3VAC10-40-120: Responsibilities of the responsible party

A. A person may only serve as the responsible party for one pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility at any one time. The responsible party shall be employed full time in a managerial position at the location of the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility and shall be actively engaged in daily operations of the processor during normal hours of operation.

B. The responsible party shall be aware of and knowledgeable about all policies and procedures pertaining to the operations of the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility.

C. The responsible party shall ensure compliance with all security measures to protect the cannabis within the cultivation and production areas from diversion at all times and ensure that cultivation and production is performed in a safe and compliant manner and free of adulteration and misbranding.

D. The responsible party shall be responsible for ensuring that:

1. All employees practicing in the cultivation and production areas are properly trained;

2. All record retention requirements are met;

3. All requirements are met for the physical security of the cannabis, including the seeds, any parts or extracts of the cannabis plants, and the cannabis products within the cultivation and production area; and

4. Any other required filings or notifications regarding the cultivation and production areas are made on behalf of the processor as set forth in this chapter.

E. When the responsible party ceases practice at a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility or no longer wishes to be designated as the responsible party, the responsible party shall immediately notify the board and indicate the effective date on which the responsible party ceased or will cease to be the responsible party.

F. A responsible party who is absent from a pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility for more than 30 consecutive days shall be deemed to no longer be the responsible party. If the responsible party knows of an upcoming absence of longer than 30 days, the responsible party shall be responsible for notifying the board. For unanticipated absences by the responsible party that exceed 15 days with no known return date within the next 15 days, the permit holder shall immediately notify the board and shall obtain a new responsible party.

G. If the responsible party resigns or otherwise ceases employment, the pharmaceutical processor or cannabis cultivation facility shall submit a change of responsible party application designating the new responsible party within 14 days of the former responsible party's resignation or termination date. It shall be unlawful for a pharmaceutical processor to operate without a new responsible party designated past the 14-day deadline unless the board receives a request for an extension prior to the deadline. The authority may grant an extension for up to an additional 14 days for good cause shown.