Cannabis application and licensing fees vary in the 24 states where cannabis sales are legal for adults’ use. In some states, the fees depend on the size, type, or profitability of the business. Fees can be set by statute or by regulation, often with caps or guidance in the statutes.
Application fees range from $100 for small growers in Maine and Massachusetts to $25,000 for Connecticut applicants, with most states charging no more than $3,000 in application fees. Meanwhile, licensing fees range from as low as $9 per plant for small, outdoor grows in Maine to as high as $850,000 for large Illinois medical cannabis growers that transitioned to also serve adult-use consumers. The bulk of hefty early-start fees in Illinois were earmarked for start-up loans and grants for businesses run by individuals from communities who were hardest hit by the war on marijuana. Several other states are considering this model.
It is important that fees and other financial requirements for small cannabis businesses be reasonable. With the possible exception of large businesses, fees should be no higher than what is necessary to cover regulatory costs. Small farms, individuals and communities that have been the most impacted by prohibition, and current and prospective small businesses should be included in this new industry, and excessive fees or high capital requirements can make that impossible.
|
State |
Application Fees |
Retail License |
Cultivation License |
Product Manufacture License |
Lab License |
Other Licenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
$1,000 application fee for each license type |
$5,000 annually |
Limited: $1,000 annually Standard: $5,000 annually |
Concentrates only: $1,000 annually Standard: $5,000 annually |
$1,000 annually |
Onsite consumption endorsement: $2,000 annually |
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|
|
Marijuana establishment fee for initial license: $25,000 |
License renewal fee: $5,000 |
See Retail License |
See Retail License |
See Retail License |
Operate, Change location, Add cultivation/manufacturing site, or Add to approved activities of marijuana establishment:$2,500 |
|
General Cultivation: Ranges from $135 (special cottage outdoor) to $8,655 (medium indoor) Large Cultivation: Ranges from $1,555 (large outdoor) to $4,945 (large mixed light tier 2) Product Manufacture: $500 or $1,000 All others: $1,000 |
$2,500-$96,000 annually (based on gross annual revenue) |
General Cultivation: Ranges from $1,205 (cottage outdoor) to $77,905 (medium indoor) annually Large Cultivation: Ranges from $13,990 (large outdoor) to $44,917 (large mixed light tier 2), with additional fees for every extra 2,000 sqft of space |
$2,00-$75,000 annually (based on gross annual revenue) |
$3,000 - $112,000 annually (based on gross annual revenue) |
Distributor: $200-$240,000 annually Micro-business: $5,000-$300,000 annually (fee based on gross annual revenue) Events: $3,000-$20,000 (based on number of events) |
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|
(Adult-use) |
Retail:
Level 1 $3,120(initial); $5,620 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $5,960 (initial); $8,460 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $8,740 (initial); $11,240 (12 months prior to expiration)
Cultivation:
Level 1 $2,440(initial); $4,940 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,910 (initial); $7,410 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $7,370 (initial); $9,870 (12 months prior to expiration)
Product Manufacture: Level 1 $2,440(initial); $4,940 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,910 (initial); $7,410 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $7,370 (initial); $9,870 (12 months prior to expiration) Testing: Level 1 $2,100(initial); $3,150 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $3,415 (initial); $4,465 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $4,725 (initial); $5,775 (12 months prior to expiration) Transporter: $3,075 (initial); $3,600 (12 months prior to expiration) Hospitality: $1,420 (initial); $2,470 (12 months prior to expiration) Sales: $5,745 (initial); $8,245 (12 months prior to expiration) Retail Business Operator: Level 1 $3,100 (initial); $4,150 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,935(initial); $5,985 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $6,720 (initial); $7,770 (12 months prior to expiration) Delivery Permit: $5,115 (initial); $5,115 (12 months prior to expiration) Temporary Appointee: $640 - $2,220 Local Fee for Retail Stores, Products, Cultivation, and Sales: $2,500 Local Fee for Testing, Business Operator, Hospitality: $1,050 Local Transporter Fee:$525 Employee: $170 - $220 |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
