Health Canada has released a new webpage outlining the federal regulatory requirements that apply to tours of licensed cannabis production facilities, offering producers a consolidated reference for compliance as facility tourism grows in popularity across the industry.
The guidance applies to the full range of licence classes, including standard and micro-cultivation, processing, medical sales, research, analytical testing, and cannabis drug licences.
Among the key restrictions, standard licence holders must ensure tours do not include operations or storage areas, while micro licence holders must keep storage areas off-limits to tour participants. The rationale is straightforward: tour participants are not considered individuals whose presence is required by their duties, and access restrictions under the Cannabis Regulations apply accordingly.
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Age-related rules are also addressed. Cannabis, cannabis accessories, and packaging cannot be displayed or otherwise visible to young persons, and any tour where cannabis may be visible must be restricted to adults. Promotional activities tied to tours must comply with the Act's age-restricted promotion requirements.
The guidance also clarifies the limits of what cultivation and processing licence holders can offer visitors. These licence holders cannot sell or distribute cannabis directly to consumers, with the sole exception being sales to registered medical clients by mail.
For farmgate operations, production facilities co-located with a provincially or territorially authorized retailer, free cannabis samples offered as part of a tour would not be permitted, and any services provided during tours must not function as an inducement to purchase cannabis or cannabis accessories.
On-site consumption falls outside federal jurisdiction. The Act and Regulations do not govern where cannabis may be consumed on-site; that responsibility rests with provinces, territories, and municipalities.
Source: Health Canada
