Cannabis Compliance Checklist
A comprehensive checklist covering every major compliance area for cannabis operators. Use this to audit your operations and identify gaps.
Licensing & Permits
- State cannabis license current and displayed
- Local/municipal permits obtained
- Business license and tax registrations active
- All owners/officers passed background checks
- License renewal dates calendared
- Change of ownership procedures understood
Testing & Quality
- All products tested by a state-licensed lab before sale
- Certificates of Analysis (COAs) on file for every batch
- COAs available to customers upon request
- Failed test remediation procedures documented
- Product recall procedures in place
- Lab selection based on accreditation (ISO 17025)
Seed-to-Sale Tracking
- METRC or state tracking system account active
- All plant tags applied and scanned
- Inventory reconciled daily/weekly
- Transfer manifests completed for all shipments
- Destruction/waste procedures documented and followed
- Staff trained on tracking system procedures
Labeling & Packaging
- THC/CBD content accurately displayed
- Required state warnings included
- Child-resistant packaging used
- Batch/lot numbers on all products
- No health claims or unapproved marketing
- Universal symbol displayed (where required)
Security
- 24/7 video surveillance operational
- Camera footage retained per state requirements (typically 30-90 days)
- Alarm system installed and monitored
- Limited access areas properly secured
- Visitor log maintained
- Cash handling procedures documented
- Transportation security procedures in place
Employee Requirements
- All employees hold required state badges/permits
- Background checks completed for all staff
- Responsible vendor training completed
- Employee handbook includes cannabis-specific policies
- OSHA workplace safety standards met
- Workers compensation insurance active
Financial & Tax
- Cannabis-specialized CPA retained
- 280E-compliant accounting system in place
- COGS properly allocated and documented
- State and federal tax filings current
- Sales tax collected and remitted
- Financial records maintained for audit readiness
- Banking relationship established (if available)
Record Keeping
- Business records retained for minimum period (typically 7 years)
- SOPs documented for all operations
- Incident reports filed and archived
- Regulatory correspondence organized
- Inspection results and corrective actions documented
- Insurance policies current and accessible
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