Security clearance application process
The page below was originally sent as an email to cannabis licence holders and applicants. No changes have been made to the original text.
Program Update: Fingerprinting process for security clearance applications
Cannabis Licensing and Security Division
September 29, 2022
As part of its efforts to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the cannabis program, Health Canada is making changes to the security clearance application process.
Effective September 29, 2022, security clearance applicants, living in Canada or abroad, can now have their certified criminal record check (fingerprint results) sent to them directly instead of having them sent to Health Canada by the fingerprinting agency. The results can then be submitted to Health Canada by uploading it to the Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System (CTLS). This new process will help decrease delays in processing experienced by some applicants.
No actions are required from applicants who have already had their fingerprints taken at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) or have submitted their fingerprints electronically to the RCMP's Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification System as part of their licence application process. Health Canada will continue to process their application.
For more information about this process change, refer to Steps to apply: Cannabis security clearances.
Should you have any questions, contact the Cannabis Security Inbox at security-cannabis-securite@hc-sc.gc.ca.