1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814Cannabis Appellations Program
The three state cannabis programs were merged to form a single new state department called the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). DCC now licenses and regulates all commercial cannabis activity in California.
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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.
CDFA announced modifications to the proposed appellations regulations and the first additional public comment period was from October 2, 2020, to October 19, 2020. The proposed regulations were modified again, which prompted a second 15-day comment period from March 5, 2021, to April 12, 2021. CDFA released additional modifications to the proposed appellations regulations and a third additional public comment period was from June 3, 2021, to June 18, 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
Initial Notice Documents (45-Day Comment Period)
First Additional Comment Period Documents (15-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
Second 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
Third Additional Comment Period Documents (15-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
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
Cultivation License