PDC 604: Cannabis Compliance, Safety and Innovation

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

CM Credit Hours: 3.5 

*Please note: PDCs are at an additional cost, and preregistration is required*
To register, please visit: https://aihaconnect.org/register

This professional development course introduces participants to the key segments of the legal cannabis industry, including:

• Cultivation – plant growth and harvesting
• Manufacturing – processing plant materials into cannabis products
• Transportation – moving products from producers to retailers
• Retail distribution

Presenters will discuss known hazards and controls associated with each segment and highlight relevant laws, standards and industry practices. Attendees will participate in small-group tabletop exercises designed to address real-world challenges in cannabis operations. These exercises may include:

• Identifying and evaluating hazards from industrial processes unique to the cannabis industry
• Developing a health and safety program for a fictional cannabis startup
• Assisting multi-state companies in creating safety policies that align with varying laws and regulations across jurisdictions

Group representatives will present their findings to the class for discussion and participate in a Q&A session. In addition to the exercises, real-world case studies will be shared to illustrate the challenges the industry faces, including lack of standardization, legitimacy and research. The session will explore potential solutions and available resources to address these issues.

*Please note: Only participants registering for two (2) half-day PDCs on the same day will receive a box lunch. **Please note: power strips will not be provided at each attendee's seat; however, charging stations for laptops will be provided in each course room.

• Introduction to industrial hygiene principles
o Tailored for cannabis cultivation, processing and manufacturing environments
• Workplace health challenges
o Chemical exposures
o Ventilation design
o Ergonomic risks
o Biological hazards
• Applying practical, scalable solutions
o Aligning with OSHA, NIOSH, state cannabis regulations and risk-driven industry practices
• Interactive sessions with expert guidance
o Tools to assess air quality
o Strategies for effective exposure control
o Building safety programs that protect workers and product integrity
• Real-world case studies and monitoring demonstrations
o Risk-based decision-making frameworks

The goals of this course are to equip attendees with foundational knowledge of industrial hygiene and safety in cannabis operations, demonstrate how to evaluate and mitigate health hazards using proven methods, foster collaboration between EHS professionals, facility operators and regulators and inspire innovation in workplace health through compliance-driven strategies. 

Upon completion, the participant will be able to:

• Identify common workplace hazards in the cannabis industry, including those found in cultivation, harvesting, processing, manufacturing, transportation and distribution environments.
• Apply key safety controls and program components relevant to cannabis operations, such as job hazard analyses, personal protective equipment (PPE) assessments and workplace safety protocols.
• Analyze the history of cannabis regulation and explain how current legislation influences health and safety standards, law enforcement practices and medical research initiatives.
• Interpret current compliance and injury data related to the cannabis industry, and evaluate how organizations manage incidents and control exposures.
 

Attendees will receive a guidance document prepared by the AIHA Cannabis Industry H&S Committee. 

This course equips industrial hygiene professionals to address health and safety challenges in the cannabis industry through case studies, collaborative learning and expert insights. Participants will develop practical, adaptable safety programs across key industry segments and gain tools to navigate regulatory gaps, emerging hazards and the need for standardization in a rapidly growing field. 

None

Intermediate

Risk Assessment

Risk Management

Work Environments, Occupations, and Industrial Processes

Consulting

OHS Management systems, auditing, and compliance

Risk assessment and management

In-person

Professional

Case Studies

Practical Application

Problem Solving /Practice Exercises

Small Group Discussion