Act 8680, amended in 2023, now permits the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and its residents the use of medical, recreational, and sacramental cannabis among its territories. Qualified individuals can enter merit-based applications to win a cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary cannabis license, beginning December 2024. The Virgin Islands, located between the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, is divided between Britain and …
Have you ever wondered why lights are kept on at businesses at night? Why are fences common among neighborhoods? Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) optimizes the layout and design of a space to increase security. CPTED (pronounced “sep-ted“) is a proactive approach to security that began around 1960-1970, stemming from the works of writers Elizabeth Woods and Jane Jacobs, …
*This blog was written by Digamma Consulting and provided to Sapphire Risk Advisory Group to publish on their behalf. As the cannabis industry evolves, so does the regulatory landscape governing its operations. With the potential reclassification of cannabis to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act , cannabis testing labs and product manufacturers must brace for significant changes. At Digamma …
Delaware is having a lottery for people who qualify for social equity, giving them a chance to open up recreational cannabis businesses across the state. The eligibility period has already passed, but the license application period has yet to open. As the Delaware cannabis market expands with adult-use, businesses will need a solid safety and security plan included in the …
A new trend is emerging in cannabis retail compliance: secret shoppers. Whether required by regulation or implemented by licensees to ensure standards are met, secret shoppers are becoming more and more common in cannabis dispensary operations. These mystery shoppers are used to uphold critical security and compliance standards, such as age verification and product quality, making them a valuable addition …
Why should I hire security guards for my facility? We have cameras and an alarm system. Why would I need a security guard? Understanding the differences: Proactive Security is exactly as it sounds, being proactive. Reactive security is also self-understood. On a deeper level, proactive security is the highest level of security. Here’s why. Why is Proactive Security Important? Practically …
One of the most crucial aspects of running a high-risk business is ensuring that your employees are well-versed in your dispensary’s security standards and procedures. There is a clear correlation between your company’s long-term success and how well trained your employees are. Trained employees off your business a better ROI because they are aware of the company’s losses if they …
This article was originally featured on the RDC blog here. Designing a successful dispensary can be challenging in any location, but when the retailer is located in a high-crime area this task becomes even more difficult. Since it is not always possible to obtain property in a low-crime area due to competitive markets, zoning laws, and other factors, dispensary owners …
This article was originally featured on the RDC blog here. Though medical marijuana has been legal in the state since 2014, recreational cannabis was only recently legalized in New York in 2021. The rollout of recreational cannabis has been slow in New York, but draft regulations were recently released and now the industry is gearing up for licensing. It is projected that the New …
Cannabis cultivation and manufacturing are major operations. Aside from requiring considerable amounts of expensive and specialized equipment, cultivation and manufacturing are usually marred with lengthy licensing processes requiring stringent environmental impact reviews and facility requirements. Further, cultivation and manufacturing are at particular risk of fire, whether from instituting insufficient controls, poor electrical work or flawed connections, natural disasters (namely wildfires), …
