Dear legislators, regulatory partners, and license holders,
January 2026 marked the close of California’s provisional commercial cannabis licensing program, with the exception of locally verified equity retailers. This is a huge moment in time and reflects real evidence of our market maturing. We now have almost 8,000 annual licenses—representing
Transitioning provisional licenses to annual licensure was a major undertaking for DCC, and this milestone would not have been possible without the collective effort of our local and state regulatory partners, the California Legislature, and the license holders themselves.
Since DCC’s inception, 6,419 provisional licenses have successfully transitioned to annual licenses, including 977 equity retail licenses and 3,614 cultivation licenses. Reaching this point required extensive coordination across many DCC teams.
Our local and state partners played a vital role in program development, ongoing monitoring, and collaboration that supported the success of the Local Jurisdiction Assistance Grant program. This work was essential to completing requirements for annual licensure, including environmental reviews and local approvals. This partnership further enabled DCC to assume the role of lead agency for Mendocino County CEQA-related work, accelerating necessary reviews, reflecting a shared commitment to thoughtful program implementation and long-term regulatory success.
This milestone represents years of dedication, coordination, and problem-solving across agencies and stakeholders. DCC leadership is truly grateful for the partnership and effort each of our partners brought to this work.
Thank you for helping make this possible — and congratulations on reaching this important milestone together!
With appreciation,
Clint Kellum, Director
Michael Cheng, Deputy Director of Licensing
