The cannabis industry in North America is estimated to be worth more than $16 billion as of 2019 and has led to the creation of 250,000 jobs. Recreational marijuana use has been legalized in 10 states, with a further 33 states legalizing it for medical usage. More states are expected to follow suit in legalizing marijuana, while policy reform at the federal level is also expected.
With legalization, however, comes Health & Safety and regulatory compliance. Policies differ state-by-state and province by province, often with a number of regulatory bodies involved. This reinforces the need for federal marijuana policies regulating cannabis. In the meantime, members of the industry must familiarize themselves with rules and regulations from state, country, municipal, and federal sources.
Like any other manufacturing industry, cannabis industry workers are subject to health and safety regulations, including use of pesticides, personal protective equipment, ergonomic issues, respiratory protection, laboratory safety, and more.
Manufacturers must also comply with relevant bodies’ regulations in regards to sanitary process. Again, these will differ by state, but to take the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) as an example, license application requirements include:
- Disease control
- Cleanliness and proper storage
- Cleaning of equipment and sanitary operations
- Track-and-Trace program requirements
- Waste management
- Facility construction and design
- Hazard analysis and preventive controls
- Machinery qualification
- Product standards
- Safety and security
- Labelling and packaging
Products Applicable to the Cannabis Industry
Highland Equipment provides sanitary systems that enable compliance in the sanitary processing of cannabis. Processes include:
- Distilling and extracting
- Use of pressure vessels (often <15psi, which does not require regulation)
- CBD manufacture
- Medical cannabis manufacture
- Recreational cannabis manufacture
Highland Equipment adheres to the following industry standards: TSSA, National Board, CSA B51, ASME Section VIII Div 1 Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, ASME ‘U’ Stamp and ASME B31.1 and B31.3 – Power and Process Piping Code.
