Cannabis licensing fees increase April 1, 2025

Summary#

The Department of Health says certain cannabis-related government fees will go up on April 1, 2025. The increases come from the annual adjustment in the Cannabis Fees Order (SOR/2018-198) and use the 2024 Consumer Price Index increase of 2.7%.

What it does#

• It raises the fees listed in sections 3–5 of the Cannabis Fees Order effective April 1, 2025, by 2.7%.
• Specific fee changes include:
  • Screening of a licence application for micro-cultivation: $1,969 → $2,023 (increase $54).
  • Screening of a licence application for standard cultivation: $3,933 → $4,040 (increase $107).
  • Screening of a licence application for nursery: $1,969 → $2,023 (increase $54).
  • Screening of a licence application for micro-processing: $1,969 → $2,023 (increase $54).
  • Screening of a licence application for standard processing: $3,933 → $4,040 (increase $107).
  • Screening of a licence application for sale for medical purposes: $3,933 → $4,040 (increase $107).
  • Application for security clearance: $1,987 → $2,041 (increase $54).
  • Application for import or export permit: $734 → $754 (increase $20).

Who's affected#

• Businesses and people applying for or renewing cannabis licences and related screenings (cultivation, processing, nursery, and sale for medical purposes).
• People applying for security clearances tied to cannabis licences.
• People or businesses applying for import or export permits for controlled cannabis products.
• If unclear: the notice only lists the fees above. It does not say whether other cannabis fees are changing.

Why it matters#

• These are small, automatic annual increases tied to inflation. The largest single increase listed is $107.
• For new or small cannabis businesses, the extra cost is minor but may add up if a business files multiple applications.
• For the general public and consumers, this is an administrative fee change and does not directly change product prices or rules for use.
• It reflects that some regulatory fees are indexed to the inflation measure each year.