California’s Provisional Cannabis Licenses to Sunset
By Lauren Mendelsohn
March 28, 2022
For the past few years, cannabis operators in California have been able to obtain a “provisional” state license if they meet all of the annual licensing requirements except for a select few dealing primarily with CEQA and the Department of Fish & Wildlife. However, two bills that were adopted last year, Assembly Bill 141 (2021) and Senate Bill 160 (2021), modified the requirements for provisional licenses and set forth a schedule for such licenses to sunset.
Notably, the last date for certain applicants to submit state applications and be considered for provisional licensing is March 31, 2022. Specifically this applies to all cultivators except indoor and mixed-light applications for 22,000 square feet or less of contiguous premises and outdoor applications for 20,000 square feet or less of contiguous premises; as well as any equity operators seeking to conduct activity equivalent to a Type 5 (large) cultivation license. June 30, 2022 is the last date for all other cultivators to submit an application for a provisional license; whereas March 31, 2023 is the last date for all other local equity operators to submit an application for a provisional license.
Other deadlines written into the law control when the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) can issue and renew provisional licenses after receiving applications. January 1, 2024 is the last effective date for any provisional license covering Type 5 (“large”) cultivation activity; January 1, 2025 is the deadline for the DCC to renew provisional licenses; and January 1, 2026 is the last day for any provisional license to be in effect. Following that date, all California cannabis licensees will be operating under an annual state license.
For reference, the Department of Cannabis Control has published this handy timeline with key dates related to provisional licenses:
Additional information regarding provisional license requirements can be found here.
This information is provided as a public educational service and is not intended as legal advice. For specific questions regarding cannabis applications and licensing in California, contact the Law Offices of Omar Figueroa at 707-829-0215 or info@omarfigueroa.com to schedule a confidential legal consultation.
Lauren Mendelsohn is the attorney responsible for this advertisement. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.