Manufacturing News
Allay Consulting’s June Newsletter: Selecting a Contract Manufacturer
Selecting a Contract Manufacturer A contract manufacturer is a company that is hired by another company to produce goods or provide services on their behalf. The client company benefits from contracting out the manufacturing process as it may allow them to test the...
Allay Consulting’s May Newsletter: Selecting a Certifying Body
Selecting a Certifying Body Third party certifications have become increasingly popular amongst cannabis and fungi cultivators and manufacturing companies. Receiving and maintaining certifications is a worthwhile endeavor that will set up your business for long term...
Workplace Safety Compliance in the Cannabis Industry on CS&T
This is an excerpt from an article found on Cannabis Science and Technology FULL ARTICLE Workplace safety procedures help companies be the best they can be, especially when it comes to ensuring your staff goes home the same way they arrived. These are just a few ways...
Allay on Cannabis Science and Technology: FDA Not Adopting Existing Regulations for the CBD Industry
This is an excerpt from an article found on Skunk Magazine and technology FULL ARTICLE This blog is in response to the January 26th, 2023 announcement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regards to regulatory oversight in the cannabidiol (CBD) market. The...
Allay Consulting’s March Newsletter: USDA Cracking Down on Organic Fraud
USDA Cracking Down on Organic Fraud Consumers want options, especially when purchasing products, and organic seems to be a popular selection. Organic items are widely available and can be purchased at any grocery store, farmers market, and online sales. Most people...
Allay Consulting’s February Newsletter: FDA Will Not Use Existing Regulations for the CBD Industry
FDA Will Not Use Existing Regulations for the CBD Industry The hemp industry has been in a bit of a pickle for several years: hemp derived cannabinoids are federally legal, yet not regulated and not allowed by the FDA to be added to foods or supplements. Consumers...
Allay Consulting January Newsletter: Unpacking Recent Cannabis Emerging Markets
Unpacking Recent Cannabis Emerging Markets Voters have spoken - putting pen to paper, citizens throughout the US are supporting cannabis legalization. 2022 was a somewhat blooming year in normalizing cannabis in the United States. Several states legalized cannabis in...
Allay Consulting’s November Newsletter: Workplace Safety Compliance in the Cannabis Industry
Better believe it, OSHA has regulatory jurisdiction over cannabis facilities - including cultivation, processing, manufacturing, lab, and retail. Businesses are required to ensure a safe workplace, including marijuana and hemp businesses. Under the Occupational Safety...
Allay Consulting’s October Newsletter: Preventive vs. Reactive Approach to Compliance
We have all heard the English-language proverb, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Although straight forward, my compliance brain takes me to asking further questions - which apples are the most nutritious, how were the apples grown, where were the apples grown,...
Allay Consulting’s August Newsletter: Creating a Culture of Excellence
Here at Allay Consulting we have helped hundreds of companies become compliant and gain certifications that are above and beyond what most companies are required to be doing in the space. Because of this experience we have seen a number of perks that have benefited...
Allay Consulting’s July Newsletter: State Required Cannabis cGMP Certification
State Required Cannabis cGMP Certification Say it isn’t so, some states are requiring certifications for cannabis companies! Not only are cGMP certifications gaining momentum within the THC and hemp industry, but more states are also requiring cGMP certification and...
Allay Consulting’s May Newsletter: Employee Training – A MUST at any Facility
Employee Training – A MUST at any Facility Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as common sense. “Common sense” isn’t so common. Each person has their own life experiences; therefore, people react to their environment accordingly. Training helps to...
What to Expect with Product Recalls for for Cannabis Science Tech
This is an excerpt from an article found on Cannabis Science and technology FULL ARTICLE In the cannabis industry there seems to be a misconception that your company will never have a recall in its lifetime, or that there isn’t any possibility it will ever happen to...
Allay Consulting’s April Newsletter: Top 6 Cannabis cGMP Nonconformances
Allay's Top 6 Cannabis cGMP Nonconformances Spread the word: Marijuana and Hemp companies can receive cGMP certifications! cGMP certification is gaining more traction with the cannabis industry for many reasons - risk mitigation, gaining a competitive edge, and...
Allay on Why Cannabis cGMP Certification Matters in the Cannabis Industry for Cannabis Science Tech
This is an excerpt from an article found on Cannabis Science and Technology FULL ARTICLE What are current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) certification and why get it? It takes a lot of time, it’s hard work, and can be expensive to become cGMP certified, so why be...
Allay Speaks on Under-Regulated Use of Added Terpenes for Cannabis Science Tech
This is an excerpt from an article found on Cannabis Science and technology FULL ARTICLE Terpenes can be tricky. Although cannabis is heavily regulated, since cannabis-derived terpenes do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids, they are not...
