Dispensary Operations (Adult-Use Retail)

What This Covers

• Store operations and daily controls
• Sales rules and transaction requirements
• Purchase limits and POS enforcement
• Customer ID verification
• Store layout requirements
• Employee roles and training
• Daily operational procedures

Store Operations

A licensed dispensary must:

• Sell only OCM-approved, lab-tested, properly packaged cannabis
• Keep all cannabis secured when the store is closed
• Prevent customers from handling or opening products
• Record every product movement in METRC, including deliveries, sales, returns, and waste
• Prohibit anyone under 21 from entering the sales area

You must operate exactly as described in your approved application. Deviating from your approved layout or procedures can trigger enforcement.

Sales Rules

Every sale must follow a defined process.

• Only adults 21 and older may purchase cannabis
• Every transaction must go through the POS system
• Every transaction must be recorded in METRC
• Products must remain sealed at all times
• No samples or open containers are allowed

Staff may not encourage suspicious bulk purchasing or behavior that suggests diversion.

Discounts, giveaways, and promotions must comply with OCM advertising and promotional rules.

Daily Purchase Limits

New York enforces strict per-person daily purchase limits.

For adult-use customers, the limits are:

• Up to 3 ounces of cannabis flower
• Up to 24 grams of cannabis concentrate
• Up to 1,500 mg total THC in edibles

Limits apply per person, per day, regardless of:

• Product mix
• Number of transactions
• Number of dispensaries visited

Your POS system must block sales that exceed legal limits. Staff may not split transactions to bypass limits.

Customer ID Verification

ID verification is required for every sale.

You must:

• Check a valid government-issued ID for every customer
• Confirm the ID is real, unexpired, and matches the customer
• Deny the sale if the ID appears altered or suspicious
• Recheck ID if a customer appears under 25

No one under 21 may enter the sales floor unless they are an authorized employee.

Underage sales are among the fastest ways to trigger serious enforcement.

Store Layout Requirements

Your physical layout must match what OCM approved.

Requirements include:

• Clear separation between customer areas, employee-only areas, and storage
• Locked, restricted-access storage rooms
• Controlled access to cannabis inventory
• Clear staff visibility across the sales floor
• No customer access to open product

Any layout change must be submitted to OCM for approval before implementation.

Unapproved construction or reconfiguration is a violation.

Employee Roles and Training

All dispensary employees must complete required workforce training.

Staff must be trained on:

• ID verification procedures
• Purchase limit enforcement
• Compliance basics
• Safety and emergency procedures

Only trained and authorized staff may:

• Access storage areas
• Handle cannabis
• Operate the POS
• Work the sales floor

At least one trained and authorized employee must be on site whenever the store is open.

Daily Operating Procedures

OCM expects consistency and documented controls every day.

Daily procedures should include:

• Opening inventory counts
• Closing inventory counts
• Logging discrepancies immediately
• Confirming cameras and alarm systems are operational
• Confirming POS and tracking systems are functional
• Logging deliveries, transfers, and waste in real time
• Securing all cannabis and cash at closing

If inventory does not match records, it is treated as a compliance issue.

What Operators Usually Miss

• Staff must actively confirm purchase limits, not rely blindly on the POS
• Every discrepancy must be logged immediately
• Layout changes require approval before implementation
• Daily routines are reviewed during inspections and renewal

Small procedural shortcuts often become inspection violations.

What Happens If You Ignore These Rules

Failure to follow daily operating rules can result in:

• Violations and fines
• Failed inspections
• License conditions
• Increased scrutiny during renewal
• Suspension or revocation in serious cases

Daily compliance is not optional. For OCM, operations are compliance.

Go Here Next

• Sales Operations (ID Checks and POS)
• Inventory Management and METRC
• Inspection & Audit Preparation
• Security Plan

Source Material

• OCM Guidance for Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries