Cannabis Licence Types Explained
What the common licence types cover and why the type matters as much as the number.
Short answer: a cannabis licence permits one kind of activity, such as retail, cultivation, processing, delivery or testing. The names and categories differ by place, so the type on a licence must fit what the business actually does. Your regulator's register is the authority on what each type allows.
Why the type matters
A licence is not a general permission. A business licensed to grow is not automatically licensed to sell to the public, and a testing laboratory is licensed for analysis, not retail. Checking the type is a separate step from checking the number.
Activities licences commonly cover
| Activity | What it usually means | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Cultivation | Growing plants under regulated conditions | Whether it may sell to the public or only to other licensed businesses |
| Processing or manufacturing | Making products such as edibles or extracts | Which product types are permitted |
| Retail | Selling to adults in a shop | The address and any conditions on the licence |
| Delivery | Bringing products to a customer | Whether delivery is allowed in your area |
| Testing laboratory | Analysing samples and issuing reports | Its accreditation and scope |
| Medical supply | Supplying patients through a medical route | The patient registration the route requires |
Not every jurisdiction uses every type, and the names differ. Treat the table as a map of ideas, not a list of what exists where you live.
How to check a licence type, step by step
- Find the licence number and look it up on the regulator's register.
- Read the licence type exactly as the register states it.
- Compare it with what the provider is offering you.
- Check for conditions, such as limits on products or locations.
- Follow the full licence check for name, address and status.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any licence covers retail sales.
- Reading a licence type from the provider's description instead of the register.
- Ignoring conditions attached to a licence.
- Assuming the same type names apply in another jurisdiction.
Common questions
Is a processing licence the same as a retail licence?
No. They are separate activities, and a business may need more than one licence.
Can one business hold several licences?
In many places, yes. Each licence should appear on the register.
Where is the list of licence types for my area?
On your regulator's official website, usually in its licensing or guidance section.
Check with your regulator
Licence categories are set by each jurisdiction. Use your regulator's official website for the types that exist and what each allows. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
- Your regulator's official website, licensing guidance and public register.
Last updated .
How we write this: figures come only from named public sources, and where we have no source we write without a number. Published by Insaan LLC as an organisation, with no individual author named; see about this site.
