There are three licences available to engage in activities associated with the commercial production of industrial cannabis:
- a grower licence.
- a category 1 researcher licence.
- a category 2 researcher licence.
Grower licence
You need a grower licence:
- for commercial production of industrial cannabis plants that produce fibre or seed
- to possess and produce Class A or Class B research industrial cannabis or seed as part of field trials conducted under the supervision of the holder of a researcher licence
- to supply industrial cannabis plants, seed or Class A or Class B research cannabis or seed to persons legally entitled to possess the plants or seed.
Research licences
You must have a licence to possess industrial cannabis plants and seed for research or breeding programs.
There are 2 types of research plants:
- class A research cannabis plants - have a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of 3% or more in its leaves and flowering heads. These plants must be grown in a locked glasshouse.
- class B research cannabis plants - have a THC concentration of more than 1% but less than 3% in its leaves and flowering heads.
Category 1 researcher licence
This licence allows research using cannabis plants and is required to:
- research the use of industrial cannabis as a commercial fibre seed and seed crop (e.g. field trials using fertilisers or irrigation and different planting rates)
- conduct plant breeding programs for developing new or improved strains of industrial cannabis
- supply industrial cannabis plants, seed or Class A or Class B research cannabis or seed to persons legally entitled to possess the plants or seed.
Category 2 researcher licence
This licence allows research or plant breeding using class B research and industrial cannabis plants and seed to:
- research the use of industrial cannabis as a commercial fibre seed and seed crop (e.g. field trials using fertilisers or irrigation and different planting rates)
- conduct plant breeding programs for developing new or improved strains of industrial cannabis
- to supply industrial cannabis plants, seed or Class B research cannabis or seed to persons legally entitled to possess the plants or seed.