On January 2, 2026, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released proposed amendments to its Cannabis Appellations Program (CAP) regulations, marking a significant step toward operationalizing the world’s first governmental appellation system for cannabis. The 45-day public comment period runs through February 17, 2026, giving stakeholders an opportunity to weigh in on key changes that could reshape how California’s legacy cultivators protect and market their regional products. [1]
What’s Changing?
The proposed amendments address several practical barriers that have delayed the program’s launch. Most notably, CDFA is proposing to reduce the minimum number of cultivators required per petition from three to one. [2] This change would allow individual farmers to pursue appellations without needing to coordinate with multiple licensees—a significant hurdle in California’s fragmented cannabis market. [1]
The amendments also clarify when statutory prohibitions against misusing an appellation take effect and include transition provisions for licensees who have historically used certain names. These grandfathering provisions could prove critical for established brands that have built recognition around place-based identities. [1]
Timeline for Implementation
CDFA anticipates opening the program for appellation petitions beginning Summer 2026. While the department established initial CAP regulations in 2021, implementation has been delayed as CDFA coordinated with the Department of Cannabis Control to ensure consistency with broader commercial cannabis laws. The regulatory journey has been lengthy—CDFA first released proposed appellations rules in February 2020, followed by multiple comment periods and revisions before regulations took effect January 1, 2022. [1]
California’s Unique Program
California’s Cannabis Appellations Program stands alone in the United States and globally as the first governmental appellation system specifically designed for cannabis. Modeled after wine appellations like those protecting “Napa Valley” or “Russian River Valley,” CAP allows cultivators to establish legally protected geographical designations that identify where and how their cannabis was produced. [3] [4] [5]
The program’s uniqueness extends beyond its “first-mover” status. Unlike wine appellations, California law restricts cannabis appellations to outdoor cultivation in the ground under full sun, without structures or artificial lighting—establishing a true terroir baseline that connects the product to its environment. This requirement, codified in SB 67 (2020), ensures that appellations reflect the soil, climate, and growing methods that make each region distinctive. [6] [7] [8]
Licensed cultivators may petition to establish appellations representing their unique growing regions, setting standards for cultivation practices and even protecting region-specific cultivars. Once approved, these appellations function like collective trademarks, preventing others from misrepresenting their products’ origins and allowing participating cultivators to command premium prices. [1] [4] [9] [10] [11]
Written comments on the proposed amendments must be submitted by February 17, 2026, to CannabisAg@cdfa.ca.gov or by mail to CDFA’s Sacramento office.