Life Insurance for the Marijuana Industry
Life Insurance for the Marijuana Industry
The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the United States, but it still faces unique challenges when it comes to financial planning and protection. While marijuana businesses continue to expand across cultivation, retail, testing, and manufacturing, many traditional insurance companies have been slow to support the industry. For professionals and business owners working in this space, obtaining life insurance coverage has historically been difficult — until now.
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we specialize in helping high-risk and underserved markets find solutions where others say no. Our advisors partner with carriers who offer life insurance and disability coverage designed specifically for cannabis professionals and companies. Whether you’re an executive at a dispensary, a grow operation owner, or an investor in the industry, we can help you secure the coverage you need to protect your family, your business, and your financial future.
Why Life Insurance Has Been Hard to Get in the Cannabis Industry
Despite legalization in many states, marijuana remains federally restricted, which has discouraged many mainstream insurers from working with cannabis businesses. This leaves business owners and employees exposed, with limited access to financial protections that are standard in other industries. Even international markets like Lloyd’s of London have avoided offering life or business insurance for cannabis operations.
Without life insurance, cannabis entrepreneurs face higher risk. Family members may be left without financial protection, lenders may hesitate to provide funding, and businesses may struggle to execute buy/sell agreements or protect key employees. Recognizing this need, a handful of forward-thinking carriers have stepped in to provide solutions.
Specialized Life Insurance Solutions for Cannabis Professionals
Through strategic partnerships, Diversified Insurance Brokers can provide life insurance options tailored for marijuana industry professionals. These programs are built to address the unique risks and financial needs of cannabis-related businesses. Available solutions include:
- Key Person Life Insurance: Protect your company against the loss of a critical employee, executive, or owner. Provides death benefit protection to fund recruitment, training, and business continuity.
- Key Person Disability Insurance: Pays benefits if a key leader becomes disabled and unable to work, ensuring the business has resources to cover losses and adapt.
- Buy/Sell Coverage: Ensures smooth ownership transition if a partner dies, by funding buyout obligations without straining the company’s liquidity.
- Business Loan Indemnification: Protects lenders and investors by guaranteeing loan repayment in the event of a borrower’s death. This can also be supported with Business Overhead Expense Insurance to safeguard cash flow during a disability.
Unlike traditional insurance, many of these plans are simplified issue — requiring no medical exams, blood draws, or lab work. Applications can often be approved quickly, which is especially useful for businesses working under short timelines with investors or lenders.
Why Diversified Insurance Brokers?
As a family-owned, fiduciary insurance agency licensed in all 50 states, Diversified Insurance Brokers has decades of experience helping clients secure the coverage they need — even in high-risk industries. We work with more than 75 carriers nationwide and bring an independent, client-first approach. Our expertise includes life insurance, disability, long-term care, annuities, and more.
For the cannabis industry, we understand the unique roadblocks you face. From banking challenges to investor requirements, our advisors help you design a strategy that meets your personal and business needs. We also offer flexible premium options, including the ability to pay by credit card, which can be especially valuable for cannabis businesses without traditional banking support. For more guidance on complex underwriting, visit our High-Risk Life Insurance page.
Protect Your Cannabis Business with Life Insurance
Get coverage for key people, buy/sell agreements, and business loans — even in the marijuana industry.
📞 Call us: 800-533-5969
Use Cases for Cannabis Industry Life Insurance
Entrepreneurs: Founders of cannabis startups often require life insurance to secure funding. Investors and lenders want assurance that loans or equity stakes are protected.
Executives: CEOs, CFOs, and other leaders carry knowledge and relationships critical to business success. Key person coverage ensures continuity in case of sudden loss.
Investors: Life insurance helps mitigate the financial risks of investing in cannabis-related businesses, creating stability and peace of mind.
Family Protection: Beyond business, life insurance provides peace of mind for families who rely on income from the cannabis industry. For those who may not qualify for standard coverage, Life Insurance Alternatives can provide valuable solutions.
How to Get Started
Securing life insurance in the cannabis industry requires specialized knowledge and access to the right carriers. At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we’ll review your business structure, assess your personal and company needs, and match you with the best available options. Most applications can be completed quickly and without medical exams, making the process straightforward and efficient.
To get started, you can request a free quote online, schedule a consultation with one of our advisors, or call us directly for personalized guidance.
Book a Free Consultation
Talk with an advisor who understands the cannabis industry and knows how to navigate its unique challenges. We’ll design a plan that protects both your family and your business.
FAQs: Life Insurance in the Marijuana Industry
Can marijuana industry professionals get life insurance?
Yes. While many traditional carriers avoid the industry, specialty-market carriers working with Diversified Insurance Brokers offer coverage for cannabis business owners and employees.
Do I need a medical exam to apply?
Most programs are simplified issue, meaning no medical exam, bloodwork, or urinalysis is required. Approval is often quick and hassle-free.
What types of policies are available?
We offer key person life and disability, buy/sell coverage, and business loan indemnification plans tailored to cannabis businesses.
Can premiums be paid by credit card?
Yes. Many cannabis businesses face banking challenges, so premiums can be paid by credit card to simplify the process.
Is life insurance available for dispensary employees?
Coverage is primarily designed for business owners, executives, and key personnel, but certain plans may extend to employees depending on their role and risk factors.
How fast can coverage be approved?
Most applications can be underwritten and approved in a matter of days or weeks, making it possible to meet tight timelines for investor or loan requirements.
What is key person life insurance and why is it important?
Key person insurance protects the company if a founder, executive, or other critical employee passes away. It ensures continuity and financial stability during leadership transitions.
Can cannabis companies get buy/sell agreement funding?
Yes. Specialized carriers offer buy/sell coverage so that surviving partners or heirs can be compensated fairly without jeopardizing the business.
Are life insurance rates higher for cannabis professionals?
Rates may reflect higher perceived risk, but partnering with the right carriers often results in competitive premiums tailored to the marijuana industry.
What if I can’t qualify for traditional life insurance?
If you’re unable to qualify, alternatives such as guaranteed issue, simplified issue, or Life Insurance Alternatives may provide valuable protection.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
