Cannabis Business Insurance

With the increasing legalization of cannabis across various states in the U.S. and around the world, the cannabis industry is booming. However, with growth comes risks, and insurance is becoming a crucial aspect for businesses operating in this sector. As more businesses enter the market, the need for comprehensive cannabis insurance policies becomes essential to protect investments and mitigate potential risks.

Have you considered joining this rapidly growing industry? Here’s what you need to know about its legality, the insurance coverage you’ll need and the 9 best cannabis insurance companies.

Quick Look: Best Cannabis Insurance Companies

• Best for Customized Coverage: Carma Cannabis Insurance
• Best Out-of-the-Box Coverage: AlphaRoot
• Best for Competitive Pricing: MFE Insurance
• Best for Wide Product Range: Cannabis Insurance Company
• Best for Focused Service: Cannasure
• Best for Crop Cultivation Coverage: AFIG Cannabis Insurance
• Best for Insuring Medical Marijuana: 420 Insurance
• Best for All States: SafeHerb
• Best for High Coverage Amounts: Admiral Insurance Cannabis Insurance
• Best for Smoke Shops: Cover Cannabis

Top Cannabis Insurance Companies

Many cannabis insurers are private companies and don’t disclose their rates. Request quotes from several insurers to find your cheapest option.

1. Best for Customized Coverage: Carma Cannabis Insurance

Carma Cannabis Insurance is a unique insurance carrier that provides a range of commercial insurance policies for cannabis businesses like general liability, property insurance, product liability, commercial auto and more.

As a cannabis business owner, you can protect your business with customized insurance plans for retailers, dispensaries, cultivators, growers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, transporters, tobacco shops, and head shops.

• Quote process: Online or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online
• States served: All 50 states

2. Best Out-of-the-Box Coverage: Alpharoot

AlphaRoot is a full-service cannabis insurance brokerage specializing in industries such as cannabis, agriculture and hemp, CBD, holistic medicine, and psychedelics. They offer personalized insurance coverage and expertise in risk management for businesses in these industries, with a wide network of insurance carriers to provide competitive rates and comprehensive coverage options. They prioritize customer service, provide assistance with policy comparisons and claim management to help businesses manage their clients risks effectively.

• Quote process: Online or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online
• States served: All 50 states

3. Best for Competitive Pricing: MFE Insurance

MFE Insurance offers the best overall cannabis insurance coverage selections. The company serves businesses of all sizes, from a single dispensary to a full-service grow operation. You’ll find the policy you need with MFE because of its wide range of coverage and experience.

Coverage options include general liability and product liability, workers’ compensation and employee benefits, liability, loss of income insurance, equipment breakdown insurance and more.

• Quote process: Online, by email or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online
• States served: All states except Arkansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Massachusetts,
  Wyoming

4. Best for Wide Product Range: Cannabis Insurance Company

Some of the cannabis insurance providers in the market sell standard business insurance policies to cannabis businesses. But Cannabis Insurance Company customizes its product offerings to the industry.

You might own a dispensary, be a cultivator, manufacturer, transporter or more. No matter what, you’ll find policies with options specific to your niche at Cannabis Insurance. For example, a cultivator’s policy could protect your crops against lighting, fire, explosion, hail and smoke and water damage. Cannabis Insurance Company is a great pick for a larger, more established cannabis business that needs to cover many aspects of production. 

• Quote process: By email or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: By email
• States served: All 50 states

5. Best for Focused Service: Cannasure (One80 Intermediaries)

Cannasure’s 14 years of experience conveys the image of a focused, professional company. Launched to serve the cannabis industry’s insurance needs, Cannasure has an in-depth knowledge of its unique nature. Unlike other insurance agencies or brokerages that tack cannabis insurance onto existing product offerings as an afterthought, Cannasure is 100% focused on cannabis insurance.

Cannasure doesn’t just sell policies to dispensaries and cultivators; it covers every part of the industry, including hemp and CBD. Landlords who rent to cannabis businesses and may not be able to buy normal property insurance can get coverage through Cannasure. Cannasure also serves businesses related to the cannabis industry and sells policies to hydroponic stores, glass blowers, tobacco shops and more.

