Tip of the Day: Food Safety Must Be Top Priority

Food safety should be the top priority for every business throughout the edibles supply chain, even if specific state standards are still being developed. “Just because you’re in the cannabis industry doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be guided by food-safety principles in general,” says Jason Cetel, senior associate at Gray Robinson Attorneys at Law in Tampa, Fla.

Although some dispensaries don’t control the cultivation and production of pre-packaged edibles, “it’s really important for the dispensary to know that they are in the food supply chain—and they are the last link in this long chain,” Cetel says. Dispensaries have a responsibility to understand the supply process, to know who their vendors are, what food-safety and -quality measures are being followed, and what ingredients are being used.

At the same time, the dispensary must ensure it is following safe-handling practices. “Is there anything in that food that should require food safety?” Cetel poses. For example, is it shelf-stable or does it need low humidity, refrigeration or freezing? “You are selling food, so what are the industry standards that guide that food? There’s a major liability if you’re not selling safe food,” Cetel says.