A disproportionately small group of cannabis cultivation businesses in California control a large share of the licenses intended for “small” farming operations, a Business Journal review of state data has found.
Since Jan. 1, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has awarded about 540 temporary licenses for so-called “small” operations—that is, for cultivation that takes place on less than one quarter of an acre outdoors or less than 10,000 square feet indoors or in "mixed-light" settings. These temporary licenses last four months and are seen as a first step toward a permanent license.
Approximately 250 businesses have been awarded licenses for small cultivation. However, 10 of those businesses control about 30 percent of the licenses awarded. Two cultivators—Honeydew Farms LLC and Central Coast Farmer’s Market Management LLC—have been awarded about 30 licenses each.
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