• Quote process: Online or by email
• Policy purchase process: By email
• States served: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, D.C., Washington, West Virginia

6. Best for Crop Cultivation Coverage: AFIG Cannabis Insurance

AFIG provides marijuana crops and marijuana cultivation. They cover plants in three stages of growth: living plant material, harvested plant material and finished stock. Coverage is available for a number of potential dangers with theft, fire and vandalism being among the most popular.

In addition to the crop and cultivation coverage, they also offer product liability and business income insurance related to cannabis. To be considered eligible for insurance through Allen Financial Insurance Group for this type of insurance you must have your facility inspected, a security system installed and if you're covering finished stock you must have a safe bolted door.

• Quote process: Online, by email or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online or by email
• States served: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington, D.C., Washington, West Virginia

7. Best for Insuring Medical Marijuana: 420 Insurance

420 Insurance has been protecting the cannabis space since 2006. They provide premises liability, workers compensation, property and equipment and even health insurance specifically for the medical marijuana industry. Consider 420 if you operate a bed and breakfast that sells cannabis or if you own a dispensary. There are clients and situations all over the realm of possibilities that put their trust in 420 Insurance.

Get a custom quote right on their page and start your cannabis journey today. After all, the grass is only greener if it's insured.

• Quote process: Online, by email or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online or by email
• States served: All 50 states

8. Best for All States: SafeHerb

What can we say about SafeHerb? Well, quite a bit. But to sum it up: they are cannabis experts stoked to deliver you the best cannabis insurance on the market. They offer general liability, product liability, commercial property insurance, crop coverage and even cargo coverage.

SafeHerb customers range from cultivators to manufacturers and laboratories to wholesalers. Big or small cannabis operations are welcome to apply for coverage. Their dope coverage options will bring you a great sense of relief, work with a professional and get a custom cannabis insurance quote.

• Quote process: Online or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online
• States served: All 50 states

9. Best for High Coverage Amounts: Admiral Insurance Cannabis Insurance

Are you looking for dope coverage? Literally and figuratively, you can get that with Admiral Insurance Cannabis Insurance. Admiral has substantial coverage capabilities including their maximum limits of $5M/$5M/$5M and their minimum deductible of $2,500.

If you're in the cannabis industry as any of the following, talk to an Admiral agent for a custom quote: retailer, dispensary, cultivator, grower, wholesaler, distributor, a recreational user or sell marijuana-related products. What's excluded? Temporary events, testing labs and social clubs.

• Quote process: Online, over the phone or in person
• Policy purchase process: Online or in person
• States served: All 50 states

10. Best for Smoke Shops: Cover Cannabis

Cover Cannabis is all about customizing your coverage. You can choose from a number of policies like general liability, product liability, workers compensation, business auto, crop or equipment coverage and cargo plus more. Whether you want to insure your dispensary, smoke shop, delivery service or distributor you can look to Cover Cannabis to protect your cannabis.

Getting a custom quote is easy, all you need to do is fill out their online form that takes less than 2 minutes and you'll receive a call from one of their cannabis professionals that will assist you every step of the way.

• Quote process: Online, by email/mail or over the phone
• Policy purchase process: Online or by email
• States served: All 50 states

Where is Cannabis Legal?

Cannabis isn’t legal to consume, grow or sell in all 50 states. Educate yourself on local laws before you light up or write up a business plan. 

Legal Recreational Use

Each state defines the amount of marijuana considered acceptable for recreational purposes differently. You’re allowed 1 ounce in Alaska, but you can have 2.5 ounces in Maine. Don’t just assume that you’re safe to purchase pot. Check the local laws and triple-check the legal limits.

Recreational use is legal in the following states:

 Legal Medicinal Use

You’ll need a diagnosed condition to obtain medicinal marijuana, a prescription and possibly a medical marijuana card. Medicinal marijuana use is legal in the following states:

Where is it Legal to Grow Cannabis?

To determine the suitable areas for cultivating cannabis, it is essential first to classify the purpose of cultivation, whether it is for personal or business use.

Growing for Personal Use

Individuals can have a small number of marijuana plants in their home for personal growing purposes in some states. Massachusetts residents can have up to 12 plants and California residents are allowed just 6. The laws get even hairier in Washington, D.C., where you can have 6 plants but only 3 can be in bloom. 