Allay Speaks on GMP for Natural Products Insider
This is an excerpt from an article found on Natural Products Insider FULL ARTICLE Third-party certifications have become increasingly popular across the cannabis industry. Certifying that one’s production processes are rock-solid is a worthwhile endeavor that will set...
Allay Consulting’s February Newsletter: It’s Time to Submit Your OSHA Form
Don’t be surprised when OSHA knocks on your door. Even though marijuana is not federally legal just yet, OSHA has jurisdiction over marijuana facilities – cultivation, processing, manufacturing, and retail. How can this be? How can a non-federally legal industry be...
Allay Consulting December Newsletter: Industry Certifications: Which is Best?
Industry Certifications: Which is Best? Are you looking for new company goals for 2022? Obtaining quality and safety certifications for the business will boost your competitive edge! Not only do company certifications set you apart from competitors, but some states...
Allay Consulting November Newsletter: Tricky Terpenes: Under-Regulated Use of Added Terpenes in a Regulated Cannabis Industry
It is always surprising that even in the cold of winter, the smell of pine trees persists and provide a wonderful wood-pine scent throughout the forest. We can thank terpenes for that (pinene, we are looking at you)! Terpenes provide humans an almost whimsical nature...
New York Slowly Moves Its Adult-Use Cannabis Program Forward – Allay in the News
This is an excerpt from an article found on The Dales Report FULL ARTICLE The legal cannabis industry in the United States has been salivating over the prospect of New York’s state market since the idea of legal weed came about. With a population of nearly 20 million...
Allay Consulting Newsletter: September is National Food Safety Education Month!
September is National Food Safety Education Month! We’ve all been there…stomach grumbling, nauseousness, running to the loo, rethinking our food choices earlier that day or the day prior. Chances are, you’re experiencing a foodborne illness. Typically, foodborne...
Allay Consulting August Newsletter: Cannabis Federal Legalization
It appears that federally legalized marijuana might be a reality! Since removing hemp from the definition of marijuana through the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, we have looked to the legalization of marijuana. It was never “if” but “when”, and it looks to be on the...
Allay Consulting July Newsletter: Importance of Product Traceability in the Cannabis Industry
Most states have seed-to-sale tracking requirements for THC cannabis products. Metrc, we are looking at you! Love it or hate it, many states use it. Most often, these state mandated seed-to-sale programs lack the ability to track non-cannabis ingredients – various...
Allay Consulting June Newsletter: Delta 8, Delta 10 THC – Navigating through Regulations & Safety Concerns
Delta-8 and delta-10 have gained considerable traction over the past year. Although these cannabinoid isomers fall in an extreme grey area, consumers are driving up demand. They can be purchased in many different forms – commonly found in vaping products, gummies, and...
Allay Consulting January Newsletter: Cannabis Certifications Available to the Industry
Certifications Available to the Cannabis Industry Third party cannabis certifications have become increasingly popular among the industry. Receiving and maintaining certifications is a worthwhile endeavor that will set up your business for long term success, give you...
4 Tips for Safety and Compliance in Cannabis
This is an excerpt from an article found on Cannabis Business Times FULL ARTICLE With four states passing adult-use legalization measures in the 2020 election, 15 states have now ended cannabis prohibition. With this momentum, federal legalization seems very much in...
Allay Consulting December Newsletter: Hazardous Waste Disposal
Hazardous Waste Disposal Erin Brockovich said so eloquently, “you cannot put a contaminant in the ground and just think that Mother Nature whips it up and runs it off somewhere else and we never see it again.” Erin’s reference to “contaminants” is describing hazardous...
Hemp to CBD: Roadmapping your GMP’s & Integrated Supply Chain
Hemp to CBDRoadmapping your GMP's & Integrated Supply ChainComplimentary InformationalWhite Paper As the hemp and CBD industry continues to mature, the need to implement procedures that keep consumers safe, products pure, and companies out of hot water becomes...
Allay Consulting November Newsletter: Product Recalls & What to Expect
Product Recalls & What to Expect Have you ever found a foreign object in your food, or woke up not feeling too good from the previous days food? Each year in the United States, 1 in 6 people get sick from foodborne disease, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 on...
Allay Consulting August Newsletter: FDA & Cannabis-Infused Medical Devices
FDA & Cannabis-Infused Medical Devices – What You Need to KnowThe Center for Device and Radiological Health (CDRH) is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) center responsible for overseeing medical devices. Before medical devices can be sold to consumers, the FDA...
Allay Consulting July Newsletter: How to Gain GMP Certification
How to Gain GMP CertificationNot many hemp or marijuana companies have achieved GMP certification, perhaps because they don’t yet realize how much GMP certification can help your company be more efficient, create safer products and from a marketing standpoint, and...
