Overview
Regulators inspect without much warning, and a violation can mean fines, a corrective action plan or worse. The issues are rarely dramatic. They are missing log entries, a camera that stopped recording, a sale over the purchase limit, a training record that lapsed or inventory that does not reconcile. A cannabis compliance audit finds those issues before an inspector does.
We audit our own stores every month, unannounced, and we run the same program for clients. We test the store against the current rules, score it, explain every finding in plain language and help your team fix it. We also track rule changes in every state we serve, so your SOPs stay current.
Who this is for
- Open dispensaries that want an outside check
- Stores that received a violation or warning
- Owners with several locations who need consistent standards
- Licensees preparing for renewal, a sale or an investor's diligence
Problems we solve
Compliance drift
Practices slowly move away from the SOPs as staff change and the store gets busy.
Rule changes missed
Regulators update rules and guidance often, and SOPs fall out of date.
Inventory that does not reconcile
Variances between the POS, the shelf and the state's system grow until an audit finds them.
No proof of compliance
When the regulator asks, the logs and records are not there.
How our audits work
Our audits are unannounced, because that is how regulators often arrive. The auditor arrives during normal hours and works through the store in the same order every time: entrance and ID checks, sales floor, back of house, storage, systems and records. Each area is scored, so you can see where risk sits and track progress month to month.
Findings are written in plain language with the rule each one relates to. High-risk items are fixed and rechecked within days, and lower-risk items go into a corrective action plan with owners and dates. Over time, the score shows whether the store's habits are holding.
What is included
Audit
- Unannounced on-site audit scored out of 100
- Security, surveillance and access control checks
- Sales floor checks: ID, purchase limits, product display, signage
- Back of house: receiving, storage, waste, recalls
Records and inventory
- Logs, training, visitor and incident records
- Seed-to-sale reconciliation against the shelf and POS
- Cash handling and deposit records
- Required postings, permits and certificates
Corrective action
- Findings ranked by risk with photos and rule references
- Corrective action plan with an owner and date for each item
- Follow-up check on high-risk findings
- Staff refresher training where needed
Regulatory monitoring
- Tracking of rule and guidance changes in your state
- SOP updates when rules change
- Briefings for owners and managers
How the engagement runs
Discovery call
We learn your store, history and goals, and whether you want one audit or a program.
Baseline audit
We run a full audit and score the store.
Findings review
We walk you and your manager through the results and agree on fixes.
Corrective action
Your team fixes; we recheck the high-risk items.
Monthly program
If you choose, we audit unannounced each month and track the score over time.
Typical timeline
| Phase | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| Baseline audit | 1 to 2 days on site |
| Report and findings review | Within 1 week |
| Corrective action and recheck | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Ongoing audits | Monthly |
Timelines depend on your state, your town and how quickly documents are ready. Anything that waits on a regulator or a local board runs on their schedule.
What you provide
- Access to the store, records and systems
- A manager available during the audit
- Copies of past inspections or violations
- Commitment to fix findings on schedule
Frequently asked questions
What does a cannabis compliance audit cover?
Security, surveillance, access, sales practices, ID and purchase limits, inventory and seed-to-sale, storage, waste, records, training, signage and postings, tested against your state's current rules.
How often should a dispensary be audited?
We recommend monthly, unannounced, because that is how often small issues build up. At minimum, audit before renewals and after staff turnover.
Will an audit stop the regulator from finding violations?
It greatly reduces the chance, but no audit can guarantee the outcome of a regulator's inspection.
Are audit results confidential?
Yes. Results go to you. We do not share them with the regulator.
Can you help respond to a violation?
Yes. We help you understand the finding, fix the cause and prepare a corrective action plan. Your attorney handles any legal response.
How is this priced?
Engagements are scoped and quoted after a discovery call, as a single audit or a monthly program.
What compliance issues do dispensaries miss most often?
Incomplete logs, lapsed training records, cameras that stopped recording, purchase limit errors on busy days and small inventory variances that are never investigated.