Some people like to leave important things until the last minute. They thrive on the tension of being down to the wire. The pressure of having no wiggle room acts as a de facto stimulant. But this also means the margin for error is much lower. When it comes to cannabis and compliance, it’s much easier (and much less stressful) to treat a mid-year compliance check as a reset point, rather than waiting until the last second. A mid-to-late-year compliance check can catch red flags earlier, help you plan for market shifts faster, and help establish your brand’s reputation by showing you are on top of things.

In this article, we’ll discuss various cannabis compliance reminders that will help alleviate stress and ensure your company has a greater chance of success in a hyper-competitive (and somewhat unforgiving) industry. 

1. Regulatory & Policy Updates

Many companies will tell you they’re “dynamic” (what company isn’t?); the cannabis industry, however, is certainly dynamic, but not always in a good way. That is, regulatory and policy updates are common in this industry, and it’s important you know which way the winds are blowing so your ship isn’t steered into shallow waters. In short, cannabis compliance reminders are especially relevant when it comes to regulatory and policy updates.

According to a report by Emerald Intel, which gathers cannabis data to help grow businesses, 2025 is seeing cannabis regulatory shifts in states like Massachusetts, with the state passing legislation expanding retail caps. Emerald also points out that states like New York and New Jersey are seeing active licenses surge (33% and 73% respectively), and Ohio is raking in $230 million in just Q1 — within their first year of legalization, no less.” 

However, this data company also describes how a surplus of cannabis in states such as Oregon and Michigan has resulted in plummeting prices, which is leading to some calling for license reform. Further, Oklahoma’s license suspension has brought a 55% decrease in active licenses, compared to the previous year. Not to mention Vermont putting new cultivation licenses on hold.

So what cannabis compliance reminders can we cull from their report?

Well, if you’re in Oregon, Michigan, Vermont, or Oklahoma, you’ll need to be 100% sure your records, licenses, and reporting are in line with new (or tightened) regulations — preventing fines and/or loss of your license outright.

Moreover, another cannabis compliance reminder would be to follow the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) — which will help you stay abreast of mid-year updates and catch policy shifts early.

TL;DR:

  • Review any state or local licensing changes that went into effect in the first half of the year.
  • Adjust internal compliance procedures to match new market or tax regulations.
  • Attend or review industry association mid-year updates to catch policy shifts early.

2. Compliance Best Practices & Operational Controls

Being a cash-only business, the cannabis industry is rife with fraud and other crimes. As a result, another cannabis compliance reminder is about security. We turn again to Cure8, a cannabis tech company, for a number of recommendations. They detail how your cannabis operation must adhere to stronger security mandates, e.g., upgraded surveillance tools — high-definition cameras, biometric access controls, and compliant seed-to-sale tracking systems.

Other cannabis compliance reminders they mention include reviewing and updating Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as they pertain to new packaging, labeling, licensing, and product safety rules.

Additionally, we can turn to our old friend MjBizDaily, a leading cannabis business site, for additional suggestions related to operational controls. MjBiz strongly recommends keeping your SOPs updated, which helps bolster internal compliance protocols.

TL;DR:

  • Perform a security and surveillance systems audit to ensure equipment and logs are up-to-date.
  • Reconcile seed-to-sale inventory tracking records with state portal data.
  • Schedule regular compliance staff training refreshers.
  • Conduct internal document audits for licenses, SOPs, and required employee records.

3. Emerging Risks & Proactive Mid-Year Checks

Our last cannabis compliance reminder is to be proactive regarding emerging risks. Just because your cruise has been pleasurable so far, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look ahead to make sure there aren’t squalls or other dangers ahead.

Cannabis Science & Technology, a cannabis news site focusing on analytical testing, quality control/quality assurance, cultivation, extraction, and processing/manufacturing, also has numerous compliance suggestions.

The site recommends that your cannabis operation learn about new environmental regulations around water use, waste management, and sustainability. Learning of said regulations is crucial, as these factors can impact licensing.

They also encourage mid-year assessments to stay compliant with new documentation requirements, i.e., cGMP certification and adverse event reporting, thanks to developing FDA oversight.

TL;DR:

  • Audit your lab testing process and vendor compliance to avoid inconsistencies.
  • Check that OSHA and workplace safety plans are current and cannabis-specific.
  • Conduct a mid-year risk review to prepare for potential inspections or audits.

Conclusion

When we said you can put off your compliance checks until the last second, we were, of course, being a bit disingenuous. In college, you could put off writing an essay and still pull off a good grade. In the cannabis industry, putting off a compliance check means you could incur a hefty fine or, worse, get your license revoked — the metaphorical equivalent of getting kicked out of college, so don’t put off your compliance checks. A mid-year check could be the difference between staying in business and starting from scratch.