Health Canada brought in more than $60 million in cannabis-related fees in the past year, which covered less than half of the department’s nearly $124 million operating costs, according to a new report.

These costs are related to several regulatory activities, including inspections, compliance and enforcement, program management and oversight.

The federal health agency, which oversees federal cannabis production licences, collects various application fees from cannabis producers. This includes an application fee of $1,765 for a micro or a nursery and $3,527 for a standard or medical-only licence, which brought in $410,180 in total. Rates are scheduled to increase beginning April 2024 to $1,969 for a micro or nursery and $3,933 for standard cultivation/processing or medical-only licences. 

In addition to an application fee, once licensed, a micro cultivator or processor, or cannabis nursery must pay a fee based on a portion of revenue, which brought in another $55,894,055 for the department’s operating costs. 

There is also a $1,781 application fee for a security clearance, which brought $2,945,335 in revenue for the department. This fee will increase to $1,987 in April 2024.

The Application for Import or Export Permit costs $658 and brought in $946,464. This fee will increase to $734 in April 2024.