Daily Operations

MRTA Article 4, Sections 78–86 set the operational rules every adult-use cannabis licensee must follow once licensed. These provisions govern daily operations, inspections, records, packaging, testing, distribution, retail conduct, and advertising.

Licensed hemp businesses in New York are subject to detailed day-to-day operational requirements. While hemp is regulated separately from adult-use cannabis, processors and retailers must still meet strict standards for recordkeeping, packaging, labeling, processing, and testing.

When dispensary owners use personal bank accounts for business expenses or move money between accounts without documentation, it creates audit risk and weakens legal protection. This page explains how commingling happens in real life, how regulators view it, and how to keep your finances clean and defensible.

In cannabis, claims don’t collapse because something bad happened. They collapse because the policy said something you didn’t understand. This guide explains the three clauses that deny the most money in NY dispensary claims — exclusions, security warranties, and sublimits — and shows you exactly what to check before you bind coverage.

If your New York City dispensary sells or stores non-cannabis food or beverages, you must comply with NYC retail food safety rules. These requirements apply even if your primary license is for cannabis retail. Food safety violations can result in fines, forced product removal, or temporary shutdowns by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

Part 125 covers safety, sanitation, security, inventory tracking, transport, waste, inspections, and recordkeeping. These are not optional guidelines. They are enforceable requirements.

New York cannabis operators are regulated by more than the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Every dispensary must also comply with state and city laws enforced by agencies that control zoning, construction, safety, labor, sanitation, and taxes. These requirements apply at every stage, from site selection to daily operations.

Packaging and labeling compliance is one of the most common reasons dispensaries are cited, fined, or forced to pull inventory. OCM inspects every product on your shelves, and responsibility rests with the retailer, even if the issue originated with the processor or distributor. A product that does not meet packaging or labeling rules cannot be sold.

This page answers: "What security and storage systems does a dispensary need before opening in New York?"