FOCUS Standards – Retail

To download the complete FOCUS Standards click here.

Overview

FOCUS Standards form the foundation for a rigorous, comprehensive quality and safety system that provides cannabis business owners, consumers, regulators and the public with a single, concise, accepted standard that protects public health and consumer safety, and safeguards the environment.

FOCUS Standards are developed according to internationally accepted voluntary consensus processes to ensure robust, impartial standards. Volunteer members of FOCUS Standards development committees include professionals from the cannabis industry, regulatory agencies, quality assurance, occupational safety, medical services, law enforcement, education, science and research, consumers, patients and the public.

Scope

This FOCUS Standard provides direction for cannabis retail operations to meet safety and quality requirements.

This document uses the word operation to indicate a cannabis company, business, facility, laboratory or individual location that is applying the FOCUS Standard.

The terms must and shall are used interchangeably to indicate requirements; the terms should, could, may and can are used to indicate flexibility or to provide examples.

The standards identify job titles for specific responsibilities to add clarity. The organization’s job descriptions, work assignments and training will define each worker’s actual title and responsibilities. Depending on an operation’s size and structure, one worker may cover several roles (or job titles) to meet a requirement.

1. Management Summary
A. Management Capability
B. Product Quality
C. Health and Safety
D. Security
E. Procedures and Training
F. Regulatory Compliance
G. Organization Structure

2. Business Practices
A. Goal Setting
B. Business Assessments
C. Licenses and Permits
D. Business Insurance
E. Accounting Standards
F. Operational Controls
G. Document Controls
H. Advertising Methods

2.1 Fair Labor Practices
A. Fair Labor Standards
B. Workplace Discrimination
C. Work Contracts
D. Worker Policies
E. Workers Compensation Insurance
F. Worker Data

2.2 Social Sustainability
A. Community Relations
B. ADA Compliance
C. Business Certifications
D. Cannabis Industry Support

2.3 Crisis Management
A. Crisis Management Plan
B. Crisis Plan Training and Testing

3. Training
A. Worker Training Program
B. Training Manager
C. Hygiene Training
D. Quality Control Training
E. Comprehensive Training Materials
F. Regulatory and Law Enforcement Interaction

4. Worker Practices
A. Worker Cleanliness
B. Hand Sanitation
C. Wounds and Infections
D. Protective Clothing
E. Prohibited Items
F. Eating and Drinking
G. Smoking and Tobacco Products
H. Control of Drug Use
I. Violence and Weapons
J. GMP Signage

5. Health and Safety
A. Health and Safety Program
B. Health and Safety Risk Assessment
C. Health and Safety Procedures and Training
D. Health and Safety Manager
E. Personal Protective Equipment
F. Safety Signage
G. Accident or Emergency Procedures
H. First Aid

6. Security
A. Security Program
B. CPTED Approach
C. Security Risk Assessment
D. Security Qualifications
E. Security Training
F. Security of Records
G. Security Incident Reporting
H. Background Checks

6.1 Physical Security
A. Physical Barriers
B. Grounds and External Areas
C. Door Locks
D. Facility Access Controls
E. Restricted Area Access Controls
F. Visitor Access Controls
G. Product Controls
H. Theft/Product Loss Plan

6.2 Alarm Systems
A. Facility Alarm System
B. Alarm Monitoring
C. Motion Detection
D. Panic Buttons
E. Alarm System Maintenance

6.3 Video Surveillance
A. Video Monitoring
B. Video Recording Security
C. Video Quality and Coverage
D. Continuous Video Monitoring
E. Video Retention
F. Video System Maintenance

6.4 Transport Security
A. Transportation Security Procedures
B. Transport Manager
C. Transport Agents
D. Transport Agent Credentials
E. Delivery Route Process
F. Shipment Invoice
G. Transport Packaging
H. Transport Vehicle Controls

7. Product Quality
A. Quality Management System
B. Hazard Control Plan – HACCP
C. Production Hazard Analysis
D. Production Flow Charts
E. Product Classification and Control
F. Product Specifications
G. Product Rejection Process
H. Quarantined Products and Materials
I. Environmental Controls
J. Pre-Operation Inspections
K. Cross Contamination Prevention
L. Cleanability of Facility
M. Equipment Management
N. Equipment Design
O. Equipment Calibration
P. Cannabis Inventory

8. Facility Operations
A. Control of Minors
B. Customer Capacity and Flow
C. Infectious Diseases and Open Wounds
D. Service Animals
E. Facility Maintenance Plan
F. Ventilation and Exhaust Fans
G. Conservation Plan
H. Grounds Maintenance
I. Hazardous Materials

9. Product Transactions
A. Product Knowledge
B. Selling Cannabis Products
C. Medical Cannabis Information
D. Cash Management
E. Product Transfers

10. Records Management
A. Records Management
B. Records Inventory List
C. Patient Records

11. Product Testing
A. Product Testing Plan
B. Sampling Procedures
C. Test Lab Standards
D. Allowable Thresholds
E. Microbiological Testing
F. Solvent and Chemical Residue
G. Metals
H. Pesticide Residue
I. Potency and Cannabinoid Profile
J. Contaminants and Filth
K. Test Results Analysis
L. Batch Monitoring
M. Test Records

12. Packaging and Labeling
A. Packaging and Labeling Specifications
B. Labeling Protocol
C. Warning Labels
D. Cannabis Infused Product Labels
E. Exit Packaging
F. Child Resistant Packaging
G. Tamper Evident Packaging

13. Traceability and Recall
A. Traceability System
B. Product Recall Program
C. Recall Mock Test
D. Complaints Procedure

14. Product Storage
A. Product Storage
B. Storage Area Access Control
C. Quarantined Material Segregation
D. Storage Area Construction
E. Cleaning
F. Pest Control

15. Receiving and Transport
A. Supplier Qualifications
B. Incoming Goods Inspection
C. Vehicle Inspection
D. Sealed Trailers and Trucks
E. Contract Carriers

16. Pest Control
A. Pest Management Plan
B. Pest Contamination Inspections
C. Pest Control Devices
D. Domestic Animals

17. Sanitation and Cleaning
A. Sanitation Procedures and Training
B. Master Sanitation Schedule
C. Cleaning Equipment and Supplies
D. Cleaning Equipment Identification
E. General Cleanliness
F. Sanitation Logs
G. Floor Drain Cleaning
H. Swab Testing
I. Product Protection During Cleaning

18. Sanitary Facilities
A. Toilet and Handwashing Facilities
B. Secondary Hand Sanitation Stations
C. Drinking Water

19. Waste Management
A. Waste Management Plan
B. Hazardous Materials Disposal
C. Sustainable Packaging
D. Cannabis Waste Disposal
E. Waste Container Control