Common questions, answered.
What exactly does KushHR do?
We help cannabis businesses with the HR side of operations, the part that keeps you compliant and protects your license, but that most operators don't have time to build themselves. That means employee handbooks, hiring tools, compliance audits, training documentation, and HR guidance designed specifically for weed businesses. You can either grab a template and implement it yourself or work with us directly to build what you need.
Do I really need a cannabis-specific employee handbook?
The short answer is YES. Generic handbooks don't cover the things that actually matter in this industry: product handling policies, seed-to-sale compliance, cash security procedures, state-specific cannabis regulations, and how drug testing works when you're literally selling cannabis. Many states require your employees to be trained in specific policies and procedures. An auditor or attorney will spot a generic handbook immediately, and it won't hold up when you need it to. We build our cannabis employee handbook templates specific to each state, so you will be in compliance where you actually operate.
What states do you work in?
We currently specialize in cannabis businesses in Minnesota, Delaware, Ohio, and New York. Our templates and consulting services are built around each state's specific cannabis regulations and employment laws. If you're operating in one of these states, everything we provide is tailored to your regulatory environment. We also support clients remotely in other legal cannabis markets on a case-by-case basis, and we are expanding our state specializations. If you’re looking for templates for your state, let us know.
I'm just a small dispensary with five employees. Is this overkill?
Not even a little bit. Small cannabis businesses actually have more to lose from HR mistakes because they don't have the budget or legal team to fix problems after they happen. One questionable termination, one employee lawsuit, or one compliance violation during an audit can shut you down. The smaller you are, the more important it is to have the basics in place, because you're the one who has to handle it when something goes wrong.
What's the difference between your templates and your consulting services?
Templates are the fastest, most affordable way to get real HR infrastructure in place. You download a professionally written document, customize it for your business, and put it to work the same day. Consulting is for more complex situations, like if you're dealing with an active HR issue, need a full compliance audit, or want someone to build your entire HR system from scratch. If you're not sure which one you need, start with a template. You can always bring us in later if things get complicated.
Can I customize your templates, or do I have to use them as-is?
You should absolutely customize them. Our templates are designed to be edited. They give you the structure, the compliance language, and the cannabis-specific policies you need, and you fill in your company name, your procedures, and your specific details. Think of them as professionally written frameworks, not rigid documents. We build them so you can make them yours without starting from scratch.
I already have an employee handbook. Can you just review it?
Absolutely. A handbook audit is one of the most common things we do. We'll go through your current handbook, flag anything that's missing or legally risky, identify what needs to be updated for cannabis compliance, and give you a clear list of what to fix. If it's salvageable, we'll tell you how to fix it. If it's not, we'll tell you that, too. Either way, you'll know exactly where you stand.
Do you handle payroll or benefits administration?
No. We focus on the compliance and infrastructure side of HR; the policies, documentation, and processes that keep you legally protected and operationally sound. We don't run payroll, manage health insurance, or handle day-to-day benefits administration. If you need help in those areas, we can point you toward cannabis-friendly vendors who specialize in that work. We can help with Leave of Absence administration, as this area opens businesses up to significant compliance risk.
What does "SHRM-CP" mean, and why does it matter?
SHRM-CP stands for Society for Human Resource Management - Certified Professional. It's a nationally recognized HR certification that proves someone actually knows what they're doing in HR, not just someone who decided to call themselves an HR consultant. It matters because HR compliance isn't something you want to trust to someone who learned it from blog posts. It's a credential that signals real training, real standards, and accountability to a professional body.
How long does it take to implement one of your templates?
Most clients can customize and implement a template in a few hours to a day, depending on the complexity of the document and how much you already know about your own processes. An employee handbook might take you half a day to customize and finalize. A hiring kit might take an hour. The point is to give you something you can actually use immediately, not a project that sits on your to-do list for three months. We provide step-by-step guides on how to customize your templates to make the process as easy as possible.
What happens if employment laws change in my state?
If there's a major change to cannabis regulations or employment law in your state, we update our templates and notify clients who purchased them. You're not on your own if the law shifts. We provide email updates with changes to the regulations relevant to the templates you purchase for 12 months after purchase. After a year, we’ll provide you with a 25% discount code for the updated version of your template. Remember, employment law changes constantly, and you're ultimately responsible for keeping your policies current. We give you the foundation and keep you informed of big changes, but staying compliant is an ongoing process.
Can you help me if I'm about to fire someone?
Yes, and you should reach out before you do it, not after. Terminations are one of the highest-risk HR actions in any business, but especially cannabis businesses, because of how regulated the industry is and how much scrutiny your business is already under. We can help you document the situation properly, make sure you're terminating for legally defensible reasons, and walk you through how to handle the actual conversation. Reach out as soon as you know it's headed that direction.
I'm opening my first dispensary. Where should I start?
Start with an employee handbook and a hiring kit. Those two things will cover you for bringing on your first employees, setting expectations, staying compliant, and having the documentation you need if something goes wrong. Once you have people on the ground, you can layer in performance review tools, training systems, and compliance audits as you grow. Don't try to build the whole thing at once. Just get the essentials in place before you hire.
Do you offer ongoing HR support, or just one-time help?
Both. You can work with us on a project basis (like buying a template or hiring us for a one-time audit), or you can bring us on for ongoing support if you need someone in your corner as you grow. Ongoing clients typically work with us monthly or quarterly for compliance check-ins, policy updates, employee relations guidance, and proactive HR strategy. It depends on what your business needs right now.
How much do your services cost?
Templates range from $37 to $697, depending on what you're buying (a single job description template vs. a full state-specific employee handbook, or state compliance bundle). Consulting services are custom-priced based on scope, but most projects fall between $1000 and $3,500. Ongoing support retainers start at $350/month. If you're not sure what you need or what it'll cost, schedule a free consultation, and we'll give you a clear answer based on your situation.
How are your templates different from the free ones I can find online?
Free templates are written for generic businesses and then slapped with a "cannabis" label. Ours are built from the ground up for cannabis operations, meaning they address the actual compliance requirements, operational realities, and legal risks you're dealing with in your state. They include state-specific regulations, cannabis-specific policies (product diversion, cash handling, inventory control), and language that reflects how cannabis businesses actually operate. You're not adapting a retail template. You're using something that was written for you.