Always check your local ordinances before you start to grow your own. Individuals can grow their own plants in the following states:

Growing for Commercial Use

Commercial cultivation laws can even vary by county within a particular state. For example, growers can’t cultivate marijuana in either Los Angeles or Alameda counties in California. Think you might want to start a larger operation? Talk to local experts and consult a lawyer.

Who Needs Cannabis Insurance?

Are you operating a cannabis business? You need insurance related to the crop and product you sell. Cannabis insurance can protect you from property losses, liability losses, some crop or product losses and equipment breakdown.

Coverage varies by company and policy type. You may need to purchase several cannabis insurance policies to fully cover your business, which could include dispensary or cultivation insurance.

What Does Cannabis Insurance Cover?

Whether you run a dispensary or a grow house, you’re operating a business and will need business-related insurance to protect yourself from lawsuits, loss of income or to replace damaged equipment.

Traditional insurance companies have been cautious about entering the cannabis industry and often limit their coverage to commercial general liability, property liability and product liability coverages at $1 million per occurrence or $2 million aggregate per coverage type. Traditional insurance policies often exclude crime-related claims but cannabis businesses need coverage in this area.

It’s often best to work with an insurance company that specializes in the industry. For example, 420 Insurance offers general liability policies that start at $1 million in coverage and go up from there. Admiral Insurance’s cannabis group pays out up to $5 million.

Some insurance companies offer just an overarching cannabis insurance policy and others provide coverage for specific industry sectors, such as:

Cultivation Insurance

This insurance for growers protects plants, equipment and business income.

Dispensary Insurance

Dispensary insurance is intended for dispensary operators and covers your property and inventory in the event of a loss. It also covers any liability and loss of income.

Manufacturing Insurance

Insures against direct physical loss in the manufacturing process.

Building Insurance

Involves liability or property insurance for a building used to house a grow operation.

Delivery and Transport Insurance

Protects business owners from damage or theft during transport from the extractor to the dispensary.

Laboratory Insurance

Protects cannabis companies from liability and professional liability if you engage in laboratory testing.

Product Liability

This insurance protects your company from bodily injury or property damage lawsuits incurred by a product defect if you sell, manufacture or distribute cannabis. It also includes damages from mislabeled products or lack of proper warning labels.  

Hemp-CBD Insurance

Provides coverage to growers, extractors, wholesalers or retailers of HEMP/CBD products.

Discrepancies between local, state and federal laws have kept most banks out of the cannabis industry. They will not allow cannabis-based businesses to open accounts, which has forced a cash-based industry. This is why it’s a good idea to consider purchasing a policy that specifically covers crime-related losses.

In addition to industry-specific coverage, consider buying professional liability insurance, liability insurance or other insurance policies.

How Much Does Cannabis Insurance Cost?

The cost of cannabis insurance varies among providers and depends on the coverage and coverage amounts selected. Rates can be impacted by:

Size of the Operation

The cost for a small dispensary’s general liability insurance could be just $700 a year, but a large cultivator could pay $3,000.

Complexity of the Operation

A dispensary may need product coverage, business liability insurance or building insurance. But a full-scale company could need all this plus crop cultivation insurance, laboratory insurance, transport insurance and more.

Optional Coverage Selections

Due to its often cash-based business model, many cannabis companies opt for optional crime-related insurance. This can add significant cost to your insurance premiums.

Past Occurrences

Generally speaking, any time you make a claim on an insurance policy, your premiums will rise. You’ll pay more for insurance if your store has been burgled in the past.

Cannabis insurance can be quite expensive compared to other types of commercial insurance. Additional industry risks, such as crime, combined with a lack of claims data to build risk tables, makes many insurers cautious when pricing a policy. Cultivators in California could pay $20,000 – $30,000 for basic insurance.

Insuring an Industry in Flux

The only certainty is that the insurance market won’t look the same today as it will in 10 years.

As the cannabis industry evolves and grows, so will the insurance companies that serve its needs. More claims experience will lead to refinements in policy premiums. Legal clarity will entice larger, traditional insurers into the market and more competition will lower premiums. It’s an industry to keep an eye on.

Frequently Asked Questions