Cannabis Industry Regulations
There are three licensing authorities that oversee all licensure for the cannabis industry in the State of California. They are broken down below, based on which types of licenses they issue.
BUREAU OF CANNABIS CONTROL (BCC)
The BCC is housed within the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The BCC issues licenses for testing labs, distributors, retailers, and microbusinesses.
They can be reached as 1-800-952-5210 email: bcc@dca.ca.gov
CALCANNABIS CULTIVATION LICENSING
The CalCannabis Program is housed within the Department of Food and Agriculture.
CalCannabis licenses cannabis cultivators and manages the track-and-trace system.
They can be reached at 1-833-CALGROW email: calcannabis@cdfa.ca.gov
MANUFACTURED CANNABIS SAFETY BRANCH
The Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch is housed within the CA Department of Public Health
The MCSB licenses manufacturers of cannabis products, such as edibles and topical products.
They can be reached at 1-855-421-7887 email: mcsb@cdph.ca.gov
Resources concerning the regulations from each of the agencies above:
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Emergency Regulations for Commercial Cannabis Distributors, Retailers, Microbusinesses, Temporary Cannabis Events, and Testing Laboratories.
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BUREAU OF CANNABIS CONTROL PROPOSED TEXT OF REGULATIONS
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Calcannabis FactSheet WHO DOES WHAT
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Cannabis Cultivation License Application Overview
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CDFA Cultivator Regulations
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CDPH Breakdown
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CDPH Proposed Medical Cannabis Manufacturing Regulations
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The Shocking Reality: Legal vs. Illegal Cannabis Production Costs in California
Other CA Regulations
There are additionally authorities that oversee compliance for the cannabis industry in the State of California, which affect cannabis business licensing and permitting.
California State Water Resources Control Board
California State Water Resources Control Board is a branch within California Environmental Protection Agency.
California State Water Resources Control Board issues licenses for water quality and water rights.
They can be reached at (916)341-5455 or (916)341-5300 email: based on region
California Department of Toxic Substance Control
California Department of Toxic Substance Control regulates Hazardous Material Business Plans and Hazardous Waste Management.
They can be reached at (800) 72TOXIC email: rao@dtsc.ca.gov
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
California Department of Fish and Wildlife is a state agency under the California Natural Resources Agency.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife issues licenses for surface water diversions.
Their contact information is based on region.
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) issues seller permits and cannabis tax permits.
They can be reached at (800) 400-7115
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) assures safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards.
They can be reached at (510) 286-7000
All of these regulations are governed by California Law, Business and Profession Code. California Cannabis laws fall under Division 10 codes 26000-26231.2