Cannabis Regulations (SOR/2018-144)

Marginal note:Sale, distribution and export of cannabis

• 227 (1) A holder of a licence, if they sell, distribute or export cannabis, must retain a document that contains the following information:

  • (a) the name of the person to which it is sold, distributed or exported;

  • (b) the address of the location from which it is sold, distributed or exported and the place to which it is sent or delivered;

  • (c) the date on which it is sold, distributed or exported;

  • (d) the quantity that is sold, distributed or exported;

  • (e) a description of the cannabis, including, if applicable, the brand name;

  • (f) its lot or batch number;

  • (f.1) [Repealed, SOR/2025-43, s. 62]

  • (g) in the case of a drug containing cannabis, the form of the drug and its strength per unit;

  • (h) in the case of cannabis plants, cannabis plant seeds or cannabis that is not of a class of cannabis set out in Schedule 4 to the Act, the intended use, if known; and

  • (i) in the case of a cannabis accessory that is a cannabis product, a description of the cannabis accessory.

• Marginal note:Exceptions

  (2) The obligation set out in subsection (1) does not apply if the cannabis is sold or distributed to

  • (a) an individual who has placed a purchase order for it under subsection 289(1); or

  • (b) an individual, other than an individual referred to in paragraph (a), who does not hold a licence and who is obtaining the cannabis for their personal use.

• Marginal note:Retention period

  (3) The document must be retained for at least two years after the day on which it is prepared.

Marginal note:Antimicrobial treatment

• 228 (1) A holder of a licence, if they conduct antimicrobial treatment of cannabis at a location other than the site specified in the licence, must retain a document that contains the following information:

  • (a) a description of the cannabis, including, if applicable, the brand name;

  • (b) the date on which the cannabis leaves the site specified in the licence and the quantity that leaves the site;

  • (c) the name of the person that receives the cannabis at the location where the treatment is to be conducted;

  • (d) the address of the location referred to in paragraph (c);

  • (e) the name of the person from which the cannabis is received after the treatment;

  • (f) the address of the site to which the cannabis is returned, or of the location to which it is distributed, after the treatment; and

  • (g) the date on which the cannabis is received at the site or location referred to in paragraph (f) and the quantity that is received.

• Marginal note:Retention period

  (2) The document must be retained for at least two years after the day on which it is prepared.

Destruction

Marginal note:Destruction of cannabis

• 229 (1) A holder of a licence other than a cannabis drug licence, if they destroy cannabis or cause it to be destroyed, must retain a document that contains the following information:

  • (a) a description of the cannabis, including, if applicable, the brand name;

  • (b) the date on which the cannabis is destroyed and

    • (i) if whole cannabis plants are destroyed, the number of plants destroyed on that date, or

    • (ii) in any other case, the pre-destruction net weight or volume of the cannabis on that date; and

  • (c) the name of the employee referred to in paragraph 43(1)(b) who witnesses the destruction.

  • (d) [Repealed, SOR/2025-43, s. 63]

  • (e) [Repealed, SOR/2025-43, s. 63]

• Marginal note:Statement by witness

  (2) The holder must obtain, for each instance in which cannabis is destroyed, a statement signed and dated by the employee referred to in paragraph 43(1)(b) stating that they witnessed the destruction and that the cannabis was destroyed in accordance with a method referred to in paragraph 43(1)(a).

• Marginal note:Retention period

  (3) The document referred to in subsection (1) and the statement referred to in subsection (2) must be retained for at least two years after the day on which the cannabis is destroyed, except if they relate to cannabis destroyed under section 28.5, in which case they must be retained for at least two years after the day on which the non-therapeutic research on cannabis ends.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply in cases where a holder of a licence destroys cultivation waste.

Security

Marginal note:Organizational security plan

230 A holder of a licence must retain a copy of any organizational security plan that they submit to the Minister — including any updated plan referred to in section 45 — for at least two years after the day on which the plan is replaced by an updated plan or, if the plan has not been replaced, at least two years after the day on which the licence expires or is revoked.

Production

Marginal note:Production

• 231 (1) A holder of a licence other than a cannabis drug licence must

  • (a) for each lot or batch of cannabis any portion of which has been sold or exported, retain a document demonstrating that the cannabis and anything that was used as an ingredient was produced, packaged, labelled, distributed, stored, sampled and tested in accordance with the applicable provisions of Parts 5 and 6;

  • (b) if applicable, maintain a list of the brand names of cannabis — of any class of cannabis set out in Schedule 4 to the Act — that the holder has produced, packaged, labelled, distributed, stored, sampled or tested;

  • (c) in respect of each instance in which a substance — including a pest control product and a fertilizer but excluding water — is applied directly or indirectly to cannabis, retain a document that contains the name of that substance, as well as the date on which it was applied;

  • (d) in respect of the testing conducted under Part 5 or to meet the requirements set out in Part 6,

    • (i) maintain a document that describes the validated methods used, and

    • (ii) for each lot or batch of cannabis that is tested, retain a document that contains the test results;

  • (e) in the case of a licence for processing, retain

    • (i) a document that describes the qualifications of the quality assurance person — and of any alternate quality assurance person — in respect of the matters referred to in subsection 19(1), and

    • (ii) a document that describes every investigation conducted under paragraph 19(2)(b) or (c) and any measures taken under that paragraph; and

  • (f) in the case of a licence for analytical testing, retain a document that describes the qualifications of the head of laboratory in respect of the matters referred to in subsection 23(2).

