Legislation

Following federal legalization of cannabis on October 17, 2018, through the Cannabis Act, Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) introduced complementary legislature to regulate the market in their province – the Cannabis Control Act and the Cannabis Licensing and Operations Regulations. The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) oversees distribution and regulation. The NLC licenses private retailers in the province while producers are licensed federally.

Under the province’s law, individuals aged 19 and above can possess no more than 30 grams of dried cannabis in public with no possession limit applied within private residences. Individuals aged 19 and above can also grow up to four plants per household indoors, provided that licensed seeds or seedlings are used.

On October 17, 2018, NL became the first Canadian province to make a legal recreational cannabis sale.

Private Retail License

Initially, there were four types of cannabis retail licenses but as of April 2025, the handbook on NLC’s website focuses on only two types:

• Tier 1 Cannabis Store: A stand-alone cannabis store which primarily sells cannabis and cannabis accessories. It can also sell other non-cannabis products such as non-alcoholic beverages, but sale of food products is prohibited.
• Tier 4 Cannabis Retail Location: A convenience type of store that operates within an existing retail location where the sale and supply of cannabis and cannabis accessories occurs behind the same counter used by the retail establishment in which it is located. Cannabis products must be kept out of sight with limited incidental viewing.

Only a tier 1 cannabis store can offer a cannabis delivery service.

Both license types must be renewed annually. The annual fee is $125. Licensees are notified in advance of the renewal season.

Licensing process:

1. Submit a complete application.
2. Successful applicants will be interviewed by the NLC and scored against other applicants.
3. The chosen applicant will be approved for licensing and will enter into a Cannabis Retail Contract with the NLC.

Information required to be submitted with the application includes:

• Personal data.
• Proof of identity for the officer or agent in charge of the proposed cannabis establishment.
• Confirmation in writing from the city or municipality in which the premises of the proposed cannabis established will be located, stating that the city or municipality does not object to the license being issued and that the proposed location complies with the city’s or municipality’s zoning by-laws and regulations.
• Evidence that the applicant owns or is in lawful possession of the premises for the proposed cannabis establishment.
• A plan of the premises.
• Evidence of all exterior windows of the cannabis store being hardened or protected against being broken or that even if they are broken, it is still unlikely that a person would be able to enter the premises.
• Evidence that all entrance and exit doors of the cannabis store have been hardened or protected against being broken and are equipped with a lock.
• Evidence that the premises are adequately illuminated.
• Evidence that the applicant is not employed by the NLC and is not a member of or employed by the board, is not a police officer and is not indebted to the NLC or the board.
• A consent for the disclosure of information relating to the application.
• If the applicant is an incorporated company, a copy of the most recent notice of directors of the company with the names and addresses of the directors is required.
• If the applicant is a subsidiary of an incorporated company, a copy of the most recent notice of directors of each parent company with their names and addresses is required.

More detailed information can be found in the Cannabis Licensing and Operations Regulations.

Opportunities for applying for the two license types are announced on NLC’s official website.

Newfoundland and Labrador Cannabis Market Stats

As of March 2026, the NLC has licensed 59 private cannabis retailers and there were 3 licensed producers in the province.

In 2020, $43.2 million worth of cannabis was sold in NL. In 2021, retail sales rose by 40.5% to $60.7 million, and then further to $66 million in 2022. In 2023, NL cannabis sales experienced another significant increase of 23% to reach $81 million. Sales in 2024 were worth $98.9 million and reached nearly $110 million in 2025.

NL has one of the highest cannabis use rates among Canadian provinces with an estimated 29.6% of its residents having used non-medical cannabis in 2024 (Canadian Cannabis Survey 2024) – ranking second nationally behind only the Territories (include Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut).

While dried flower is the most preferred cannabis product form in NL with 65.4% of consumers having used it in 2024, its consumption is below the national average by 2.2 percentage points. Notably, NL’s cannabis consumer base demonstrates strong leadership in alternative product categories, most prominently in hashish and kief consumption where the province achieves the highest usage rate among all provinces and territories at 23.7%. NL also has the highest usage rate for cannabis oil for oral use (e.g., used in softgel/capsules, tinctures, etc.) at 28.7% and the second-highest rate for cannabis beverages at 27.8% (behind only Alberta). This demonstrates a shift toward more diverse consumption methods with consumers interested in experimenting with value-added, innovative product formats.

Advertising Restrictions

Licensees must not:

• Encourage cannabis sales through games, lotteries, contests or competitions.
• Provide free cannabis samples.
• Display signage with slogans of cannabis producers in locations where they may be viewed by minors.
• Make health-related claims regarding cannabis or provide any information on medical cannabis to customers.

Restrictions on advertising of tobacco apply to cannabis as well.

Source: cannabusinessplans.ca.

Newfoundland and Labrador Cannabis Market Infographics

How Can Cannabusinessplans Templates Help Start or Grow Your Cannabis Business?

The majority of cannabis licensing programs require the submission of a business plan as part of the application for a cannabis license. Even if it is not mandated by law, a business plan is essential for securing funding and assisting an applicant in understanding how much money it will take to start a cannabis business and how much profit it could make.

A well-structured business plan can make all the difference in helping you demonstrate your proposed cannabis business’ compliance with regulations and its operational viability.

Our complete cannabis business plan template package is everything you need to create a professional business plan for a cannabis business with expert financials and projections. A complete cannabis business plan template package includes:

• Excel Financial Model: change variables and immediately see the impact, break down operational and capital costs, know how much it will take to get into the business and the potential profits.
• Word Business Plan: value proposition, market analysis, marketing strategy, operating plan, organizational structure, financial plan and more.
• PowerPoint Pitch Deck: provide a quick overview of your cannabis business plan.

Cannabis Vertically Integrated Business Plan Sample, Newfoundland and Labrador

Cannabis business plan templates for Canada are also available at cannabusinessplans.ca.