Summary
Top states to feature
- Michigan
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- New York
Each state section includes
- License types
- Food safety requirements
- Security requirements
- Batch testing
- Local construction codes
- Cannabis kitchen rules
Cannabis kitchen rules are highly state-specific. Below is a high-level overview of how some major markets handle licenses that touch edibles manufacturing and commercial kitchen operations.
This is not legal advice—regulations change often. Always confirm details with state regulators and a cannabis attorney before you invest.
Michigan – Processors & Shelf-Stable Edibles
Primary regulator: Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA)
Key license types for edibles & kitchens:
- Marijuana Processor (medical) – processes cannabis into infused products for the medical market.
- Marijuana Processor (adult-use) – same activities for the adult-use market.
- Microbusiness / Class A Microbusiness – small operators who can grow, process, and sell on one site (with strict plant limits).
Kitchen-specific rules to watch:
- Edibles in Michigan must be shelf-stable—no products that require time/temperature control for safety (no TCS foods like cream pies that must be refrigerated for safety).
- Processors must follow Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) under 21 CFR 117 for human food.
- At least one employee on-site must be a Certified Food Protection Manager during edible production.
- Expect strict rules around packaging, child-resistant closures, and labeling, especially for edibles that could appeal to children.
For a commercial cannabis kitchen in Michigan, plan on NSF equipment, shelf-stable recipes, and documentation that aligns with food code plus CRA bulletins.
California – Manufacturing Types 6, 7, N, P, S
Primary regulator: Department of Cannabis Control (DCC)
Key license types for edibles & infusion:
- Type 6 – Non-Volatile Solvent Manufacturing
Non-volatile extraction (ethanol, CO₂, butter, oils, etc.), mechanical extraction, and infusion. - Type 7 – Volatile Solvent Manufacturing
Volatile extraction (e.g., butane, propane), plus the activities allowed under Type 6 and N. - Type N – Infusion Only
Infusing cannabis into other products (gummies, chocolates, baked goods, beverages) and packaging/labeling. - Type P – Packaging & Labeling only (no manufacturing).
- Type S – Shared-Use Manufacturing
Smaller manufacturers work in a shared commercial kitchen operated by a Type 6, 7, or N licensee.
Kitchen / facility notes:
- California is strict on food safety, worker safety, and building/fire codes, with heavy emphasis on volatile vs non-volatile processes for hood/vent and room design.
- Shared-use (Type S) is often attractive for smaller edible brands that want to avoid building their own full kitchen from scratch.
Colorado – Retail & Medical Products Manufacturer
Primary regulator: Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED)
Key license types for edibles & processing:
- Medical Marijuana Products Manufacturer – produces medical marijuana products (edibles, concentrates, tinctures) for sale to licensed medical centers.
- Retail Marijuana Products Manufacturer – produces adult-use marijuana-infused products (edibles, concentrates, tinctures) for sale to licensed retail stores.
- Marijuana Accelerator Manufacturer (Social Equity) – special manufacturing license type to support social equity businesses.
Kitchen / facility notes:
- Colorado has a long history with edibles, so expect mature rules around serving size, potency limits, and child-resistant packaging.
- Facilities must meet both state cannabis rules and local building, fire, and food safety codes, which can vary by city/county.
Illinois – Infusers, Processors & Craft Growers
Primary regulators:
- Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) – infusers, processors, craft growers
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) – dispensaries
Key license types for edibles & kitchens:
- Infuser Organization / Infuser – facility that directly incorporates cannabis or cannabis concentrate into a product formulation to produce a cannabis-infused product (edibles, beverages, topicals, etc.).
- Processor – can both extract cannabis into concentrates and incorporate concentrates into products.
- Craft Grower – can cultivate and also process to some extent, depending on license terms.
Food safety overlay:
- IDOA-licensed cannabis facilities making infused or processed edible products must have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (ANSI-accredited) on staff.
- For an Illinois edibles kitchen, you’re essentially operating a food processing facility plus a cannabis site—expect food code, GMP-type expectations, and cannabis-specific security and traceability.
Massachusetts – Marijuana Product Manufacturer
Primary regulator: Cannabis Control Commission (CCC)
Key license type for edibles & infusion:
- Product Manufacturer – licensed entity that can obtain cannabis, manufacture/process it into products, and package those products for transfer to other licensed establishments (not directly to consumers).
Cost notes (subject to change):
- Application fee and annual license fees apply (public sources list a $1,500 application fee and $10,000 annual license fee for product manufacturers, though social equity reductions may apply).
Kitchen implications:
- You’ll be treated like a food manufacturer and a cannabis establishment at the same time, including seed-to-sale tracking, HACCP-style controls, and detailed SOPs.
- Local boards of health often enforce food code and facility inspections on top of CCC requirements.
New York – Processors & Brand/Processor Models
Primary regulator: Office of Cannabis Management (OCM)
Key license types touching edibles manufacturing:
- Adult-Use Processor – processes cannabis into manufactured products (edibles, vapes, concentrates, beverages).
- Conditional Adult-Use Processor (AUCP) – an early, time-limited license that allowed existing hemp processors to enter the adult-use space; now transitioning to the regular licensing framework.
- Adult-Use Processor Type 3 – Branding License – allows a brand to contract with licensed processors to make its products (white labeling); does not authorize plant-touching activities itself.
Regulatory twists:
- New York’s licensing program has been in flux, including litigation over residency preferences and social equity schemes, which affects timelines and availability of licenses.
- Expect stringent standards around security, video surveillance, product testing, packaging, and labeling, especially in dense urban markets.
- For an edibles kitchen in New York, it’s common for brands to partner with licensed processors, rather than every brand building its own facility.
Need help translating license rules into an actual floor plan and equipment list?
Aldevra helps cannabis operators design compliant kitchens and choose the right commercial foodservice equipment for their state’s rules.
