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Health Canada issues federal cannabis licences under the Cannabis Act, each designed for specific business activities. Our specialists guide you through the full process, from your initial application to amendments and renewals, so you can focus on running your business.
The Cannabis Act establishes several distinct federal licence classes, each authorizing specific business activities. Whether you are cultivating, processing, testing, conducting research, selling to medical patients, or producing industrial hemp, you need the licence that matches what you actually do.
Operating under the wrong licence class, or with one that no longer reflects your activities, puts your business at real risk. Stop-sale orders, product seizures, and licence suspension are real consequences. Licensing decisions also intersect with security clearances, facility requirements, quality assurance personnel, and ongoing reporting obligations. One missing element can stall your application for months. With our guidance, you’ll:
We support applications for Standard, Micro, and Nursery cultivation licences under the Cannabis Act. We help you select the right licence class and prepare a complete, submission-ready application package.
We support Standard and Micro-Processing licence applications for businesses manufacturing finished cannabis products including dried flower, extracts, edibles, and topicals. We advise on licence class selection based on your production volumes and growth plan.
The Sale for Medical Purposes Licence authorizes direct sale of cannabis products to registered patients, with or without physical possession of inventory. We guide you through the application and the compliance requirements that come with it.
We guide cannabis testing laboratories through the full application process, covering personnel qualifications, security planning, and method documentation. We also advise on ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation as an industry best practice.
The Cannabis Research Licence covers a wide range of activities, from product development and cultivation studies to non-therapeutic human research and clinical trials. We assess your specific activities and determine exactly what licensing you need.
Hemp licences are issued under the Industrial Hemp Regulations and do not require security clearances. We assist with cultivar selection, land documentation, THC compliance planning, and annual reporting requirements.
Canada’s cannabis regulatory framework continues to evolve. Licence holders who don’t stay current risk operating outside their authorized scope, even unintentionally. We tailor our licensing support based on:
Licence class and scope of authorized activities
Facility type, size, and production methods
Current compliance history and prior application outcomes
Key personnel qualifications and security clearance status
Our federal cannabis licensing services support:
Cultivators (Standard, Micro, and Nursery)
Processors and Manufacturers
Medical Sales Operators
Analytical Testing Laboratories
Cannabis Researchers
Industrial Hemp Producers
Timelines vary by licence class. Industrial hemp applications can move in 30–60 days. Cultivation and processing applications typically take several months. Incomplete documentation is the leading cause of delays. Thorough preparation makes a measurable difference.
Micro-Processing now authorizes up to 2,400 kg of dried flower equivalent annually following the March 2025 amendments, making it a viable option for small-to-medium operations. Standard Processing has no annual capacity limit. If your growth trajectory points toward high-volume production or multi-provincial distribution, Standard Processing is the stronger long-term fit. Transitioning from standard to micro carries restrictions, so the decision is worth getting right from the start.
QAPs are required for processing licences. They’re responsible for product release, complaint management, and the overall Quality Management System. Since March 2025, processing licence holders can designate more than two alternate QAPs, with expanded delegation authority.
Yes. The licence can be obtained with or without physical possession of cannabis. The without-possession model allows you to operate as a distribution coordinator, where products ship directly from a licensed producer to the registered patient. Both models require robust patient registration systems and compliance with Health Canada’s record-keeping obligations.
No. Industrial hemp licence holders can cultivate hemp and sell the biomass to licensed processors, but CBD extraction itself requires a Cannabis Processing Licence under the Cannabis Act. Some hemp cultivators pursue both licences to vertically integrate their operations.
Not always. Research with 30 grams or less of dried cannabis equivalent at a non-residential site, with no human or animal subjects and no cannabis cultivation, may qualify for the Section 28.01 exemption. We can assess your specific activities and advise accordingly.
Yes. We manage the full process: identifying what changes require Health Canada notification or pre-approval, preparing the documentation, and submitting through the CTLS. We also track regulatory updates so your licence stays accurate.