Now that you have gotten the hang of operating your cannabis business in the current COVID-19 environment, it’s time to make sure these new processes are documented. Chances are that daily business operations have drastically changed over the last few months. In order to continue serving customers, many retail cannabis businesses had to completely overhaul operations to keep their doors open and keep everyone safe. They had to quickly adapt to remain in compliance while operating under additional restrictions. While adapting quickly, getting around to formally documenting these new practices might have gotten overlooked.
Why are SOPs Important?
Not only is it important to ensure that your business operations are standardized, they need to be concisely documented as well. This is where detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) come into play. SOPs set the standard for best practices resulting in a business that is run with consistency and efficiency. Without SOPs, it’s difficult to provide structure for your cannabis business. SOPs provide an opportunity to clearly communicate the expectations of day-to-day operations to employees while ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
SOPs for the Cannabis Industry
SOPs for the cannabis industry are important because they demonstrate the plan that your business intends to follow in order to ensure compliance with rules and regulations. In such a highly regulated industry, it is necessary to document each step carefully. For cannabis provisioning centers some of the basic requirements include processes for tracking inventory, checking in guests, and completing transactions. There also needs to be documented procedures in place for some of the uncommon situations, such as when a product is damaged or when an employee gets injured on the job. A solid SOP provides employees with clear instructions for how to operate safely and avoid any problems, as well as what to do if something does go wrong.
New SOP Requirements For COVID-19
In addition to these standard practices that should already be in place, there are new requirements that every cannabis business must follow. Thinks like social distancing plans, and cleaning and disinfecting guidance from the CDC need to be documented accordingly. For retail cannabis businesses that have been operating their curbside and delivery services through temporary means, now is the time to evaluate existing practices and document them to ensure consistency.
The Right SOPs For Your Business
While every business needs SOPs, they are not one size fits all. It’s important that the procedures and guiding principles are tailored to fit the needs of each individual business. The best way to make sure all bases are covered is to leave the compliance work to the professionals. Many business owners choose to consult experts in the cannabis industry to ensure that all necessary areas are addressed when it comes to state and local regulations.
Existo’s team is made up of compliance experts who can help you navigate through the complex regulatory requirements of the cannabis industry. With a compliance first approach, we can audit your existing SOPs as well as develop new ones, tailored just for your business. Contact us for a free consultation with one of our compliance experts!
