Cannabis Dispensary Insurance:
Coverage for Marijuana Retailers

Throughout the nation, marijuana is becoming more widely available – recreationally and medically. This market is ripe for the picking, hence the growing number of cannabis dispensaries popping up everywhere.

Whether you grow marijuana, run a dispensary, or both, it’s more important than ever to have comprehensive cannabis dispensary insurance in place – including general liability coverage, workers’ compensation, and more.

As an expert commercial insurance brokerage, founded in 1994, HCP National can help you find comprehensive insurance that suits your requirements and budget. From the changing legal landscape to unforeseen obstacles, we’ll make sure you’re covered.

Ready to get started? Click here to get a dispensary insurance quote!

An outdoor shop sign that says "dispensary" and has a green cannabis leaf illustration above it. This is an example of a business that requires cannabis dispensary insurance!

Our Cannabis Liability Insurance Programs

At HCP National, we offer comprehensive, affordable claims-made and occurrence policies and surety bonds to cannabis operations, including dispensaries and growers.

Some of the options and their key benefits include: 

Claims-Made Cannabis Liability Insurance

  • Multiple limit options are available
  • $1,000,000 defense expense allowance outside limits
  • Cannabis intoxication liability coverage included
  • Vape coverage provided
  • No blanket health hazard exclusions
  • Limited product withdrawal expense endorsement

Occurrence Cannabis Liability Insurance*

  • Multiple limit options are available
  • Security guard coverage (armed, unarmed, sub-contractors, employees)
  • Hired and non-owned auto liability
  • Special event coverage (not hosting)
  • *Unavailable in Washington state

This policies are available to businesses operating in: AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, MA, MD, MI, MN, ND, NJ, NM, OH, PA, and WA.

Surety Bonds For Cannabis Dispensaries, Retailers & Growers

Marijuana Dispensary Bond Types

  • Cannabis License and Permit Bonds
  • Cannabis Contract and Construction Bonds
  • Cannabis Destruction Bonds
  • Cannabis Performance Bonds

Bond Underwriting

  • Responsive, flexible
  • Competitive terms
  • Zero cash collateral requirements are often available

These bonds are available in every state that requires bonds (except for Michigan attestation bonds).

Demand for Marijuana Dispensaries is Growing Across the Country

Changes in regulation and rising demand are causing the cannabis industry in the United States to grow and evolve rapidly. As of mid-2024, 38 states have legalized medical marijuana, while recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states. However, since marijuana is still classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the federal government, operating a cannabis business isn’t simple.

To operate legally, cannabis dispensaries must adhere to strict regulations imposed by state and local governments. These regulations typically govern things like licensing, security, product testing, packaging, labeling, advertising, and sales to minors. Depending on local laws and permits, retailers can serve recreational and/or medical customers.

 

Plus, challenges with banking restrictions and interstate commerce limitations are not uncommon – not to mention the many other inherent risks that come with running a dispensary business.

Despite all of this, the number of cannabis dispensaries in the United States is only growing! In 2024, there are roughly 15,000 dispensaries nationwide. 

In this increasingly competitive industry, having the right coverage has never been more vital. If you have a marijuana dispensary in need of an insurance policy, you’re in the right place. Click here to get started!

What Does Dispensary Insurance Cover?

With all the legal and regulatory nuances associated with the cannabis industry, cannabis retailers and growers must be covered for a wide variety of risks.

Cannabis insurance policies are customizable, but dispensary insurance can include the following coverages:

  • Commercial General Liability: Cannabis liability insurance can provide coverage for bodily injury, property damage, and advertising injury claims arising from the dispensary’s premises, operations, or products.
  • Employment Practices Liability: This can protect dispensaries against claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and/or other employment-related issues.
  • Workers’ Compensation: This can provide benefits to employees for work-related injuries or illnesses.
  • Directors and Officers (D&O): This can cover dispensary directors and officers against mismanagement and wrongful acts claims, as well as for crimes committed by their employees.
  • Property and Crop Insurance: This can protect physical assets like buildings, inventory, equipment, and crops against fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
  • Product Liability: This can cover potential claims associated with selling cannabis products, including product defects, contamination, and inadequate warnings.
  • Auto: This can cover vehicles used for business purposes, as well as vehicles used by employees for business tasks.
  • Crime Insurance: This can cover financial losses from theft, burglary, robbery, and employee dishonesty.
  • Cyber Insurance: This can protect against cyber threats such as data breaches and ransomware attacks.
  • Surety Bonds: Surety bonds are often required by regulatory authorities as financial guarantees that dispensaries will comply with any legal and licensing requirements.

As you can see, cannabis dispensary insurance coverage can protect your business from many inherent risks and liabilities. Contact us today for a quote!

Examples of Claims Covered by Cannabis Dispensary Insurance

Here are some example scenarios of claims that may be covered by a cannabis dispensary’s insurance policy:

 

  • A customer alleges they experienced adverse effects after consuming a cannabis edible purchased from the dispensary.
  • An employee suffers a back injury while lifting heavy boxes of the dispensary’s products.
  • Burglars steal cash, inventory, and equipment.
  • A wildfire breaks out close by, forcing the dispensary to close temporarily.
  • A competitor alleges that the dispensary’s marketing campaign contains false or misleading claims about its products.
  • Health inspectors sanitation or safety violations during an inspection of the dispensary.
  • An extreme weather event, such as a hailstorm or flooding, damages the dispensary’s crops (some dispensaries are also growers).
  • The dispensary discovers that a batch of its products has been contaminated with pesticides exceeding the allowed levels.

We can help you secure comprehensive, affordable coverage. Click here to get started!

Purchase Cannabis Dispensary Insurance Coverage

If your dispensary requires cannabis dispensary insurance, look no further than HCP National Insurance Services, Inc. Founded in 1994, we’re proud to be the largest independent and certified minority-woman-owned insurance brokerage in the country (WBENC & MBE).

Our number one priority is to help you find the best coverage and terms, at the lowest possible cost.

From cannabis general liability to workers’ compensation to surety bonds, HCP National is here to serve all of your dispensary’s commercial insurance needs. Get your quote now!

bright green cannabis leaves stacked atop each other

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Since 1994 – HCP’s top priority is finding clients the best possible coverage and terms at the lowest possible cost. HCP is a certified diverse (MBE & WBENC) insurance brokerage.

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What Clients Say

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The HCP National team has been incredibly easy to work with. Even before becoming a client, they took the time to answer all of my questions and have repeatedly gone above and beyond to meet the ever-changing needs of our company.

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