Cannabis company assesses compliance from labels to licensing.

Cannabis commerce is evolving dynamically and often dramatically. To stay abreast of up-to-the-minute regulations and current competitive landscape, cannabis-related companies need a highly skilled compliance partner.

Denver’s Highmark Data was founded to address all key business and legal intelligence needed to make the smartest and most compliant decisions. Cannabis companies partnering with Highmark Data can continue revving up their growth engine while ensuring full adherence to the latest municipal, state and federal regulations and “murmurings” that may substantially impact business operations.

Lightning Labels, a Denver-based custom label printer that began establishing cannabis relationships with Colorado medical marijuana purveyors more than a decade ago, is committed to helping make sure cannabis customers are fully aware of compliance requirements. This awareness goes beyond labels and packaging to include the entire business and legal spectrum.

Gary Paulin, Lightning Labels’ Director of Sales & Client Services, describes the partnership as a much-needed value-added service for customers. He notes, “With an often-conflicting maze of local, state and federal regulations, cannabis presents a unique challenge for purveyors to stay up to speed and fully compliant. Highmark Data gives them a way to do that.”

Highmark Data Principal Kristen Savage emphasizes that the breadth and depth of the company’s services includes minute as well as major details presented in common-sense, flexible and user-friendly ways. She points out, “We gather the industry intel so you don't have to—offering valuable compliance data and helping clients stay informed about changes to local laws, taxes and business licensing opportunities. We present data in a way that makes sense. Everything is packaged in a visual, friendly format to make smarter decisions quickly. Our data is available in multiple formats so that you can use the information to meet specific business goals.”

A birdseye view of Highmark Data’s services covers an expansive terrain of compliance and competitive intel. Services include: 

• Law index enabling efficient access to current cannabis laws and all source documents associated with each law.
• Legislation tracker to stay current as new legislation is introduced, debated, voted on and enacted.
• Tax tables that explain tax implications in the areas of most interest.
• Community stance analyzer that addresses specific definitions of “cannabis legalization” in each community—definitions that vary depending on locale.

While labels and packaging comprise a small part of the overall compliance and competitive landscape, history demonstrates that non-compliance can rapidly upend the entire operation. Highmark Data’s extremely detailed reconnaissance and reporting is designed to help make sure the “small stuff” doesn’t turn into big headaches.

A Canadian cannabis company learned the hard way when all its products had to be recalled because of labeling misinformation. Conversely, getting ahead of compliance can pay competitive dividends in the label arena. In a May 2018 article, Healthcarepackaging.com spotlights a cannabis company on the ball: “Verra was also very cautious compliance-wise and wanted to attach a label with marijuana infused product (MIP) facility and dispensary license numbers to the bottle, though it wasn’t required at the time. They opted for a foldover label that sticks onto the bottle. That eventually became a regulation, so they were already compliant.”

A report released in May from the Packaging and Labeling Committee of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) further demonstrates the high profile of labeling and packaging in the industry. The report notes, “You may have read about how the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been cracking down on labeling of CBD products and how labeling of your Cannabis products could land you in court. Here are some tips…that may reduce the risk getting into trouble…Don’t Make Any Claims or Guarantees About the Results of Using Your Cannabis Products…Don’t Label Your Cannabis Products ‘Organic’…Be Careful About Calling Your Cannabis Products ‘Gluten Free,’ ‘Paleo,’ and ‘Certified Vegan’…Make Sure Geographic Claims are Accurate…Share the Rules With Your Designers…Disclose all Additives and Ingredients.”