California State

Updated 3 years ago by Cultivera Team

The Legal Cannabis Market in California

Consistently at the forefront of cannabis reform efforts, California legalized state medical marijuana in 1996, and recreational sales in 2016.

Cultivera offers California cannabis enterprises full-service, Metrc-approved software solutions that are fully integrated with regional reporting.

Licensing

Regulatory Bodies

Bureau of Cannabis Control

The Bureau of Cannabis Control (Bureau) is the lead agency in regulating commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California.
The Bureau is responsible for licensing retailers, distributors, testing labs, microbusinesses, and temporary cannabis events.

CalCannabis Cultivation

CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing (CalCannabis) is a division of the California Department of Food and Agriculture that ensures public safety and environmental protection by licensing and regulating commercial cannabis cultivators in California. CalCannabis also manages the state’s track-and-trace system, which tracks all commercial cannabis and cannabis products—from cultivation to sale. CalCannabis is organized into two branches: the Licensing Branch, and the Compliance and Enforcement Branch.

Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch

The California Department of Public Health’s Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch (MCSB) is responsible for the regulation of all commercial cannabis manufacturing in California.
The MCSB works to protect public health and safety by ensuring commercial cannabis manufacturers maintain safe, sanitary workplaces and practices.

License Types

There are six primary business license types in California:

Cultivation

CalCannabis is responsible for issuing licenses to cultivators of medicinal and adult-use (recreational) cannabis. They are currently accepting licensing applications. 🔗

Manufacturing

The MCSB issues licenses for the manufacturing of cannabis-infused edibles for both medical and nonmedical use. CDPH is currently accepting licensing applications. 🔗

Retailer

The Bureau is the lead agency in regulating commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California, including issuing Retailer licenses.🔗

Distributor

The Bureau is the agency that regulates commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California, including issuing Distributor licenses. 🔗

Testing Labs

The Bureau is the agency that regulates commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California, including issuing Testing licenses. 🔗

Microbusiness

The Bureau is the agency that regulates commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California, including issuing Microbusiness licenses. 🔗

Event Organizing

The Bureau is the agency that regulates commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California, including issuing temporary Event licenses. 🔗

Traceability

Track-and-Trace Requirements

The California Cannabis Track-and-Trace (CCTT) system is used statewide to record inventory and movement of cannabis and cannabis products through the commercial supply chain.

This system must be used by all cannabis licensees, including those for cultivation, manufacturing, retail, distribution, testing labs, and microbusinesses. For more information, CCTT released the Frequently Asked Questions About the Track-and-Trace System.

Additionally, licensees in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Humboldt and Mendocino counties are required to report to the California Cannabis Authority, a platform built to help local governments ensure compliance.

California utilizes Metrc for their track-and-trace system. Cultivera is a validated, Metrc-approved integrator in California and meets all compliance requirements.

Advocacy

We are proud members of the California Cannabis Coalition (CCC). The CCC champions equitable, consumer and patient focused policy and education campaigns to further the advancement of de-scheduling cannabis and defeating stigmas nationwide.

Since formally launching in 2010, the California Cannabis Coalition has successfully lobbied over 40 local and state policy measures related to cannabis regulation.

Resources

Here are a few useful links dealing with California cannabis legislation, regulations, and taxes.

Legislation
Taxation
- Tax Guide
- Tax Resources

Support

For questions about Metrc, reach out to the Metrc Support with the following information:

Metrc Support Team

Email: support@metrc.com
Phone: 877.566.6506

Monday - Friday: 10 am – 9pm Eastern Standard Time
Saturdays: 10 am – 8 pm Eastern Standard Time
Sundays: Voicemail & Email Only