Lesson 1, Topic 1
In Progress

Other Dispensary Operations

Regulatory Compliance and Controls

Let’s cover the key regulations and procedures for dispensary operations, ensuring compliance and smooth daily activities.

Verifying Customer Identity

When you’re at the dispensary counter, you must ensure that every customer presents a valid driver’s license or a government-issued photo ID showing their date of birth. This isn’t just a good practice—it’s a rule mandated under state regulations. Remember, no ID, no sale!

Tracking From Seed to Sale

Every bit of cannabis that comes through our doors must be logged into the seed-to-sale tracking system. This tool helps us keep tabs on our stock from the moment it arrives until it leaves, ensuring nothing gets lost in the shuffle, whether it’s headed to another licensee, a registered patient, a caregiver, or an adult-use consumer.

No Free Samples Allowed

We cannot give out free samples of cannabis or cannabis products to consumers. It’s essential to stick to this rule to stay compliant.

Rules for Dispensary Agents and Owners

Now, if you’re a dispensary agent or owner, remember this—no dispensing cannabis to yourself. It’s a strict no-no to ensure there is no misuse of the products within our facility.

Discounts and Promotions

Offering discounts or promotions? If a dispensary decides to offer these benefits, they must be distributed fairly and according to our standard operating procedures. This helps keep everything above board.

Monthly Inventory Checks

At least once a month, we need to conduct a physical inventory of all cannabis stock. This count is then compared with what’s recorded in the seed-to-sale system. It’s a critical check to ensure our records are accurate and up to date.

The Maryland Cannabis Administration and Comptroller Partnership

Let’s explore how the Maryland Cannabis Administration works hand-in-hand with the Comptroller of Maryland to keep things running smoothly in the cannabis industry.

First, let’s talk about the seed-to-sale tracking system. The Administration can check this system anytime to see what’s happening from the moment a cannabis seed is planted all the way to when the final product is sold. Now, if the Comptroller’s office needs any information from this system—maybe to make sure taxes are being handled right—they just have to ask, and the Administration will provide what’s needed. This helps ensure that dispensaries and on-site consumption places are paying their fair share of sales and use taxes.

Now, what happens if a dispensary doesn’t pay its taxes on time? Well, the Administration has a few ways to handle that:

  1. They might issue a fine to the dispensary.
  2. They could also take more severe actions like restricting, suspending, or even revoking the dispensary’s cannabis license.

Other Requirements and Limitations

Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of what it means to sell cannabis responsibly and within the law. Remember, getting this right is crucial, not just for compliance, but to ensure a safe and professional environment for everyone.

First, when it comes to dispensing cannabis:

  • If you’re handling adult-use cannabis, you need to check that the consumer is at least 21 years old.
  • For medical cannabis, the patient or caregiver must be registered and at least 18 years old. Always verify these details using a valid driver’s license or government-issued photo ID that includes the person’s date of birth.

Now, what happens if things go wrong? Selling, transferring, or delivering cannabis outside these guidelines can hit your wallet hard:

  • A first offense will cost you $500.
  • If a second offense occurs within 24 months of the first, that’s a $1,000 fine.
  • Any further violations within the next 24 months? That’s $5,000 each time.
  • But, if over 24 months pass since the last incident, the slate’s wiped clean, and we’re back to considering it a first violation.

The Administration doesn’t take these violations lightly. They might deny a cannabis license, reprimand, or even suspend or revoke a license if someone breaks these rules twice or more within 24 months. In hearings about these violations, having diligently checked IDs as described can be a valid defense.

And there’s more to keep in mind:

  • Never sell, transfer, or deliver cannabis to anyone visibly intoxicated.
  • You can’t use cannabis as a prize in contests or lotteries, and no, you can’t sell it directly to consumers online until after July 1, 2025.
  • Violating any of these rules could mean a fine up to $1,000, or even suspension or revocation of your license.

As of July 1, 2023, if you operate a dispensary:

  • Make sure there’s enough supply for qualifying patients and caregivers.
  • Set aside specific hours or service lines just for them.
  • And, ensure that at least 25% of your cannabis stock comes from social equity licensees and growers not owned by your dispensary.