$1,420(initial); $1,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal:
$635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners Tier 1 (1-1,800 plants) $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 2 (1,801-3,600 plants) $3,520 (initial); $3,520 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 3 (3,601-6,000 plants) $4,520 (initial); $4,520 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 4 (6,001-10,200 plants) $6,565 (initial); $6,565 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 5 (10,201-13,800 plants) $9,350 (initial); $9,350 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
Tier 1 (1-1,800 plants) $1,260 (initial); $1,260 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal: Tier 1 (1-1,800 plants) $635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 2 (1,801-3,600 plants) $895 (initial); $895 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 3 (3,601-6,000 plants) $1,160 (initial); $1,160 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 4 (6,001-10,200 plants) $1,635 (initial); $1,635 (12 months prior to expiration) Tier 5 (10,201-13,800 plants) $2,360 (initial); $2,360 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
$1,260(initial); $1,260 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal:
$635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
$685 (initial); $685 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal:
$635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Transporter: $3,210 (initial); $3,210 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator:$3,365 (initial); $3,365 (12 months prior to expiration) Hospitality: $1,370 (initial); $1,370 (12 months prior to expiration) Sales: $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Delivery Permit: $2,785 (initial); $2,785(12 months prior to expiration) Employee:$120 Social Equity Initial: Transporter: $840 (initial); $840 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator: $895 (initial); $895 (12 months prior to expiration) Hospitality: $475 (initial); $475 (12 months prior to expiration) Sales: $1,420 (initial); $1,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal: Transporter: $820 (initial); $820 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator: $845 (initial); $845 (12 months prior to expiration) Hospitality: $370 (initial); $370 (12 months prior to expiration) Sales: $635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) |
|
Colorado (Medical) |
Retail: Ranges by level $8,460 to $16,910 (initial) $8,460 to 16,910 Level 2 $12,710 (initial); $12,710 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $16,910 (initial); $16,910 (12 months prior to expiration) Cultivation:
Level 1 $3,210 (initial); $3,210 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,835(initial); $4,835 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $6,410 (initial); $6,410 (12 months prior to expiration)
Product:
Level 1 $3,210 (initial); $3,210 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,835(initial); $4,835 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $6,410 (initial); $6,410 (12 months prior to expiration)
Lab: Level 1 $3,210 (initial); $3,210 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,835(initial); $4,835 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $6,410 (initial); $6,410 (12 months prior to expiration) Transporter: $3,625 (initial); $3,625 (12 months prior to expiration) Research & Development: Level 1 $3,210 (initial); $3,210 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $4,835(initial); $4,835 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $6,410 (initial); $6,410 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator: Level 1 $4,200 (initial); $4,200 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 2 $6,300(initial); $6,300 (12 months prior to expiration) Level 3 $ 8,400 (initial); $8,400 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
$2,100 (initial); $2,100 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal:
$635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners Class 1 (1-500 plants) $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Class 2 (501-1,500 plants) $3,520(initial); $3,520 (12 months prior to expiration) Class 3 (1,501-3,000 plants) $5,200 (initial); $5,200 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
Class 1 (1-500 plants) $790 (initial); $790 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal: Class 1 (1-500 plants): $635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) Class 2 (501-1,500 plants) $895 (initial); $895 (12 months prior to expiration) Class 3 (1,501-3,000 plants) $1,315 (initial); $1,315 (12 months prior to expiration) |
