Pilot Program: Check to see if you can sell cannabis at your event

Eligible events already include:

• 420
• How Weird
• Clusterfest
• Outside Lands
• Folsom Street Fair
• Hardly Strictly
• Carnaval
• Pride

San Francisco is testing the event permit process with these events. Other similar events may qualify. 

We’re looking for previously held events that were permitted by the City. These events must also have had a lot of unregulated cannabis sales.

We will confirm whether your event is eligible before you apply for state licenses. If your event is not eligible, you will not be able to sell cannabis at your event.

Only licensed Cannabis Event Organizers can apply for a Cannabis Business Temporary Event permit from the OOC. You can apply to be one yourself, or partner with an already licensed Cannabis Event Organizer.

If you apply yourself, you will need to get a background check.

Ask for this authorization letter at least 90 days before your event. You will need it when you apply for a state event permit. 

The local permit fee of your temporary cannabis event depends on how many attendees you plan on having at your event:

• For 500 or fewer people: $610
• For 501 to 1000 people: $1,220
• For 1001 to 2500 people: $1,830
• For more than 2500 people: $3,660

You will need to partner with permitted cannabis businesses for your event. We will ask you for information about these cannabis businesses. This includes retailers, distributors, exhibitors, or advertisers. Manufacturers and cultivators can be at your event, if they are exhibitors.

You will need to submit a Cannabis Event Vendor Information Form for each vendor.

You will need to ask your cannabis vendors for:

• A contact person who will be onsite and reachable by phone during the event
• Their cannabis permit number, if they’re based in San Francisco
• Digital copy of state and local licenses, if they’re based outside of San Francisco
• A list of all employees who will sell cannabis goods

You will upload a premises diagram of your event location. It must be to scale and in black and white.

The diagram must show:

• Where the event will be taking place on the location grounds
• Entrances and exits that will be used by attendees
• Main path of travel through your event
• Cannabis consumption areas, if applicable
• Where cannabis goods will be sold
• Where cannabis waste will be stored
• Where cannabis goods will be stored
• Where cannabis will be loaded and unloaded during event setup and breakdown
• Numbered booth locations containing business names of each cannabis vendor
• Locations of emergency services, including ambulances

Submit an application to the Department of Cannabis Control at least 60 days before your event.

You will upload the authorization letter from San Francisco’s Office of Cannabis, as well as your event information.

For more information on the State's Temporary Cannabis Event License, please visit the DCC website. Reach out with any questions via email at info@cannabis.ca.gov

You need to submit a complete application 30 days before your event.

You will need permits from other City departments. Please contact all relevant City departments to ensure you have secured all of the necessary permits.