Allay Consulting June Newsletter: Employer’s Obligation for Workplace Respiratory Protection
Employer’s Obligation for Workplace Respiratory ProtectionRecently, in efforts to help protect the public from COVID-19, we have seen so many different respiratory protection methods, including homemade cloth masks, N-95 masks, and half-face/full-face respirators with...
Allay Consulting May Newsletter: Dietary Supplements or Nutraceuticals?
Dietary Supplements or Nutraceuticals?It seems the meaning of “Dietary Supplements” and “Nutraceuticals” terms overlap, although both have their own roles.Dietary Supplement products are intended to supplement the diet which typically contains isolated vitamins,...
Aligning cannabis with FDA standards
This is an excerpt from an article found on Food Safety Strategies FULL ARTICLECannabis edibles and beverages are a new market for some states; others have been slowly honing their new products for years now. However, there is a need for more guidelines from the FDA,...
Cannabis Certification Primer: ISO 9001 & 22000
This is an excerpt from an article found on Company Week FULL ARTICLE ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, has been bringing standards to manufacturers and other businesses since 1947. It's developed more than 23,000 standards in its existence,...
Allay Consulting April Newsletter: Hazard Communication Plans
Chemicals in the WorkplaceIn efforts to remove potential highly contagious COVID-19 and other viruses from surfaces, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recommends elevated concentration of disinfectants. The higher chemical concentrations are...
CAPA Plan Special Discount for New & Returning Clients!
Has your company executed a CAPA Plan yet? Some states require Cannabis (THC and CBD) businesses to create and implement a CAPA Plan. For example, both Colorado’s Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) requires all marijuana license types to implement a CAPA Plan by...
Allay Consulting on GMP Certification in Company Week
This is an excerpt from an article found on Company Week on GMP certification FULL ARTICLE Certification Primer: GMP GMP, short for Good Manufacturing Practice, is a set of ever-evolving standards that have the force of law in guiding food and pharmaceutical...
Allay Consulting Owner Featured in Company Week
This is an excerpt from an article found on Company Week FULL ARTICLE Kim Stuck was Colorado's first "marijuana specialist" for DDPHE, the Denver Department of Public Health & Environment. Today she helps cannabis companies on the journey to more professional...
Allay Consulting Announces Partnership to Bring Global Certification Standards to the Cannabis Marketplace
Global Manufacturing Standards come to Cannabis to Improve Quality & Consumer SafetyDenver, CO – May 14, 2019 – Allay Consulting (Allay) - the preeminent cannabis compliance consulting firm in North America – is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with...
Marijuana Edibles and Cross-Contamination Risks
This is an excerpt from an article found on totalfood.com/ FULL ARTICLE As marijuana is being legalized in certain states, people are using it in many forms, including edibles. Unfortunately, food safety isn’t always top-of-mind when preparing marijuana edibles, and...
Tips To Keep Your Cannabis Grow Op From Being Shuttered By Inspectors
This is an excerpt from an article found on http://bigbudsmag.com FULL ARTICLE Sooner or later, all commercial growers will hear the knock of compliance inspectors at their door, announced or unannounced, welcome or very unwelcome. In fact, if you’re a licensed...
Marijuana edibles on a rocky road to food safety assurances
This is an excerpt from an article found on foodsafetynews.com FULL ARTICLE They call her “The Weed Whacker.” As the first marijuana specialist for the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment — and therefore the first marijuana specialist for a public...
Food Safety Solutions For Edible Cannabis: Contamination, Sourcing And SOPs
Success for most food manufacturers stems in part from their commitment to food safety and this is no less true for those who specialize in cannabis food products. At this time, there are no official federal regulations for the manufacture of cannabis food products...
13 Female Entrepreneurs, Professionals and Cannabis Consultants May Reshape the Marijuana Industry
In general, women representation in executive positions has shown to be a hurdle in the U.S. in comparison to the “first world” countries, however, when it comes to the marijuana industry, things seem to be a bit different.
Testing facility standardization
Right now, the industry is struggling with licensed testing labs and the significant lack of cannabis testing facility standardization. It’s a complicated issue that is shrouded in uncertainty. CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) is working...
The Importance of SOP’s
Certain Cannabis SOP ’s are required in all facilities. However, in order to create a record of compliance and to avoid risk it is often beneficial for companies to have many more SOP’s than required. At the company level, SOP’s are a set of step-by-step instructions...
Banking in the Cannabis Industry
In the Cannabis Banking world, most banks refuse even the most basic functions to anyone with a cannabis license. As a result, businesses are faced with numerous issues from security to paying taxes, and are scrambling for a better solution. At the moment cannabis is...