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
$635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal:
$790 (initial); $790 (12 months prior to expiration)
|
Levels based on controlling beneficial owners $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial:
$685 (initial); $685 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal:
$635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration)
|
Transporter: $3,195 (initial); $3,195 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator: $3,365 (initial); $3,365 (12 months prior to expiration) Research and Development: $2,420 (initial); $2,420 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Initial: Transporter: $920 (initial); $920 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator: $1,050 (initial); $1,050 (12 months prior to expiration) Research: $790 (initial); $790 (12 months prior to expiration) Social Equity Renewal: Transporter: $820 (initial); $820 (12 months prior to expiration) Business Operator: $845 (initial); $845 (12 months prior to expiration) Hospitality: $370 (initial); $370 (12 months prior to expiration) Research: $635 (initial); $635 (12 months prior to expiration) |
|
Illinois (Adult-use) |
Cultivation centers: $100,000 Craft growers: $5,000 Infuser: $5,000 Craft growers and Infusers may be discounted by 50% for certain social equity applicants * transporter fees are waived through 2026 |
Cultivation centers license awarded/annual fee: $100,000 Craft growers license awarded: $40,000 annually Infuser license awarded: $5,000; $20,000 annual renewal Craft growers and Infusers may be discounted by 50% for certain social equity applicants |
Folded into retail license |
N/A |
N/A |
Agent ID Card:$100 annually License alteration: $1,000 Modification approval fee: $3,000 Change of location approval: $3,000 *fees here lowered for craft growers and infusers |
|
(Medical) |
Application for license: $25,000 Modification application fee: $5,000 initially Change of location: $5,000 initially |
License awarded: $200,000 Renewal: $100,000 |
Folded into retail license |
N/A |
N/A |
Agent ID Card: $100 annually License alteration: $1,000 Modification approval fee:$3,000 Change of location approval: $3,000 |
|
Cultivation: Tier 1 - $100 Tier 2-4 - $500 Retail, lab, manufacturer: $250 Sample collector: $100 Nursery: $60 |
$2,500 |
Outdoor: Tier 1 - $9/mature plant or $250/canopy Tier 2 - $1,500 Tier 3: - $5,000 Tier 4 - $15,000 +$5,000 for approved increases in canopy Indoor/Both:
Tier 1 - $17/mature plant or $500/canopy Tier 2 - $3,000 Tier 3 - $10,000 Tier 4 - $30,000 +$10,000 for approved increases in canopy $350 for nurseries |
$2,500 |
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Sample collectors: no more than $250 |
|
|
(Adult-use) |
Cultivator: $100-2,000 Cooperative: $100-2,000, but also $100 or $200 fee for each added location Retail, product manufacturing, lab, social consumption, transporter, delivery: $1,500 Research: $300 (facility) or $1000 (permit) Application fees are waived for social equity and economic empowerment applicants. Micro: $0 |
$10,000 annually Social equity, Minority, Women, or Veteran-owned (MWV), economic empowerment: 50% of annual fee waived Micro: 50% of all applicable fees |
$625 - $50,000 (based on canopy size and indoor vs. outdoor) Craft cooperatives: added between $625 & $1,250 fee for additional location(s) Social equity, Minority, Women, or Veteran-owned (MWV), economic empowerment: 50% of annual fee waived Micro: 50% of all applicable fees |
$10,000 annually Social equity, Minority, Women, or Veteran-owned (MWV), economic empowerment: 50% of annual fee waived Micro: 50% of all applicable fees |
$10,000 annually Social equity, Minority, Women, or Veteran-owned (MWV), economic empowerment: 50% of annual fee waived Micro: 50% of all applicable fees |
Social consumption: $10,000 annually Transporter; Courier: $5,000 annually Delivery: $10,000 annually Research: $1,000 annually Social equity, Minority, Women, or Veteran-owned (MWV), economic empowerment: 50% of annual fee waived Micro: 50% of all applicable fees |
|
Massachusetts (Medical) |
$3,500 |
$50,000 annually |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
$3,000 *social equity fee reduction available (10%, 25%, 40%) |
$15,000 annually Microbusiness: $8,300 annually ($18,600 if Class A) |
Class A: $1,200 Class B: $6,000 Class C: $24,000 |
$24,000 annually |
Safety compliance facility: $15,000 annually |
Transporter: $15,000 annually Consumption, events: $1,000 annually |
