Introducing David Sergi: Strengthening Compliance and Legal Strategy at CRAFT

The hemp and cannabis industry is once again standing in uncertain territory.

Across the country, and especially here in Texas, we are operating in a regulatory environment that can best be described as legal limbo. Rules are shifting, enforcement priorities are unclear, and the gap between state interpretation and federal policy continues to widen.

In times like this, businesses cannot afford to operate casually.

They must operate with structure, documentation, and diligence.

That is exactly why we are excited to introduce David Sergi, who is joining the CRAFT ecosystem as a Legal & Regulatory Advisor.

David brings a critical legal perspective to the work we are doing at CRAFT. As regulatory pressures increase, the intersection between legal strategy, operational compliance, banking relationships, and business documentation becomes more important than ever.

This industry is no longer in the early days where operators could simply “figure it out as they go.”

Today, businesses must be able to demonstrate:

Operational discipline

Documented compliance procedures

Verified product intake and testing practices

Workforce training and certification

Risk management and corrective action systems

In short, they must be able to show that they are operating responsibly and defensibly.

That is exactly what CRAFT was built to help accomplish.

Cannabis Purgatory Requires Professionalism

Let’s be honest about the moment we are in.

Many hemp businesses are operating in what feels like cannabis purgatory.

Products exist in a gray area between federal hemp law and evolving state rules.

Regulators are trying to catch up with the market. Banks remain cautious.

Insurance carriers are watching carefully. And enforcement actions can happen quickly when businesses fail to demonstrate due diligence.

In this environment, documentation becomes your shield.

If regulators show up tomorrow, the question will not simply be what products you sell.

The real question will be:

Can you demonstrate that your business is operating responsibly and within a structured compliance system?

That means showing:

documented procedures

training records

product verification protocols

risk logs

incident documentation

corrective action processes

the list goes on...

These are the things that separate a professional operation from a vulnerable one.

CRAFT Compliance Infrastructure System™

At CRAFT, we have spent years developing what we call the CRAFT Compliance Infrastructure, a governance-based compliance system designed specifically for regulated hemp and cannabis businesses.

This is not a loose collection of SOPs.

This is a structured compliance operating system designed to help businesses operate safely, responsibly, and defensibly.

The framework is built around several core components:

Governance & Compliance Authority

Establishing a clear compliance structure within the organization, including defined compliance officers, escalation procedures, and document control.

Risk Management & Corrective Action

Tracking risks, documenting incidents, conducting root-cause analysis, and implementing corrective and preventive actions.

Workforce Training & Certification

Providing structured training programs, including THC Handler certifications and ongoing compliance education.

Product Verification & Laboratory Oversight

Ensuring product intake procedures, COA validation, vendor verification, and batch traceability are documented and defensible.

Operational Compliance Controls

Maintaining inventory tracking, chain-of-custody documentation, transaction integrity, security procedures, and marketing compliance.

When these elements work together, they create something regulators, banks, and partners recognize immediately:

A professionally governed operation.

The CRAFT Compliance System Includes

For businesses looking to strengthen their operations, CRAFT provides a turnkey compliance package, including:

The CRAFT Compliance Defense Manual

A structured compliance governance system designed to support regulatory defensibility and operational integrity.

The CRAFT Compliance Governance Binder

A physical and digital documentation system containing required templates, logs, procedures, and audit-ready records.

Digital Compliance Repository Guidance

Structured digital folders and documentation architecture to maintain organized compliance records.

Operational Logs and Risk Tracking

Including incident reports, risk registers, CAPA documentation, and audit tracking.

Workforce Training & Certification Programs

Through CRAFT Academy, businesses can access workforce training courses and certification programs designed for regulated hemp operations.

Together, these tools help businesses move from informal operations to structured compliance governance.

Building an Industry That Can Stand on Its Feet

At CRAFT, our goal has never been to slow down the industry.

Our goal is to help the industry survive and thrive.

We believe hemp and cannabis businesses can succeed in regulated environments, but only if they demonstrate the professionalism regulators, financial institutions, and partners expect.

That means:

documented systems

transparent supply chains

trained employees

responsible operations

It means operating like real regulated businesses.

The addition of David Sergi to the CRAFT advisory team strengthens our ability to help businesses navigate the legal and regulatory challenges ahead.

And we are just getting started.

Join the CRAFT Movement

If you believe this industry deserves to grow responsibly, and if you want to operate in a way that protects your business, your employees, and your customers, we invite you to work with us.

CRAFT is building a network of operators, attorneys, compliance professionals, scientists, educators, and industry leaders who are committed to raising the standard of how hemp and cannabis businesses operate.

If you want to strengthen your compliance infrastructure, protect your operations, and help move the industry forward, we are here to help.

Learn more at:

www.joincraft.org