Cannacurio #113: Violations & Recalls 2024 Recap

Cannabiz Media has tracked cannabis license violations and recalls since 2015, gathering data via public dashboards, open access requests, and direct regulator reports. Here are the key findings of that research:

Key Findings

• A total of 2,484 violations were issued in 2024 by the states tracked.
• Michigan led with 928 violations (37% of the total), followed by California (458), Washington (283), and Missouri (268). These top four accounted for 78% of all violations.
• Regulators levied $10.8 million in fines, with Florida issuing the largest single penalty—$2.43 million—for unapproved “Seeded Flower” sales.
• Of the 2,484 violations, 849 (34%) carried discernible fines. Michigan accounted for 67% of the total fine amount.
• Recalls were far less frequent: 92 events in 2024, led by California (57), with pesticide, mycological, and organic contamination as the most common reasons.

Violations Overview

Violation Categories(2014–2025)

Over the last decade, Operations and Recordkeeping have consistently dominated, followed by Inventory, Point of Sale, and Security.

Violations with Fines

• Total fines issued: $10,803,064 across 849 violations (34%).
• Michigan’s share: $3.72 million (568 fines; $6,549 average).‍
• Florida’s largest penalty: $2.43 million for Ayr Cannabis Dispensary (24,337 units × $100).‍
• Highest average fines: Massachusetts at $130,833 (6 violations totaling $785,000).

 Here are the details on violations with fines for five key markets:

Recalls

Recalls happen with much less frequency than violations, although the quantity varies year to year. In 2024 we recorded 92 recalls, with 57 issued by California.  

2024 Recall Snapshot

• Total recalls: 92‍
• Top state: California with 57 recalls
• Primary recall causes:
  
  • Mycological contamination
  • Organic contamination
  • Pesticide presence

Implications & Recommendations

Implications

1. Enforcement priorities vary by state, reflecting differences in regulatory focus and resource allocation.
2. High‐severity categories (Operations, Recordkeeping) suggest areas where licensees should concentrate compliance efforts.
3. Fines can be viewed as both deterrent and cost of business; benchmarking across states helps gauge risk exposure.

Strategic Recommendations for Operators

• Implement an annual self-audit, targeting the top five violation categories in your operating states.
• Integrate compliance scorecards into executive dashboards for real-time visibility of risk areas.

Future Research

Longitudinal analyses of enforcement trends could reveal how infraction priorities evolve with maturing cannabis programs. Exploring badge-holder disciplinary histories may also support multi-state regulator collaboration to curb recidivist bad actors.

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Author

Ed Keating, co-founder of Cannabiz Media, leads data research and government relations. He has spent his career advising compliance information companies across securities, corporate, safety, and environmental markets. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School and a BA from Hamilton College.

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Cannacurio is a column from Cannabiz Media featuring insights from the most comprehensive license data platform. Catch up on Cannacurio posts and podcasts for the latest updates and intel.

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