M3 Today Magazine M3 Today Magazine Spring 2019 | Page 26

CANNABIS COMPLIANCE Cannabis Compliance With Dunaskiss Consulting & Development BY: JUSTIN DUNASKISS IN A burgeoning industry, getting a handle on all of the new rules and regulations can be difficult. For the cannabis industry, that problem is compounded even further. Cannabis compliance can be very difficult in the state of Michigan. Not only is the industry changing and evolving, but companies must stay on top of regulations or they will reap the consequences. Michigan is a dual licensing state for commercial cannabis, meaning that businesses not only need to comply with state and local regulations but they must also comply with regulatory agencies like the NFPA, ISO, and SQF. Here are some of the most common compliance infractions businesses are running into: • Illegal sales • Failure to properly report data • Tracking logs for visitors, security, and/or waste are not updated • Not properly following product safety laws • Poor inventory management • Failure to follow packaging and labeling laws • Incomplete financial documentation • Inadequate and/or obstructed surveillance cameras 26 So how can you avoid these problems? Many violations can be avoided simply by having thorough standard operating procedures and providing proper training to employees. Make sure you are consulting with businesses that are well versed in cannabis as well. For example, a CPA is a liability if he or she isn’t properly educated on cannabis laws within the state. Keep in mind that state and local authorities can hold impromptu inspections to make sure an industry is operating within its regulations. Employees are front and center during these inspections, so it’s important to