So far, cultivation licenses are primarily concentrated in Northern California, with the top five producing counties (Humboldt, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, Monterey, and Calaveras) accounting for 74% of 1,256 cultivation licenses issued; Humboldt County alone hosts 20% of that total.
Yet, the licenses issued up to now fall far below the tens of thousands of growers who operated in the state before the new law took effect.
Manufacturing licenses are slightly less concentrated, with the top 5 counties (Alameda, Los Angeles, Riverside, Humboldt, and Monterey) accounting for 63% of 442 licenses issued.
As the state works to expedite its process, the speed with which cannabis businesses are licensed remains key to preventing supply-chain disruptions and ensuring whether the legal market competes effectively versus California’s illicit market.
