How To Apply

Applying for a cannabis license with the Cannabis Licensing Authority is a straightforward process designed to ensure transparency, compliance, and accessibility. Whether you are interested in cultivating, processing, retailing, transporting, or conducting research in Jamaica’s regulated cannabis industry, the CLA provides clear guidelines to help you navigate each step.

Here are  the key requirements, application stages, and resources to support you in successfully obtaining your license, ensuring alignment with Jamaica’s regulatory framework and international standards. Let us guide you through the process of contributing to the growth of Jamaica’s medical, therapeutic, and scientific cannabis sectors..

Who Can Apply

  1. An individual, for a Cultivator’s Licence, who is ordinarily resident in Jamaica and has been so for a period of not less than three (3) years immediately preceding the date of the application and is 18 years or older. 
  2. A company or business, registered under the laws of Jamaica and demonstrating substantial ownership and control by persons ordinarily resident in Jamaica.
    Note: Substantial ownership and control for the purposes of the CLA means (51% or more ownership stake and control)
  3. A Co-operative Society registered under the Co-operative Societies Act or a Society registered under the Friendly Societies Act. A Co-operative Society or a Friendly Society is registered by the Department of Cooperative and Friendly Societies

 

Who Cannot Apply

An individual, company, business, co-operative society or friendly society who/that is:

  • Disqualified under the Interim Regulations from applying for or holding a licence (regulation 3 (7).
  • Deemed not fit and proper, in keeping with regulation 11 of the Interim Regulations.
  • A company that is an International Business Corporation (IBC) or has a shareholder that is an IBC.

 

Licence Application Steps

These are the general steps for a licence application. You may learn more about the detailed process by clicking the button below

  • Start the Application Process

    This can be done in one of two ways.

    Use the online application form. This can be found HERE

    OR

    Obtain the Application for Licence Forms from the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) located at: 
    4th Floor PanJam Building, 60 Knutsford Boulevard 
    Kingston 5, Jamaica
     

  • Complete the Application Form

    Complete the Application for Licence Forms and gather all supporting documents in accordance with the Application Checklist

  • Submit the Online form or Contact CLA

    After you submit the online form somone from the CLA will contact you to schedule and appointment.

    OR

    Contact the CLA at 876-654-7582 or 876-562-0591 to schedule an appointment to meet with an Officer. 

  • Meeting with CLA Officer

    The Officer meets with the potential Applicant and conducts a preliminary review of the Application for Licence and supporting documents. If the application is deemed satisfactory, the Officer accepts the application for further review and processing.

  • Pay Application Processing Fees

    The Applicant is required to make application processing fee payment and submit proof to [email protected] with the Licensing and Applications Section copied at [email protected]. The applicable fees can be found HERE

  • NEPA Application

    The Applicant is then issued a letter by the CLA to make an application to the National Environment and Planning Agency. This is to determine if the proposed property to be licensed is fit for the purpose of the licence applied for. 

  • Verification and Due Diligence

    Validation of the information submitted by the Applicant. Documents are also verified for consistency using different Stakeholders’ online platforms as well as various sources.

    The Applicant is updated of any discrepancies found during this process.
     

  • Conditional Approval Stage

    A decision in respect of conditional approval is made by the CLA’s Board of Directors. Once the application is approved for conditional approval, the Applicant is given one year to build out the facility to satisfy the pre-licensing site inspection criteria

  • Submit NEPA No Objection

    The Applicant is required to submit the no-objection (fit for purpose) letter received from NEPA before requesting the pre-licensing site inspection.

    After the Applicant has satisfied the CLA’s pre-licensing site inspection criteria as well as all the requirements outlined in the Conditional Approval letter (and there are no changes to the original application), the application is resubmitted to the CLA’s Board for decision for the granting of a licence.

  • Notification of Approval of Licence

    At this stage the Applicant is required to pay the applicable licence fee and security bond (if applicable) as per the fee schedule found HERE.

    Upon receipt and confirmation of payment of the applicable licence fee, applicable security bond and confirmation that all other requirements are satisfied by the Applicant, the licence may be issued.

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