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20% of the fee for the license(s) applied for *cultivator, dispensary, and manufacturer licences paused until 7/2027 |
$5,000 for each location annually |
Between $1,000 and $37,000 annually depending on square footage |
Tier 1- $5,000 Tier 2- $10,000 Tier 3- $20,000 *Based on concentrate production per month |
$5,000 annually |
Transporter: $10,000 biannually Storage facility endorsement: $1,000 annually Combined: $7,500 annually |
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|
(adult-use) |
Retail: $20,000 Cultivation, Manufacture: $3,000 Lab:$5,000 Fee reduced by 75% for equity app. |
$5,000 annually |
$1,000 renewal |
$1,000 renewal |
$3,000 renewal |
Agent card: $150 initial and annual Distributor: $15,000 initial; $5,000 annually Consumption: $10,000 initial and annual |
|
Nevada (medical) |
Retail:$30,000
Cultivation, Manufacture: $3,000 Lab: $5,000 |
$5,000 annually |
$1,000 renewal |
$1,000 renewal |
$3,000 renewal |
N/A |
|
(not currently acceptingmedical business applications) |
Annual license applicant: $400 submission; $1,600 approval (fees halved for micro) Testing Lab- $400 submission; $1,600 approval Expanded ATC Certification Fee: Cultivator - $400,000 Manufacturer – $300,000 Dispensary – $100,000 Vertically Integrated ATC with 1 dispensary – $800,000 Vertically Integrated ATC with 2 dispensaries – $900,000 Vertically Integrated ATC with 3 dispensaries – $1,000,000 |
Standard Business: $10,000 Micro Business: $1,000 |
Standard Business: Tier I – $5,000 Tier II – $10,000 Tier III – $20,000 Tier IV – $30,000 Tier V – $40,000 Tier VI – $50,000 Micro Business: $1,000 |
Standard Business: Up to 10,000 sq ft – $20,000 More than 10,000 sq ft – $30,000 Micro Business: $1,000 |
$4,000 for both standard and micro businesses |
Wholesaler License: Standard Business: $10,000 Micro Business: $1,000 Distributor License: Standard Business: $3,000 Micro Business: $1,000 Delivery License: Standard Business: $3,000 Micro Business: $1,000 |
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$250 application and renewal application |
$4,750 annually |
Micro Tier I:$1,000 yearly fee Micro Tier II:$2,000 yearly fee Tier I: $3,750 yearly fee Tier II: $5,750 yearly fee |
$4,750 annually |
$4,750 annually Sampling laboratory: $2,250 annually |
Wholesale: $4,750 annually Micro Wholesalers: $1,000 yearly fee Research Certificate: $4,750 fee (3 year term) Hemp Certificate: $1,000 yearly fee Marijuana Worker Permit Fee: $100 permit is for a five-year term |
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$1,000 |
$10,000 With medical-use endorsement: $10,250 |
Outdoor: Tier 1: $750 Tier 2: $1,875 Tier 3: $4,000 Tier 4: $8,000 Tier 5: $18,000 Tier 6: $34,000 Indoor: Tier 1: $1,500 Tier 2: $3,750 Tier 3: $8,000 Tier 4: $16,000 Tier 5: $36,000 Tier 6: $75,000 Mixed: Tier 1: $2,250 Tier 2: $5,625 Tier 3: $5,500 Tier 4: $9,500 Tier 5: $19,500 |
Tier 1: $750 Tier 2: $2,500 Tier 3: $15,000 |
$1,500 |
Wholesale: $4,000 annually Integrated: $100,000 Propagation: $500 Employees: $50 per employee Product: $50 for every type of product Local fees: $100 |
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Retail, Cultivation, Manufacture:$250 Testing labs: $3,200 |
$1,381 |
$1,381 |
$1,381 |
Accreditation Audit Fees: $7,200 on-site audit $2,100 off-site surveillance audit |
Transportation: $1,300 Research: $1,300 Medical endorsement:No fee |
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Retail:$5,000 Cultivation:$25,000 Micro Cultivation: $500 Product Manufacture and packager: $5,000 Lab:$500 Food/Bev:$1,000 Delivery:$1,000 |
Standard:
Lottery:$500 License:$25,000 Hybrid: Lottery:$500 License:$25,000 *Social Equity Fees are 50% of usual (Renew annually) |
Standard:
Lottery:$1,000 License:$75,000 Micro:
Lottery:$250 License:$1,000 *Social Equity Fees are 50% of usual (Renew annually) |
Lottery:$750 License:$25,000 *Social Equity Fees are 50% of usual (Renew annually) |
License: $1,000 (Renew annually) |
Food & Bev.:
Lottery:$250 License:$5,000 Delivery:
Lottery:$250 License:$5,000 Product Packager:
Lottery:$500 License:$25,000 *Social Equity Fees are 50% of usual (Renew annually) |
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|
(All licenses valid for 2 years) |
Cultivation, Manufacturing: Open - $5,000 Micro - $3,000 Equity - $1,000 Testing: Open - $5,000 Equity - $1,000 Retail: Open - $5,000 Equity- $1,000 |
Open:$10,000 Micro & Equity:$4,000 |
Tier 1:$2,500 Tier 2:$5,000 Tier 3:$7,500 Tier 4:$10,000 * social equity and micro are 40% of applicable open licenses (see above) |
Open:$10,000 Micro & Equity:$4,000 |
