Cannabis Dispensary Website ADA Compliance Lawsuits

Posted on October 30th, 2024 to Website

What You Need To Know

As the cannabis industry grows, dispensaries are increasingly seeing the need to be mindful of ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, particularly online. ADA compliance isn’t just for physical spaces; it extends to websites too. For dispensaries, ensuring their sites are accessible to all users is crucial—not just to avoid potential lawsuits, but to build an inclusive, welcoming brand.

Why ADA Compliance Matters for Dispensaries

The legal landscape is changing, and ADA compliance is more relevant than ever. Dispensaries and other businesses have faced lawsuits over accessibility, often due to issues on their websites that prevent individuals with disabilities from having equal access. In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in such lawsuits, and cannabis businesses have not been exempt.

Common ADA Compliance Issues for Dispensaries

Dispensary websites, like any business site, should offer equal access to all users, including those with disabilities. Some common compliance issues include:

  • Lack of alternative text on images
  • Complex navigation that isn’t screen reader-friendly
  • Inaccessible forms or PDFs
  • Poor color contrast and non-adjustable font sizes

Any of these issues can make a website challenging for users with disabilities, especially those relying on screen readers or other assistive technologies.

How CannaPlanners is Approaching ADA Compliance

At CannaPlanners, we take ADA compliance seriously and continuously strive to improve our clients’ websites. Our goal is to make it easier for dispensaries to offer accessible, compliant online experiences that invite all users to explore their products and services.

Here’s how we’re actively addressing ADA compliance:

1. Continuous Improvement

We’re dedicated to refining the accessibility of our sites and have built accessibility features directly into our platform, Lifted.

2. Working with Accessibility Experts

We’ve partnered with Deque, a respected authority on web accessibility compliance, to manually audit our PB2 / Lifted platform. These audits help us identify specific areas for improvement, so we can better serve all users.

3. Additional Policy Pages for Transparency

To supplement our accessibility efforts, we’re adding policy pages that outline our commitment to ADA compliance. These pages help educate users on our ongoing efforts to create accessible websites and demonstrate our dedication to making improvements.

Limitations and Challenges

While we are committed to making CannaPlanners sites as accessible as possible, we cannot guarantee that our websites will be 100% compliant. This is largely due to third-party vendors for eCommerce menus and other integrations that we use, which we don’t control. ADA compliance is a journey, and we’re continuously working to ensure our clients’ sites align with accessibility best practices.

What Dispensaries Can Do to Improve Compliance

If you’re a dispensary owner, here are a few proactive steps you can take:

  1. Partner with an Experienced Web Developer – Work with companies like CannaPlanners that understand and prioritize ADA compliance.
  2. Regular Audits – Accessibility audits help identify areas for improvement. We recommend a combination of automated and manual audits.
  3. Stay Educated – ADA guidelines and industry standards evolve, and staying informed is essential. Consider adding an accessibility policy page to your website, explaining your commitment to accessibility.

Conclusion

ADA compliance is more than a checkbox; it’s a crucial part of creating an inclusive online space that’s welcoming to all. At CannaPlanners, we’re here to help dispensaries navigate the complexities of web accessibility and to support them in meeting ADA standards. While full compliance is challenging, especially with third-party elements, our team is committed to making steady improvements in accessibility.

If you’re ready to make your dispensary’s website accessible, CannaPlanners is here to help every step of the way.

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