• Marginal note:Non-therapeutic research on cannabis

  (1.1) The holder of a licence for research must also retain a document demonstrating that each lot or batch of cannabis that the holder produced or received from another holder of a licence for research and that has been distributed to human participants in the conduct of non-therapeutic research on cannabis, and anything that was used as an ingredient, was produced, packaged, labelled, distributed, stored, sampled or tested in accordance with sections 28.1 and 28.2 and the provisions of Parts 5 and 6, if applicable.

• Marginal note:Retention periods

  (2) The following documents must be retained for the following periods:

  • (a) a document referred to in paragraph (1)(a), for at least two years after the day on which the last sale or export of any portion of the lot or batch takes place;

  • (b) a document referred to in paragraph (1)(c), for at least two years after the day on which it is prepared;

  • (c) a document referred to in subparagraph (1)(d)(ii), for at least two years after the day on which the last sale or export of any portion of the lot or batch takes place;

  • (d) a document referred to in subparagraph (1)(e)(i) or paragraph (f), for the period during which the quality assurance person, the alternate quality assurance person or the head of laboratory acts in that capacity and at least two years after the day on which they cease to do so;

  • (e) a document referred to in subparagraph (1)(e)(ii), for at least two years after the day on which it is prepared; and

  • (f) a document referred to in subsection (1.1), for at least two years after the day on which the non-therapeutic research on cannabis ends.

• Marginal note:Retention periods — previous versions

  (3) The holder must retain

  • (a) each version of the list referred to in paragraph (1)(b), for at least two years after the day on which it is replaced by a new version or, if it has not been replaced, at least two years after the day on which the licence expires or is revoked; and

  • (b) each version of the document referred to in subparagraph (1)(d)(i), for at least two years after the day on which the validated methods are replaced or, if the methods have not been replaced, two years after the day on which the licence expires or is revoked.

Marginal note:Standard operating procedures and sanitation program

• 232 (1) A holder of a licence other than a cannabis drug licence must maintain documentation describing

  • (a) the standard operating procedures referred to in section 80 that are in use at the site set out in the licence; and

  • (b) the sanitation program referred to in section 87 that is in use at the site set out in the licence.

• Marginal note:Retention period

  (2) The holder must retain each version of the documentation for at least two years after the day on which it is replaced by a new version or, if it has not been replaced, at least two years after the day on which the licence expires or is revoked.

Packaging and Labelling

Marginal note:Packages and labels

233 A holder of a licence other than a cannabis drug licence must retain the following samples and copies for at least two years after the day on which they are made:

• (a) a sample or copy of each distinct package for a cannabis product that the holder makes available for sale; and

• (b) a copy of each distinct label that relates to a cannabis product that the holder makes available for sale.

Cannabis Accessories

Marginal note:Cannabis accessories

234 A holder of a licence must maintain a list of the names and types of the cannabis accessories that they sell and must retain each version of the list for at least two years after the day on which it is replaced by a new version or, if it has not been replaced, at least two years after the day on which the licence expires or is revoked.

System of Control for Recalls

Marginal note:System of control

• 235 (1) A holder of a licence, other than a licence for analytical testing or a cannabis drug licence must retain, for each lot or batch of cannabis that they sell or distribute, a document that contains the information that is necessary for the system of control referred to in subsection 46(1).

• Marginal note:Retention period

  (2) The document must be retained for at least two years after the day on which the last sale or distribution of any portion of the lot or batch takes place, other than for destruction.

• Marginal note:Documentation

  (3) The holder must maintain documentation concerning the system of control and retain each version of the documentation for at least two years after the day on which it is replaced by a new version or, if it has not been replaced, at least two years after the day on which the licence expires or is revoked.

Promotion

Marginal note:Promotion

236 A holder of a licence must retain

• (a) [Repealed, SOR/2025-43, s. 65]

• (b) if applicable, a document that contains the information provided to the Minister under subsection 43(4) of the Act for at least two years after the day on which the information was provided; and

• (c) a sample or copy of any promotional materials for at least two years after the day on which the promotion ended.

Research and Development

Marginal note:Research and development

• 237 (1) A holder of a licence, if they undertake research and development activities, must retain a document that contains the following information:

  • (a) in respect of any cannabis that is used in the activities,

    • (i) its description, including, if applicable, its brand name,

    • (ii) the quantity used and, if applicable, the lot or batch number,

    • (iii) the date on which it is used, and

    • (iv) the purpose and a brief description of the activity;

  • (b) in respect of any cannabis that is produced in the course of the activities,

    • (i) its description,

    • (ii) the quantity produced,

    • (iii) the date on which it is produced,

    • (iv) if applicable, the date on which it is used for testing and the quantity used, and

    • (v) if applicable, the date on which it is placed in inventory intended for sale and the quantity placed in inventory; and

  • (c) any other information that can be used to reconcile the quantities of cannabis referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).

• Marginal note:Non-therapeutic research on cannabis

  (1.1) A holder of a licence for research must also retain, in relation to any non-therapeutic research on cannabis that the holder conducts, the following documents:

  • (a) a copy of the documents submitted to the Minister in relation to that research;

  • (b) a copy of the documents produced in relation to that research; and

  • (c) a copy of any document required by licence conditions that the Minister has imposed under subsection 62(10) of the Act.

• Marginal note:Retention period — general rule

  (2) A document referred to in subsection (1) that does not relate to non-therapeutic research on cannabis must be retained for at least two years after the day on which it is prepared.

• Marginal note:Retention period — non-therapeutic research on cannabis

  (3) Despite any other provision of these Regulations that specifies a retention period and except in the case of reports and records referred to in section 248.2, every document that the holder of a licence for research must retain under these Regulations in relation to non-therapeutic research on cannabis that the holder conducts or in relation to cannabis that is distributed in the conduct of such research must be retained for at least two years after the day on which the non-therapeutic research on cannabis ends.