Rule 1301:18-5-03 | Cultivator Operating Procedures and Quality Assurance.
(A) Each cultivator shall establish, maintain, and comply with written policies and procedures for the daily operation and cultivation of cannabis. The cultivator's standard operating policies and procedures shall ensure the safe cultivation and distribution of cannabis and compliance with all mandates under division 1301:18 of the Administrative Code.
(B) Major modifications
(1) Any proposed major renovation or modification of the licensed premises shall be submitted to the division prior to implementation.
(2) The division of cannabis control will review the proposed modification and may do any of the following:
(a) Approve the submission;
(b) Deny the submission; or
(c) Mandate updates to the submission to ensure compliance with this chapter.
(3) The division may inspect the licensed premises pursuant to any proposed major renovation or modification.
(4) A cultivator shall not proceed with any major modification unless and until the division provides the cultivator written approval to do so.
(C) Each cultivator shall ensure the licensed premises:
(1) Conforms with all relevant local ordinances, zoning and planning requirements, and fire codes;
(2) Prominently displays its certificate of operation and license seal issued by the division;
(3) Contains sufficient lighting to ensure visibility, security, and proper surveillance;
(4) Maintains proper cleanliness, ventilation, temperature control, and sanitation of the facility to ensure safe and consistent inventory;
(5) Conducts routine calibration of all scales, balances, or other weight or mass measuring devices using "National Institute of Standards and Technology" (NIST)-traceable reference weights, at least annually, by an independent third party approved by the division.
(6) Pursuant to rule 1301:18-3-14 of the Administrative Code, documents the following utilized at the licensed premises:
(a) Cultivation methods and standards;
(b) Cannabis strains with respective cannabinoid profiles cultivated at the facility; and
(c) If applicable, cannabis technology solutions, including remediation by irradiation, gas treatment such as ozone, radio frequency, and UV light.
(D) Designated areas within the facility.
(1) Each cultivator shall designate areas within the facility that are compartmentalized based upon function and restrict movement between the different production areas by personnel based on access credentials assigned by the facility.
(2) Each cultivator shall maintain the following designated, secure limited access areas accessible only by authorized registered employees:
(a) A cannabis cultivation area;
(b) A storage area for all cannabis;
(c) A security area for all security and surveillance systems and equipment;
(d) A preparation and packaging area for all cannabis intended for distribution;
(e) A cannabis destruction and disposal area that complies with rule 1301:18-3-12 of the Administrative Code; and
(f) An area for receipt of all deliveries to the facility.
(E) Employees
(1) Prior to commencing employment, each cultivator shall ensure all employees are registered with the division pursuant to rule 1301:18-3-09 of the Administrative Code and receive adequate education and training on standard operating procedures and as mandated by rule 1301:18-3-10 of the Administrative Code.
(2) All registered employees are to display their employee badge at all times during working hours.
(3) A registered responsible party as outlined by rule 1301:18-3-09 of the Administrative Code is to be present at the licensed premises at least twenty hours per week.
(F) Requirements for fertilizers and pesticides, herbicides, and other similar chemicals.
(1) Each cultivator shall ensure all fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other similar chemicals are:
(a) Properly stored and in a manner that protects against contamination; and
(b) Disposed of in compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations and complies with all directions outlined on the product label.
(2) Any person applying the above-referenced chemicals or materials is to adhere to all use requirements outlined on the product label and utilize all applicable personal protective equipment.
(3) Pursuant to rule 1301:18-3-14 of the Administrative Code, each cultivator shall document all fertilizers and pesticides, herbicides, and other similar chemical applications utilized during the cultivation process and include the following information for each application:
(a) Date and time of application;
(b) Stage of cultivation process;
(c) Date when the plants in the application area were moved to the flowering stage, if applicable;
(d) United States environmental protection agency registration number, if applicable;
(e) Analysis of the fertilizer, pesticide, herbicide, or other similar chemical applied;
(f) Application site, which shall be identified by the location legend maintained by the cultivator;
(g) Name of the product being applied;
(h) Amount applied;
(i) Unique plant identifier or other information that identifies which plants received the application;
(j) Size of the application area;
(k) Name of individual making the application; and
(l) Comments or special conditions related to the application.
(m) Each cultivator shall maintain these records in a manner so they are readily available upon request of a dispensary or customer.
(4) Fertilizers: in addition to the other mandates outlined under this paragraph, any specialty fertilizer, as defined in division (Q) of section 905.31 of the Revised Code, is to be registered with the Ohio division of agriculture pursuant to section 905.33 of the Revised Code.
(5) Pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators, and other similar chemicals:
(a) The division may maintain a list of pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators, and other similar chemicals that are approved for use during the cultivation process.
(b) Unless otherwise authorized by the division list pursuant to paragraph (F)(5)(a) of this rule, foliar application of approved pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators, or other similar chemicals shall not occur after the twenty-first day following the date that a plant is moved into the flowering stage of growth.
(c) Unless otherwise permitted on the division's list pursuant to paragraph (F)(5)(a) of this rule, a cultivator shall not utilize any pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators, or other similar chemicals during the cultivation process without prior approval by the division.
(i) A cultivator seeking to utilize a new pesticide not on the list maintained by the division must submit the request in a manner prescribed by the division. The new pesticide or other similar chemical must be registered with the Ohio division of agriculture and be one of the following:
(a) Registered with the United States environmental protection agency under section 3 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136 - 136y (2012); or
(b) Exempt from registration under 40 C.F.R. 152.25(f) (2015) and the active inert ingredients of the pesticide product are authorized for use on crops or plants intended for human consumption by the United States environmental protection agency.
Last updated August 28, 2025 at 7:33 AM
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