FAQs
Why should I get a cannabis cultivation license in California?
Getting Licensed
Licensing establishes your business as a compliant operator, protects your land from escalating state and local enforcement, and often increases property value if you sell in the future. As California tightens enforcement on non-compliant grows, licensed operators are better positioned to compete in a lucrative, regulated market — and to avoid the legal and financial risk of operating outside the law.
Does Flowra assist with non-cultivation cannabis operations?
Yes. Beyond cultivation licensing, Flowra helps California cannabis businesses obtain and maintain every license type regulated by the DCC: manufacturing (Types 6, 7, N, P, and S), distribution (Types 11 and 13), retail (Types 9 and 10), microbusiness (Type 12), testing laboratory (Type 8), and cannabis event licenses. We also manage ongoing compliance and renewals, plus the local permits and entitlements — like conditional use permits and zoning clearances — required alongside your state license
What do I need to get a cannabis cultivation license in California?
You need to come into compliance with four entities: your local governing body, the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). Flowra manages this entire process for you — serving as your point of contact with each agency, preparing required CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) documents, and tracking your license status from application to approval. You focus on cultivating; we handle the paperwork.
How do I know if my land is eligible for a cannabis cultivation license?
Request a Site Feasibility Report — it identifies your site's current and potential compliance issues and lays out the exact remediation steps needed. Most sites can become fully compliant through a Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreement (LSAA), revised site planning, or both. Few properties are truly ineligible; most just need a clear path forward.
Staying Compliant
What ongoing compliance does my license require?
Licensed operations must maintain continuous compliance with local permit conditions as well as state environmental and water-use requirements. Flowra monitors your compliance status on an ongoing basis and has secured and maintained permits for even the most challenging sites — so issues get caught and corrected before they escalate into enforcement actions.
Can I get insurance for my cannabis crops and facilities?
Yes. Flowra can refer you to insurance agents who specialize in the cannabis industry, so your crops, facilities, and equipment are protected against loss.
METRC Support
What is METRC and do I have to use it?
METRC (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting and Compliance) is California's state-mandated track-and-trace system. Every state-licensed cannabis business must use it to record plants, packages, and sales from cultivation through final sale — it's required, not optional, and inventory must be reconciled at least every 30 days.
Does Flowra help with METRC reporting and training?
Yes. Flowra helps set up your METRC account, trains your designated account manager and system users, and keeps you current on tagging, reporting, and reconciliation requirements — so tracking errors don't turn into compliance violations.
N.O.V. Help
What is a Notice of Violation, and what should I do if I receive one?
A Notice of Violation (also issued as a Notice to Comply) identifies specific compliance issues on your site and gives you a deadline — often as little as 20 days — to correct them before the matter escalates to fines or license discipline. Acting quickly and correctly matters more than anything else at this stage.
Can Flowra help me respond to a Notice of Violation?
Yes. Flowra reviews the notice, identifies exactly what's required to cure each violation, and represents you in communications with the issuing agency — helping resolve the matter before it becomes a costly enforcement action or appeal.
Working With Flowra
How much does Flowra's licensing and compliance consulting cost?
Pricing is tailored to your site's specific needs — including size, current compliance status, and which agencies are involved. Schedule a free consultation for a clear, no-obligation cost estimate for your property.
Does Flowra help with sales or distribution?
Flowra doesn't provide direct sales labor, but we can help you build a market strategy and direction so you're positioned to make sales once you're licensed and compliant.