Dispensary Operations (Adult-Use Retail)
Daily dispensary operations are tightly regulated. Sales rules, ID checks, purchase limits, staff roles, layout, and recordkeeping must all match OCM requirements and your approved operating plan.
Operational mistakes are treated as compliance violations.
What This Covers
- Store operations and daily controls
- Sales rules and transaction requirements
- Purchase limits and POS enforcement
- Customer ID checks
- Store layout requirements
- Employee roles and training
- Daily operational procedures
Store Operations
Baseline rules for operating a dispensary.
- Sell only OCM-approved, lab-tested, properly packaged cannabis
- Keep all cannabis secured when the store is closed
- Never leave cannabis unattended
- Record every product movement in the state tracking system:
- Deliveries
- Sales
- Returns
- Waste
- No one under 21 is allowed in the sales area
- Operate exactly as described in the plan approved by OCM
Sales Rules
Every sale must follow defined procedures.
- Only adults 21+ may purchase cannabis
- Every transaction must:
- Go through the POS
- Be recorded in the state tracking system
- Products must remain sealed:
- No opening packages
- No samples
- Staff may not encourage large, suspicious, or diversion-related purchases
- Discounts, giveaways, and coupons must comply with OCM rules
Purchase Limits
Daily purchase limits are mandatory and non-negotiable.
- Customers may not exceed state-set daily limits
- POS must automatically block sales that exceed limits
- Staff may not split transactions to bypass limits
- Staff must confirm limit checks before completing each sale
Daily Adult-Use Purchase Limits
- Up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower
- Up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate
- Up to 1,500 mg total THC in edibles
Limits apply per person, per day, regardless of:
- Product mix
- Number of transactions
- Number of dispensaries visited
Customer Checks
ID verification is required for every sale.
- Verify a valid, government-issued ID for every customer
- IDs must be:
- Real
- Unexpired
- Match the customer
- Deny the sale if an ID appears altered or suspicious
- Recheck ID if the customer appears under 25
- No one under 21 may enter the sales area unless they are staff
Store Layout
Your physical layout must match OCM approval.
- Customer areas, employee-only areas, and storage areas must be clearly separated
- Cannabis must be stored in locked, restricted-access rooms
- Staff must maintain clear sightlines across the sales floor
- Customers may not touch, open, or sample products
- Any layout change requires OCM approval before implementation
Employee Roles
All staff must be trained and authorized.
- Employees must be trained on:
- ID checks
- Sales limits
- Compliance basics
- Safety and emergency procedures
- A trained, authorized employee must be on-site whenever the store is open
- Only trained staff may:
- Access storage areas
- Handle cannabis
- Work the sales floor
- Staff must know how to:
- Use the POS
- Confirm purchase limits
- Complete required logs
- Report issues or incidents
- Staff must know how to respond to:
- Theft or diversion
- Unsafe behavior
- Intoxicated customers
Daily Procedures
OCM expects consistency and accurate records every day.
- Complete opening and closing inventory counts
- Log inventory counts in the tracking system
- Check camera feeds and alarm status before opening
- Confirm POS, ID scanners, and tracking systems are functional
- Log every delivery, transfer, disposal, or discrepancy immediately
- Secure all cannabis and cash at closing
- Keep records organized and inspection-ready at all times
What Operators Usually Miss
- POS limits must be actively confirmed by staff
- Layout changes require approval before changes are made
- Every discrepancy must be logged immediately
- Daily routines are reviewed during inspections
When This Comes Up
- Daily store operations
- Staff training and onboarding
- OCM inspections
- License renewals
What Happens If You Ignore This
- Violations or fines
- Failed inspections
- License conditions or enforcement
- Increased scrutiny
Related Pages
Source Material