Open:$10,000 Micro & Equity:$4,000 |
N/A |
|
(All licenses valid for 5 years) |
Standard:$5,000 Micro:$1,000 |
Standard: $25,000 Micro: $10,000 |
Standard: $50,000 Micro: $10,000 |
N/A |
$500 every two years |
Standard Processor:$25,000 Micro Processor: $10,000 Incubator space and on-site consumption: $10,000 Business registration fee: $100 every 2 years |
|
Cultivator, Manufacturer, Medical Combo Business: $10,000 Testing, Wholesaler, Mezzobussiness:$5,000 Retailer:$2,500 Micro:$500; $2,000 renewal Transporter, Delivery:$250 |
Standard: Initial license fee: $2,500 Renewal license fee: $5,000 Mezzobusiness: Initial license fee: $5,000 Renewal license fee: $10,000 |
Standard: Initial license fee: $20,000 Renewal license fee: $30,000 Medical Program: Initial license fee: $20,00 Renewal license fee: $70,000 |
Initial license fee: $10,000 Renewal license fee: $20,000 |
Initial license fee: $5,000 Renewal license fee: $10,000 |
Transporter, Delivery: Initial license fee: $500 Renewal license fee: $1,000 Wholesaler: Initial license fee: $5,000 Renewal license fee: $10,000 |
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|
(Adult use; Licenses typically last 3 years) |
Cultivation:$5,000 Dispensary, Manufacturing: $3,000 Lab, Warehouse, Seed-to-Sale, Transportation:$2,813.81 Micro:$1,592.72 |
License renewal:$3,000.00 Annual Fee:$11,255.23 |
License renewal: $5,000 Annual Fee:$28,138.09 |
License renewal: $3,000.00 Annual Fee:$11,255.23 |
License renewal: $2,813.81 Annual Fee:$2,813.81 |
Warehouse:$2,813.81 annual fee and license renewal Seed-to-Sale:$2,813.81 annual fee |
|
(Medical; Licenses typically last 3 years) |
N/A |
License renewal:$3,747.77 Annual Fee:$12,492.58 |
License renewal:$6,246.28 Annual Fee:$31,231.44 |
License renewal:$3,747.77 Annual Fee:$12,492.58 |
See adult use |
See adult use |
|
N/A |
$2,500 annually; $1,000 annually for each licensed premise Integrated Micro:$2,500.00 annual fee for (1) Retail (1) Manufacturer (1) Production |
Standard:$2,500 annually ($7,500 if vertically integrated); $1,000 annually for each licensed premise Annual per plant fee: $5 for each mature commercial plant; $2.50 for each mature medicinal plant Micro:$1,000.00 annual fee (1 to 200 plants) |
$2,500 annually; $1,000 annually for each licensed premise |
Research: $2,500 annually; $1,000 annually for each licensed premise Testing: $2,500 annually; $1,000 annually for each licensed premise |
On-Site Consumption:$2,500 max/year Cannabis courier:$250 annually; $100 annually for each licensed premise |
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Standard:$1,000 Research:$250 *Social equity applicants see 50% reduction in all fees ROD or ROND License:$10,000 Registered Organization Non-Dispensing (ROND) Registered Organization Dispensing (ROD) |
Standard:$7,000 per operating premise Limited Retail Consumption: $3,000 (waived if within 2,000 feet of a public housing facility) Micro:$4,500 |
Nursery:between $750 and $2,000 Outdoor:between $1,000 and $40,000 + additional costs tied to cultivation canopy size Mixed Light:between $1,500 and $26,250 + additional costs tied to cultivation canopy size
Indoor:between $1,750 and $100,000 + additional costs tied to cultivation canopy size
Combination:between $1,250 and $56,000 + additional costs tied to cultivation canopy size *also different set of fees for the same options but collectively owned |
Extraction, infusing and blending, and packaging, labeling and branding: $7,000 per processing premise Infusing and blending, and packaging, labeling and branding: $2,000 per processing premise Packaging, labeling and branding, including for the performance of white labeling agreements: $2,000 per processing premise, but $500 if Tier 1 or 2 cultivator license |
Folded into manufacture license |
Distributer:$7,000 per operating premise Research:$500, $200 for biannual renewal |
|
|
Dispensary:$5,000 Testing:$2,000 Cultivators:$20,000 for level 1; $2,000 for level 2 Manufacture:$10,000 |
$70,000 initial $70,000 biennial renewal |
Level 1:$180,000 initially; $200,000 annual renewal
Level 2:$18,000 initially; $20,000 annual renewal |
$90,000 initially $100,000 annual renewal |
$18,000 initially $20,000 annual renewal |
N/A |
|
|
Retail:$7,500 (waived for social equity and hybrid applicants) Medical Retail:$10,000 Manufacturing: $2,000 Cultivation & Micro:$4,500 (waived for hybrid applicants) |
Standard/Hybrid medical & adult use:$30,000 annually Medical:$500,000 annually Equity:$0 in first year, raising to $30,000 over 5 years |
Micro:$4,500 annually Class A:$10,000 annually Class B:$20,000 annually |
$4,500 annually |
$5,000 annually |
N/A |