1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814Cannabis Appellations Program
On February 20, 2020, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released the proposed regulations for the appellations of origin for cannabis. The release of these regulations marked the official start of a public comment period provided under California law. All interested parties were encouraged to submit comments about the proposed regulations by May 6, 2020. A virtual cannabis appellations hearing was also held on May 6, 2020, to receive verbal public comments.
On October 2, 2020, CDFA announced modifications to the proposed appellations regulations, marking the official start of an additional public comment period provided under California law. All interested parties were encouraged to provide comments about the modified proposed regulations by October 19, 2020.
On March 5, 2021, CDFA released more modifications to the proposed regulations for the appellations of origin for cannabis. The release of these modified proposed regulations marked the official start of the second additional public comment period provided under California law. All interested parties were encouraged to provide comments about the modified proposed regulations by April 12, 2021.
The public comment periods are now closed.
An appellation of origin is a protected designation that identifies the geographical origin of a product and how that product was produced. CDFA’s Cannabis Appellations Program will promote regional cannabis goods and local businesses, prevent the misrepresentation of a cannabis good’s origin, and support consumer confidence about a cannabis good’s origin and characteristics.
Per Business and Professions Code Section 26063(b), CDFA is required to develop the process by which state-licensed cannabis cultivators may establish appellations of origin. CDFA proposes amendments to Chapter 1, and adoption of Chapter 2, within Title 3 of the California Code of Regulations, to develop the process for establishing cannabis appellations of origin and provide additional clarification on the use of county of origin, city of origin, or city and county of origin.
Cannabis Appellations Program Regulatory Materials
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
Initial Notice Documents (45-Day Comment Period)
- Notice of Modifications to the Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Addendum to the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
- Modified Text of the Proposed Regulations
First Additional Comment Period Documents (15-Day Comment Period)
- Extension Notice of Modifications to the Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Notice of Modifications to the Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Second Addendum to the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
- Modified Text of the Proposed Regulations
Second Additional Comment Period Documents (15-Day Comment Period)
September 2018 Statewide Public Workshop Materials
To gain stakeholder feedback and input, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) hosted six public outreach sessions across the state in the fall of 2018, and CDFA has continued to collaborate with experts and industry associations as the Cannabis Appellations Program has developed.
- CalCannabis Appellations Project Fact Sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions About the CalCannabis Appellations Project
- Workshop Posters
- Public Workshop Video
- A Summary of Public Comments
Sign Up for Cannabis Appellations Program Updates
Email Alerts, eNewsletters
& Licensee Information Look Up a Cannabis
Cultivation License