license process the wait will soon be over
Introductory Inspection
As part of the Terms and Conditions on their licence, a licensed producer is required to notify Health Canada as cultivation begins. Once notified, Health Canada will schedule an initial inspection to verify that the licensed producer is meeting the requirements of the ACMPR including, but not limited to, the physical security requirements for the site, record-keeping practices and Good Production Practices (GPP) and to confirm that the activities being conducted by the licensed producer correspond to those indicated on their licence.
Before being authorized for the activity of sale, the licensed producer must undergo a Pre-Sale Inspection by Health Canada to verify that they are in full compliance with all requirements of the ACMPR, with a focus on good production practices.
Pre-Sales Inspection (prior to issuance of sales licence)
If a licensed producer wishes to add the activity of sale to their existing licence, an amendment application must be submitted to the Office of Medical Cannabis. Health Canada will then schedule an inspection to verify that the licensed producer is meeting the requirements of the ACMPR including, but not limited to, Good Production Practices, packaging, labelling, shipping, and record keeping prior to allowing the sale or provision of product.
Issuance of Licence to Sell
To complete the assessment of the requirements of the ACMPR and establish that adding the activity of sale of cannabis products is not likely to create a risk to public health, safety or security, and to confirm that there are no other grounds for refusing the amendment application, the following information is reviewed:
- results of the pre-sale inspection;
- information submitted in the amendment application to add the activity of sale to the licence; and
- any other relevant information.
When the review is completed, an amended licence, including the activity of sale, is issued to the licensed producer. The licensed producer may now begin supplying cannabis products to registered clients, other licensed producers and/or other parties named in subsection 22(2) of the ACMPR, depending on the activities licensed. Separate licences may be issued for dried marijuana, plants and/or cannabis oil.