, business owners can open a recreational marijuana dispensary without needing to follow the strict policies that used to be in place with medical marijuana dispensaries prior to January 1, 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Obtaining a Local City or County License Before a State Bureau Issued License<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The state of California advises you obtain a local license before applying for a Bureau-issued recreational marijuana dispensary license. This is why:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Applicants for non-temporary recreational marijuana dispensary licenses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 must comply with regulations and ordinances within their local city and county. Local jurisdictions may ban, in whole or in part, medicinal and adult-use commercial cannabis activity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Applicants for temporary marijuana dispensary licenses<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 must obtain a license, permit, or authorization from their local city or county when applying for a temporary state license.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>Will the State Bureau Issue a Limited Number of Marijuana Dispensary Licenses?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As of November 2017, there have been no plans to limit the number of cannabis licenses within the state of California. However, cities and counties can operate under local jurisdictions. Depending on where you live or plan on opening your recreational marijuana dispensary, your local city or county may deny your retail or micro-business license due to<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/codes_displayText.xhtml?division=10.&amp;chapter=5.&amp;lawCode=BPC\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">excessive concentration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Want to Start a Dispensary in California?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>While we&#8217;re happy to help with your <a href=\"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/cannabis-seo\/\">dispensary SEO<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/marijuana-dispensary-web-design\/\">web design needs<\/a>, it&#8217;s best to start with a business plan drafted by a cannabis business development specialist.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/trailblazerseo.com\/cayenne\">Cayenne Consulting<\/a> offers business planning specifically for cannabis businesses, making them an excellent choice for anyone interested in joining this budding industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On January 1, 2018, the use of recreational marijuana became legal in the state of California. Under the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, individuals 21 years or older are now permitted to use marijuana recreationally. What does that mean for potential recreational marijuana dispensary owners who want to enter the business? While it&#8217;s now legal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,21],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What Licenses Are Needed to Start a Marijuana Dispensary in California?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Before starting a recreational marijuana dispensary, it&#039;s important to make sure you&#039;re ready with all the necessary licenses. 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