Delaware

Training resources

Webinar recordings and documentation for the Delaware DHSS 2.0 system. Zoom recordings require the passcode shown below each link.

• Cultivation and manufacturing compliance webinar Passcode: $dkM6zB8
  Recording
• Dispensary operations compliance webinar Passcode: vw*NV&2V
  Recording
• DHSS 2.0 complete system training manual Training site
• Inventory conversion guide Training site

Regulatory framework

Delaware splits its cannabis system between two separate regulatory bodies:

Medical cannabis program

Established and overseen by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). The state uses a vertically integrated model rather than separate license tiers.

Adult-use commercial market

Regulated by the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner (OMC) under the Delaware Marijuana Control Act, which took effect on July 5, 2023.

Compassion center licensing

Delaware does not issue separate licenses for cultivation, extraction, or retail under the medical program. Instead, the state grants unified Compassion Center licenses. A certified Compassion Center must own and control its entire chain of custody internally: cultivating at its secure grow site, extracting and manufacturing products in-house, and dispensing directly to registered medical patients at its storefront.

Medical patients and caregivers

Registered patients may purchase medical cannabis from licensed Compassion Centers. Delaware law prohibits medical patients from cultivating cannabis plants at home.

Patient application requirements

• Documented proof of residency within the state of Delaware.
• Must be at least 18 years of age. Applicants under 18 require a signed certification from a pediatric specialist in neurology, gastroenterology, oncology, or palliative care.
• A completed Physician Certification from a qualifying physician.
• A signed release allowing regulatory access to medical records related to a qualifying condition.
• Annual renewal of state registry identification cards.

Qualifying conditions

• Terminal illness
• Active cancer treatment
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Severe, debilitating muscle spasms or chronic, intractable pain

Caregiver designations

Patients who cannot travel to a Compassion Center may designate an approved caregiver. Any individual may apply to become a caregiver, provided they are listed and digitally linked to the patient's state application record.

Traceability and reporting

Delaware mandates full seed-to-sale tracking to maintain an electronic chain of custody. All Compassion Centers must enter real-time facility logistics, plant lifecycle data, lab testing results, and exact dispense weights into the statewide monitoring system. This prevents product diversion and supports regulatory oversight.