Who insures it · 5 named markets · read 2026-10-28

Who insures cannabis dispensaries, growers and manufacturers?

Cannabis dispensaries, growers and manufacturers is a risk most standard carriers decline on sight. The markets below say in their own published appetite or program pages that they write it; each line links to that page with the date it was read.

5 markets publicly write cannabis dispensaries, growers and manufacturers: CannGen Insurance Services, Golden Bear Insurance Company, Admiral Insurance Group (W. R. Berkley), Kinsale Insurance Company, Burns & Wilcox. 2 E&S carriers, 1 MGA, 1 admitted carrier, 1 wholesaler. 1 on admitted paper. 1 through surplus lines.

By Sam Alishahi, independent insurance broker

The markets

Who says they write it

From each market's own appetite, product or program page (or a trade article quoting it), read on the date shown. Appetites change: the linked page controls. A market listed here isn't necessarily one this agency is appointed with; a licensed broker reaches most of them directly or through a wholesaler.

Market	What they say they write	Where	Paper	Source
CannGen Insurance Services MGA	Cannabis, CBD and hemp operations: indoor/greenhouse cultivators (no outdoor crop), third-party processors/harvesters, manufacturers of edibles/topicals, dispensaries and retailers, lessor's risk, ancillary businesses; package (property/GL), products liability, workers' comp, commercial auto, management and professional liability. Self-described Managing General Underwriter (MGU). “Dispensaries and retail operations are eligible for the program.”	all U.S. states ("Licensed to provide coverage across all U.S. states.")	not stated	canngenins.com · read 2026-10-28
Golden Bear Insurance Company Admitted carrier	Package and stand-alone cannabis casualty and property through wholesale brokers: cultivators, manufacturers, retail dispensaries, warehouse operations, distribution operations, testing labs, short-term events; property, general liability, products liability, excess liability, equipment breakdown. “We cover cultivators, manufacturers, retail dispensaries, warehouse operations, distribution operations,”	not stated (page links to a States of Operation map without listing states)	Admitted	goldenbear.com · read 2026-10-28
Admiral Insurance Group (W. R. Berkley) E&S carrier	Commercial casualty (CGL or products-only) for cultivators/growers, processors/manufacturers, wholesalers, dispensaries and vertically integrated operations handling products over 0.3% THC; vapes (with limitations) and infused products covered; no delivery services; property, workers' comp and EPL available through Berkley Connect. “commercial casualty insurance coverage for cultivators, processors, wholesalers, and dispensaries”	states where cannabis has been legalized for medicinal or recreational use; multi-state coverage offered	Surplus lines	admiralins.com · read 2026-10-28
Kinsale Insurance Company E&S carrier	Products liability target class: cannabis dispensaries, distributors and processors including plant-oil processing and extraction equipment; separate Cannabis - Marijuana/THC and Cannabis - Hemp/CBD applications; seed-to-sale cannabis coverages across divisions. “Cannabis dispensaries, distributors, & processors; includes plant oil processing & extraction equipment”	not stated	not stated	kinsaleins.com · read 2026-10-28
Burns & Wilcox Wholesaler	Wholesale cannabis coverage: recreational and medical dispensaries/retail stores, CBD retail stores, cultivation and grow operations, product manufacturing (incl. edibles), lessor's risk with cannabis tenants, cannabis in-transit, product recall, cannabis workers' compensation program. “manage the unique risks associated with operating regulated dispensaries and nurseries”	not stated	not stated	burnsandwilcox.com · read 2026-10-28

Six markets verified on their own sites. CannGen calls itself an MGU (listed as MGA). Golden Bear states it is the first admitted carrier to offer cannabis coverage. Admiral's page carries a surplus-lines disclosure.

How cannabis dispensaries, growers and manufacturers gets placed

Standard markets first where any will look at it; when they won't, the placement goes through surplus lines, where a licensed surplus lines broker places it with an eligible non-admitted insurer and files the state's surplus lines tax and stamping forms. In California, risks on the Department of Insurance export list can go to surplus lines without the usual diligent search of admitted carriers. Surplus lines policies aren't backed by a state guaranty fund, so the insurer's financial rating matters more.

What an underwriter will want before quoting: a full description of the operation, years in business and the owners' experience, revenue or payroll, loss runs (five years where available, currently valued), the contracts or venue requirements that set the limits, and photos or safety plans where the hazard is physical.

I'm licensed in 49 states and Washington, DC and your request stays with my agency, not passed to another agent. In Florida, where my licenses are still being issued, a partner agency in your state helps in the meantime.

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