May 14, 2020

NEWS & UPDATES
MANUFACTURED CANNABIS SAFETY BRANCH
STATE CANNABIS LICENSING AUTHORITIES
OFFER 60-DAY LICENSE FEE DEFERRALS

The three state cannabis licensing authorities announced today that businesses with state cannabis licenses expiring between now and June 30, 2020, may request 60-day deferrals of their license fee payments. This adds financial assistance to the relief provided to licensees from specific regulatory requirements.

The license fee deferrals are intended to provide immediate financial assistance to state cannabis licensees impacted by COVID-19. Though deemed an “essential business” under Executive Order N-33-20 , the cannabis industry is excluded from federal or banking-dependent assistance for small businesses, due to cannabis’s status as a Schedule I controlled substance.

Licensees must submit a written Request for Regulatory Relief to be considered for a license fee deferral. We will begin accepting requests immediately. 
License Fee Deferrals
Licensee fee deferrals may be requested by any licensee with an expiration date between May 14 and June 30, 2020. If granted a deferral, the new deadline for license fee payment will be 60 days from the date of the license expiration. If you qualify for and wish to request a license fee deferral, please submit your request as soon as possible prior to your expiration date to avoid a lapse in licensure. Refunds are not available for fees that have already been paid.

An active license is required to conduct commercial cannabis activity. If your license expires before you request a fee deferral, you must cease operations. To ensure requests are processed in a timely manner, please submit requests no later than three weeks after your expiration date. 

How to Request a License Fee Deferral:
  1. Compile the information needed for review of your request. You can use this optional Request for Regulatory Relief form, which will assist you with providing the information required for review and allow us to quickly process your request. If you prefer not to use the form, you can type the information requested in the form directly into an email.
  2. Email your Request for Regulatory Relief to MCLS@cdph.ca.gov. The request must be submitted by an owner of the business who is disclosed on the license.
Other Requests for Regulatory Relief 
In addition to this financial relief, we are also accepting disaster relief requests from licensees who are unable to comply with a regulatory requirement due to the pandemic. For more information, review section 40182 of the regulations .

To submit a Request for Regulatory Relief, follow the instructions included above, and email your request to MCSB@cdph.ca.gov .  You must specify the section of regulation for which you are requesting relief, explain why this relief is needed and how the need is related to the pandemic.
Additional Resources
Cannabis businesses may be eligible for tax assistance offered by the California Department of Tax & Fee Administration and the Franchise Tax Board. For more information on tax relief and for other small business resources, visit the State of California’s COVID-19 Response website.
ABOUT THE MANUFACTURED CANNABIS SAFETY BRANCH
The California Department of Public Health’s Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch (MCSB) is one of three state licensing authorities charged with oversight of commercial cannabis activity in California. MCSB is responsible for licensing and regulating cannabis manufacturers and for establishing statewide standards for packaging and labeling of cannabis and cannabis products.

MCSB strives to protect public health and safety by ensuring commercial cannabis manufacturers operate safe, sanitary workplaces and follow good manufacturing practices to produce products that are free of contaminants, meet product guidelines and are properly packaged and labeled.

www.cannabis.ca.gov               www.cdph.ca.gov/mcsb                  MCSB@cdph.ca.gov