Although cannabis is legal in many states in the US, it is still a highly regulated industry. Cultivators, growers, and ancillary service providers need to stay ahead of the regulations to stay on the right side of the law. Commercial growers, in particular, need to go the extra mile because they are the initiators.
If you have a grow operation, you must think beyond the quality and yield. Compliance should also be a priority. Here are the essentials you must follow to be compliant and legally safe.
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Know the Rules and Regulations in Your State
Like any other industry, operational compliance in the cannabis domain is layered with hundreds of rules, regulations, and codes. Since you have to follow state-specific regulations, things get even more complex. You must be aware of these regulations and stay ahead of the updates in guidelines.
The rules can change more often than you imagine, specifically in pandemic times. So be vigilant, and act with agility to ensure you never break them.
Make Safety a Priority
Cannabis compliance is as much about safety as legality. It becomes even more crucial in pandemic times when the risk of workers getting infected at your grow facility abounds. Apart from the regular OSHA guidelines, follow the ones suggested for infection prevention.
Even a small miss can land you in big trouble with the authorities. Not to mention, worker sickness and mishaps can disrupt operations and harm employee loyalty in the long run.
Ensure Detailed Inventory Management
Commercial growers need to be on top of inventory management to stay compliant at all times. Inventory tracking and audits are crucial aspects of commercial cultivation, while you must also handle discrepancies immediately. The best way to do it is by investing in seed to sale tracking software. It empowers your business with real-time data to track every single plant at all stages.
You can use it to understand how the plants move through processes like vegetative, flowering, harvesting, curing, storage, and testing. Moreover, you can provide the records for them according to the law.
Maintain Good Crop Health
A healthy crop is essential for reasons beyond customer satisfaction and business reputation. It also keeps your business ahead on the compliance front. Implement best practices for growing your crops. For example, you must vet your suppliers, ensure good crop maintenance, facilitate pest management, and stay ahead of testing. Getting seasoned people in your team does the rest.
Go the Extra Mile With Sustainability
Cannabis cultivation is a resource-intensive process as you require soil, water, and fertilizers for a thriving crop. Indoor facilities also have extensive energy requirements as cultivation relies heavily on grow lights and HVAC systems. Ensuring sustainability is a part of compliance requirements for growers.
You can do it by adopting sustainable practices to reduce your environmental footprint. These include the use of LED lighting, natural fertilizers, and hydroponic growing techniques.
Compliance makes life a lot easier for cannabis growers. If you ensure it, you do not have to worry about legal troubles with the authorities. You can focus on growing your business with excellent quality and high yield.
