The Dealer's Diary is where we share the work. Cannabis HR insights, retention math, compliance gaps, and the operational decisions that actually move the needle for cannabis dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and multi-state operators.
We write for the founder losing sleep over turnover. The GM weighing a PEO against fractional HR. The compliance lead who just got blindsided by a state inspector. The cultivator scaling from one license to three.
Every post is real work with real cannabis operators. The math is real. The advice is what we'd say in a discovery call, written down so you can read it before you call us.
Dealer's
Diary
This post is informational and reflects patterns we have seen across the 50+ cannabis operators we work with. It is not legal, tax, or licensing advice. HR decisions interact with state cannabis regulations, employment law, and 280E tax structure in ways that vary by operator size and footprint. Consult licensed counsel and a cannabis-specialized CPA […]
July 22, 2026
This post discusses allegations in an active federal lawsuit, EEOC v. Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. The case is at an early stage. No court has ruled on the merits, and the allegations described below have not been proven. This post is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If your operation […]
July 21, 2026
A Massachusetts dispensary operator called us on July 8. Massachusetts had quietly raised its minimum wage on July 1, and the operator’s assistant manager was now within $0.75 an hour of a shift lead. Compression was already showing up in staff conversations. The assistant manager was five days away from taking a job at the […]
July 17, 2026
This post is informational and reflects patterns we have seen across the 50+ cannabis operators we work with. It is not legal or tax advice. Cannabis payroll rules vary by state and change often. Consult licensed counsel and a cannabis-specialized CPA before signing a payroll contract or restructuring 280E labor allocation. A Massachusetts dispensary operator […]
July 6, 2026
The DEA Schedule III deadline closed Monday, June 22, 2026. If you operate a state-licensed medical cannabis business and you filed within the 60-day window, you can keep operating under your existing state license while the DEA reviews your application. If you did not file, the path forward is more complicated, and your operation is […]
June 22, 2026
The cannabis Schedule III move is the biggest federal policy shift the legal cannabis industry has seen since states started legalizing. Specifically, the April 23 federal order rescheduled FDA-approved cannabis products and state-licensed medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. The 60-day registration window for medical operators to file with DEA closes June 22. […]
June 1, 2026
The DEA registration deadline for cannabis Schedule III is five weeks away. If you hold a state medical marijuana license, June 22, 2026 is the date that matters most. On April 22, the DOJ and DEA officially moved state-licensed medical cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. For operators, this unlocks massive tax relief and […]
May 18, 2026
This cannabis market update highlights developments in New York, New Jersey, and Minnesota. New York has surpassed $3.3 billion in retail sales, New Jersey is expanding retail operations and tightening regulations, and Minnesota has launched government-run dispensaries. Operators across these states face significant HR challenges, emphasizing the need for robust infrastructure to ensure success.
May 17, 2026
Every year, more PEO cannabis pitches show up at industry events. They promise to handle your payroll, your benefits, and your compliance headaches. Let someone else deal with it so you can focus on running your dispensary or your grow. Sounds great, right? Like the golden ticket. Willy Wonka style. Except in this version of […]
