GMPs for Medical Marijuana Production Operations

Legal marijuana is one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S., with more and more states starting to legalize medical marijuana to varying levels of control and regulation. However, the federal government has not yet legalized medical cannabis (though this situation might soon change). As a result, the industry lacks a common framework/standard for food safety – compared to other industries like pharmaceuticals and food. In such a scenario, companies that produce and sell marijuana products have a huge challenge ahead of them: how do they ensure that their products are safe – and how do they maintain their consumers’ trust. Leaders in the cannabis industry are leading the way out of this confusion and opting for high safety and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) – and so should you.

Learn from industry veteran Charles H. Paul the basics of GMP for any medical marijuana production operation, so that your unit is fully compliant when cannabis is federally recognized. Get up to speed with the different forms of medical marijuana, the general requirements for acquiring cannabis, as well as the packaging, labeling, transportation and tracking requirements for medical marijuana – plus disposal of medical marijuana waste.

Paul will discuss operational plans and procedures, and documentation and training. He will teach you about the grower/processor facilities, explain the difference between plants and seeds, and the nuts and bolts of security, surveillance and visitor access. You will learn about growing and processing requirements, inventory, storage, and pest handling. Plus, you’ll learn how to handle complaints and recalls.

GMP and Quality

Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have the force of law. GMPs require that manufacturers, processors, and packagers of drugs, medical devices, and some food and blood products take proactive steps to ensure that their products are safe, pure, and effective.

What does GMP have to do with cannabis production?

Since medical marijuana is not a legally recognized and regulated medicinal product in the U.S., you can only review GMPs as they relate to the wide range of international and U.S. individual state cannabis regulations, along with existing non-cannabis GMPs, to determine how to best run your cannabis operations. However, it’s almost certain that cannabis regulations will require GMP certification in the future. Plus, consumers prefer to buy cannabis-infused products with the certification.

Therefore, it is critical that as cannabis production takes its place in the mainstream of U.S. medicinal production, all companies currently operating under individual state auspices understand and align their operations with existing GMPs so that they are in compliance when cannabis is federally recognized.

Areas Covered in the Session :

Here is a taste of what you will uncover:

• Cannabis GMP overview
• Regulatory history
• Forms of medical marijuana
• General requirements – acquisition of cannabis
• Operational plans and procedures
• Personnel
• Documentation and training
• Facilities – grower/processor
• Plants versus Seeds
• Visitor access
• Security and surveillance
• Growing and processing requirements
• Inventory
• Storage
• Equipment operation & maintenance
• Sanitation and safety
• Packaging and labeling
• Transportation and tracking
• Disposal of medical marijuana waste
• Complaints and recall handling
• Pesticides and pest handling

Who Should Attend:

• Vice Presidents
• Directors
• Managers
• Associates
• All Production Staff

Course Director: Charles Paul

Charles Paul is an instructional designer and management consultant with over 30 years’ experience providing training and consulting services to regulated industries. He has installed quality systems and designed and developed GMP and operational documentation and training programs for foods and beverage, pharmaceuticals, biotech, cosmetics, and consumer product – OTC industries.