California has several new “micro farmer” medical cannabis cultivator licenses available after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the measure into law, according to a press release from the bill’s sponsor Assemblymember Jim Wood. The “cottage cannabis license” is specifically for farms with 2,500 square feet or less of canopy for mixed-light cultivation, up to 25 outdoor plants; or 500 square feet or less of canopy for indoor cultivation. In total, 11 new types of licenses are available covering a variety of small cultivation operations.
“This law will help ensure that small medical cannabis growers on the North Coast can comply with regulations as this industry moves forward, providing certainty and predictability,” Wood said in the release. “It’s just not fair to require the small farmers to adhere to the same standards as larger operations.”
The California Department of Food and Agriculture will develop requirements for each license type “that address the unique characteristics of small farm practices.”
“As this industry moves forward, we need to make sure that all farmers, regardless of size, can come into compliance — that’s what success looks like,” Wood said.
According to the bill text, the rules only apply to medical cannabis operations. However, amendments could be made to the law if California passes Proposition 64 legalizing cannabis for recreational use.