How cannabis distribution is done starts with warehousing and transporting products. But it also involves a lot of tax planning and collection. A mistake with excise tax could put your distribution business out of business.
Distributors operate on razor-thin margins, and variable costs can add up quickly.
Table of Contents
The Retailer
A retail store is where consumers purchase cannabis products. Retailers must have a retail permit and any local or state licenses needed for operations. Most states with legalized marijuana have imposed sales limits as a policy tool to discourage excessive use and prevent diversion.
Cannabis distribution Massachusetts is responsible for transporting finished products to retailers and must have a type 11 distribution or a type 13 transport-only license. Distributors must also hold a state tax permit and collect excise taxes upon delivery.
Cannabis distribution businesses operate on razor-thin margins; variable costs can quickly eat into those margins. To be successful, a distributor needs to be able to track every sale down to the penny and have software in place for reporting purposes.
The Seed-to-Sale Process
Seed-to-sale software tracks and monitors cannabis throughout the cultivation, processing, and distribution to the end consumer. It helps businesses comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
Once a plant has been tagged with a unique ID, it follows the plant throughout production. These tags look similar to a barcode and contain much information, including tracking, status, product origination, serial number, and location.
Ensuring that all procedures and actions follow the law is the greatest technique. It also gives regulating bodies access to key compliance data points. If issues are discovered, they can retrace each step and determine what went wrong to protect consumers.
The Grower
A master grower must possess several skills. They must be competent to manage people and solve difficulties. They also need to have strong leadership and communication abilities. They’ll often start as budtenders or trimmers and work their way up within the organization.
They must develop a product that satisfies all state standards, is safe, and is of superior quality. It’s a demanding position that usually comes with financial rewards.
In Massachusetts, both medicinal and recreational marijuana usage is permitted. It also concerns the legal and social developments related to cannabis usage.
The Manufacturer
The manufacturer performs business activities that transform the tangible personal property into a product with a distinctive name, character, or use. It includes processing, refining, and preparing cannabis and ancillary products for sale.
The Distributor
The distributor is responsible for warehouse storage and transporting cannabis goods between licensed facilities. Distributors must hold a Type 11 or a Type 13 license to operate.
They must collect an excise tax on the products they distribute and remit these payments to the government within the appropriate time frame. Distributors also need a sound system to track sales and collect brand payments on delivered products.
Unlike cultivation companies, distribution businesses have razor-thin margins, and variable costs can quickly destroy profits. They also have to deal with money; if they need to handle it properly, they risk problems. Having the right software to help manage these expenses is vital.
