---
title: "What to do after a loss at a cannabis business | CARMA"
description: "Protect people, follow emergency and regulator instructions, locate the policy notice requirements, preserve the facts, and coordinate the response with the..."
canonical: "https://www.carma365.com/insights/cannabis-claim-first-response/"
---

claims preparation guide

# What to do after a loss at a cannabis business

Protect people, follow emergency and regulator instructions, locate the policy notice requirements, preserve the facts, and coordinate the response with the broker, carrier, and qualified advisers.

By [Zimraan Shikari](/experts/zimraan-shikari/) [LinkedIn ↗](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zimraan-shikari-780507209/)

Reading time 2 min read Content updated August 11, 2026 Carma Insurance LLC [Business entity NPN 21134854](/licensing-disclosures/) [How we publish guidance](/editorial-standards/)

Account brief

## What to know

**Start with safety and required reporting**

Call emergency services when needed and follow the instructions of public authorities.

**Find the policy instructions**

Identify every policy that may be relevant and the correct insured entity and location

**Preserve the loss record**

Photographs, video, incident reports, alarms, access logs, inventory, and sales records

[Ask about claim reporting](/client-center/#claims)
On this page 5 sections

## Start with safety and required reporting

The business should use its incident plan to identify regulator, law-enforcement, landlord, lender, customer, cyber, workplace, and other reporting duties with qualified advisers.

## Find the policy instructions

- Identify every policy that may be relevant and the correct insured entity and location

- Review notice addresses, time requirements, conditions, deductibles, and cooperation duties

- Contact the retail broker or the policy's designated claims channel

- Do not assume that notice under one policy gives notice under another

- Record the date, time, recipient, method, claim number, and next requested step

## Preserve the loss record

- Photographs, video, incident reports, alarms, access logs, inventory, and sales records

- Damaged property, product, packaging, equipment, and other evidence when safe and permitted

- Witness, employee, customer, vendor, and authority communications

- Emergency, mitigation, cleanup, relocation, professional, and other expenses

- Lost sales, continuing expenses, operational dependencies, and the recovery timeline

## Keep one dated recovery log

Assign one person to maintain the timeline of notices, instructions, mitigation decisions, vendors, expenses, damaged property, inventory changes, temporary operations, and requested documents. The log should distinguish confirmed facts from estimates and record who supplied each update.

Keep copies of what was sent to each policy's claims channel and note the response, claim number, adjuster, and next step. A shared record helps the business avoid inconsistent answers while different policies, regulators, vendors, and advisers are involved.

- Record safety and emergency actions before insurance administration

- Preserve evidence when safe and permitted, and document any necessary movement

- Separate repair, replacement, cleanup, relocation, and continuing expenses

- Update the timeline as operations resume and estimates become actual amounts

## Do not use a web page as a claim determination

The policy, facts, applicable law, and claim handling control. Ask the appropriate carrier, broker, claims professional, legal adviser, or other qualified specialist before taking an action that could affect evidence, regulatory duties, mitigation, or coverage.

Important insurance and legal information
CARMA's website provides general information only. It is not insurance, legal, tax, regulatory, underwriting, safety, risk-management, or claims advice. Nothing on this site is a quote, binder, policy, coverage determination, legal opinion, or promise of eligibility, availability, pricing, terms, limits, or placement.

Only an issued policy and its endorsements can provide coverage, and their actual terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions control. Sending information, following a link, or speaking with CARMA does not bind coverage, change a policy, or create authority to act for an insurer unless an authorized party confirms that authority in writing.

Do not rely on this website to report a claim, request a policy change, satisfy a notice requirement, or meet a deadline. Use the instructions in the applicable policy or written communication. Laws, licensing, appetite, carrier participation, and external sources can change, so confirm time-sensitive matters with CARMA, the controlling source, and qualified advisers.

[Read the complete website disclaimer](/legal-disclaimer/).

[Back to top](#main-content)

Keep working the account

## Connect the guidance to the actual account.