How to Scale-Up as You Grow Your Recreational Cannabis Company
As the legalization of cannabis continues to spread throughout the United States, it seems that dispensaries are popping up on every corner. To this point, over 25 states have instituted regulations or are currently deciding on terms to regulate and sell marijuana as a taxable asset. The industry continues to grow exponentially and poses a variety of exciting new business opportunities.
If your one of the many interested in entering the industry, you might be stumped by the question: “How do I get started?” Well, your first task—after securing appropriate licenses—is to acquire all the necessary equipment. As cannabis is a product that’s processed and sold in increments of weight, let’s state the obvious here: a scale is an essential tool needed at every cannabis business. You may be thinking, “Great! I still have my pocket scale from high school chemistry class. Can I use that?” Absolutely not! Only specific types of scales are acceptable, as there are stringent regulations in place to ensure the accuracy of cannabis processing. Listed below are the top 4 requirements for scales in compliance with cannabis dispensary regulations. 
Top 4 Regulations for Cannabis Scales
- NTEP Certification
The first regulation is that dispensaries are required to use only “legal for trade” scales that are certified by the National Conference of Weights and Measures (NTEP). The certification process through NTEP can take months, as they rigorously test scales for both accuracy and reliability. Currently there are a lot of fake NTEP scales circulating the market, so it’s important you buy from a trustworthy distributer. If you have concerns your NTEP scale could be phony, you can always verify it on the National Conference of Weights and Measures website.
- Balance Classification
The second requirement is that scales must be classified as a “class II balance.” The classification of a scale is used to determine its intended area of use. A “class II balance” classification enables the legality of trading and selling precision products by weight.
- Accuracy
The next rule is that it’s vital for scales to be accurate up to 0.01 grams, as marijuana is usually sold in small (<Ounce) increments. This cut off point is the norm for most states, but some only require scales to be accurate to 0.1 grams. It’s important to check with your state’s specific local requirements to remain in compliance.
- Servicing
The final stipulation is that all states require dispensaries to certify their scales before use, either by servicing from state representatives or a certified local scale company. Additionally, the scales must be maintained and serviced at least once a year. Servicing your scale in timely intervals can save massive headaches for your business in the future. Environmental factors and repeated use will affect your scales calibration over time. It’s vital that you schedule servicing to recognize and keep on top of any potential issues.
In digesting all these facts, you may feel overwhelmed pondering these very specific requirements. Try not to fret, though, as Alliance Scale is here to help. We have dozens of NTEP certified class II balance scales that are accurate up to 0.01 grams. Not only can we provide you with the scales to run your business, but we can also inspect them for use. Alliance Scale provides expert repair and inspection services across a broad range of commercial and retail applications in the greater New England area. With recreational dispensaries in Massachusetts set to open their doors on July 1, 2018 and with Maine following shortly after, now is the perfect time to enter the cannabis industry. Alliance Scale is your source for cannabis scales and inspection services. Contact us today to find out how we can help “grow” your business!
