If your dispensary isn't fully prepared, a surprise compliance check can lead to fines, product holds, suspended operations, or even license impact. This guide breaks down exactly what inspectors are looking for in 2026. Let's keep you prepared and ready.
Use this to evaluate your dispansary readiness:
To learn a bit further, let's expand on each inspection area and how it impacts compliance.
Training compliance is one of the top reasons businesses fail inspections. Regulators want proof that every employee has completed state-required vendor training, knows ID verification policies, understands purchase limits, and can follow inventory procedures. Missing certificates or outdated training often results in immediate citations.
In 2026, inspectors also increasingly ask questions directly to staff - meaning employees must be trained and confident.
Preventing underage sales remains one of the biggest priorities across all states. Inspectors commonly send in underage decoys or ask staff to demonstrate ID procedures. Failure to check IDs properly can result in severe penalties, sometimes even automatic license review.
Seed-to-sale systems like METRC and BioTrack are the backbone of cannabis compliance. Inspectors compare your physcial inventory with digital records, look for adjustment irregularities, review waste logs, and examine reconciliation reports. Even small discrepancies can trigger deeper investigations.
In 2026, regulators expect dispensaries to follow strict security protocols: 24/7 cameras, restricted access rooms, alarm systems, secure storage, and accurate visitor logs. Missing camera footage or unmonitored blind spots are some of the fastest ways to receive a violation.
Inspectors often review packaging for accuracy (THC amounts, warnings, batch numbers) and check that products are stored securely and kept away from unauthorized personnel. Outdated labels or incorrect storage conditions can lead to product holds or mandatory destruction.
Cannabis waste has strict rules. Inspectors review how waste is documented, stored, mixed, secured, and destroyed. Missing logs or improper disposal is one of the top violations seen in dispensaries nationwide.
A 2026 compliance inspection doesn't have to be intimidating. With proper training, accurate records, and consistent daily processes, your dispensary can handle surprise visits confidently and professionally - no sweat.
The businesses that thrive this year will be the ones that treat compliance as an ongoing practice, not a last-minute scramble.
