Budtender Training: How to Spot Fake IDs
June 6, 2024
Legal cannabis dispensaries operate under stringent regulations, with one of the most critical being the verification of shoppers’ age. While some medical markets permit users over eighteen, most cannabis markets require dispensary shoppers to be at least twenty-one years old. Cannabis dispensaries caught selling to underage customers face hefty fines and risk losing their business license.
What’s at Stake?
In 2022, a dispensary in Oregon was caught selling medicated products to an underage Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission agent. Coverage of the incident showed that the operators had two choices, either pay a $5,000 fine or close down for 30 days. In 2023, a dispensary in Michigan lost its operational license after a myriad of reported violations, including sale to a minor. The message across the nation is clear: selling to underage customers can easily result in losing your license.
Where Do I Start with Training on Fake IDs?
To legally open a cannabis dispensary, most regulators require a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the dispensary check-in process. This SOP should include formal, outlined training on steps associates must take to prevent underage sales. Thankfully, there are a plethora of materials based around fake ID checking such as the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s ‘F-L-A-G’ system. F-L-A-G stands for Feel, Look, Ask, and Give Back, describing the actions the checker should take when examining an ID.
Begin the training with specifics on what to look for in your home state and any neighboring states that bring in tourist traffic. Some states have special holographic elements, UV printing that only appears under a blacklight, or laser perforation that is only visible when held up to a light source. For example, in New York, the license ID, date of birth, and expiration dates should all be raised. Fake IDs in New York may have irregular raised elements or peeling.
Are There Resources to Train on Identifying Fake IDs?
This roundup from Business Insider shows what all driver’s licenses looked like by state in 2020. Post images of your home state and nearby state IDs in break rooms or review them during register counts. Some dispensaries with high tourist traffic use documents posted at check-in as a quick reference guide on IDs.
Fortunately, the regulated alcohol industry has developed many resources to help stop fake IDs at the door. This blog from WebRestaurant Store is a fantastic resource for spotting fake IDs, borrowed IDs, and altered IDs. In addition to discussing what to look for on the ID itself, they also highlight how the person using the fake ID might behave, such as:
- Hesitancy in answering questions
- Nervous body language
- Defensive language or responses
Empower your team to identify suspicious shoppers and seek a second opinion. Include in your SOP that if an ID or shopper seems suspicious, more than one person should check the ID. Security team members with experience as bouncers or in checking IDs can be valuable resources for compliance.
Many dispensaries use ID verification machines to check ID authenticity. For example, Nevada requires ID scanning in dispensaries and lounges. Nevada operators perform a visual check of the ID and then use a machine to ensure the ID is state-issued before allowing the customer onto the sales floor. Your home state may also have resources and suggestions for ID verification machines. If you’re unsure, reach out to your local cannabis regulator for available resources.
Cannabis compliance is powered by Alleaves. For more on the Alleaves purpose-built POS system, tap here.
