As medical cannabis is becoming widely known and opening doors to business opportunities in the market many people are looking to establish a license to produce. You may also be one of those people who are seeking for a place in this growing market. But are you wondering how the application process to become a Licensed Producer (LP) works? As a matter of fact, do you have a lot of questions not only about the application to become a LP but also the requirements for an authorized LP? Here are the 12 most common questions (and answers) about the application process that will help you move in the right direction to becoming a LP and what you need to do as a LP:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html
To obtain an application form, you need to e-mail: ACMPR-RACFM@hc-sc.gc.ca. You also need to fill out and submit the following forms: Security Clearance Application Form and Security Clearance Fingerprint Third Party Consent to Release Personal Information Form. You can obtain these forms on Health Canada’s website (for the security clearance application form – https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-use-marijuana/licensed-producers/security-clearance-application-form-access-cannabis-medical-purposes-regulations.html and for the security clearance fingerprint form – https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medical-use-marijuana/licensed-producers/security-clearance-fingerprint-third-party-consent-release-personal-information-access-cannabis.html).
To become a licensed producer, you must meet all requirements under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), including but not limited to:
You can find out more information about the ACMPR at http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2016-230/
Your submitted application will undergo a strict and thorough review that includes the following stages of the application process:
If Health Canada receives new information that may affect your submitted application at the Detailed Review and Security Clearance stage, you may be sent back to the Intake and Initial Screening stage. Your application may also be refused at any stage in the process, before a licence is issued. For this reason, it is important to understand the application process and the requirements under the ACMPR.
For further information about the stages of the application process, please refer to our article “How PipeDreemz Inc. ACMPR Consultants Assist Applicants in Becoming a Licensed Producer” (https://pipedreemz.org/how-pipedreemz-acmpr-consultants-assist-applicants-in-becoming-a-licensed-producer/)
You may only conduct the activities indicated on your licence. Your licence obtained under the ACMPR will specify the activities you are authorized to conduct at the site. Authorized activities can include production, sale or provision, possession, packaging and transportation.
Your licence will also indicate:
As a licensed producer, when registering and renewing clients you must ensure:
You may also require clients to provide additional supporting documentation.
No, as a licensed producer you set your own prices.
Under the ACMPR, you can produce and sell alternative forms of cannabis other than dried marijuana including cannabis oil, fresh marijuana buds, seeds and plants as well as allowing authorized users to possess and alter different forms of cannabis.
No, production sites can only be located indoors.
No, you cannot operate a storefront. You are only authorized to produce and/or sell medical cannabis to authorized patients with a medical document by their health care practitioner or their designate with documentation issued by a Canadian police force of no prior drug offences within the previous 10 years.
As a licensed producer, you must comply with all federal, provincial/territorial and municipal laws and by-laws, including municipal zoning by-laws. You are required to notify your local government, local police force, and local fire officials of your intention to apply to Health Canada, so that local authorities are aware of your proposed location and activities. You are also required to communicate with local authorities whenever there is a change in the status of your licence.
As a licensed producer, you should apply to renew your licence a minimum of three months before the licence is set to expire. You cannot conduct activities involving cannabis without a valid licence.
You can find out more information about cannabis regulations for licensed producers at https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/cannabis-regulations-licensed-producers.html. You can also contact a health canada acmpr application consultant at PipeDreemz Inc. We are available to answer any questions you have about the application process and the requirements under the ACMPR.
Whether you are applying to become a licensed producer, are currently an authorized LP or simply researching about the regulations of medical cannabis for LP’s, hopefully this information brings you a step closer to understand the set regulations and requirements for licensed producers for medical cannabis. At PipeDreemz Inc. we will strive to assist you at all phases of the licensing process. Contact us today!