Metrc, the most trusted and experienced provider of cannabis regulatory technology systems in the U.S., announced the launch of Metrc Retail ID, a new solution designed to enhance supply chain transparency, bolster compliance, simplify brand processes, and reduce labor for retailers and brands through item level identification with serialized QR codes. This innovative solution sources product information directly from Metrc, ensuring unparalleled consumer visibility and fueling improvements in public safety and confidence.

Metrc Retail ID allows real-time access to item-level product data such as origin, potency, test results, Certificate of Analysis (COA), and more, through a single scan of the QR code. Several states including Maryland and Montana now require the use of QR codes on product labels as part of a broader initiative to improve consumer safety and product transparency, providing a model that other states may follow as cannabis legalization and regulation evolve across the country.

“Consumers are demanding more insight into their purchases, driving a heightened focus on transparency and traceability,” said Michael Johnson, CEO of Metrc. “Metrc Retail ID provides the necessary visibility for all industry stakeholders, improving market confidence and consumer safety, while also reducing the associated burdens of product labeling and protecting the reputation and bottom line of cannabis businesses.”

Metrc Retail ID helps brands enhance control and consistency across product lines while meeting regulatory requirements. This helps boost brand reputation and recognition, expands product education and imagery, and saves time and costs by eliminating additional scanning at the time of packaging. “We’re proud to partner with Metrc to provide new opportunities for streamlined inventory management and improve operational support for our retailers,” said Ben Gaines, Vice President of Marketing at Wyld.

For retailers, Metrc Retail ID eliminates both relabeling and secondary labeling, acts as a barcode for checkout, and helps easily tie compliance reports to specific items. Initial time trial studies show a reduction of 60 seconds in labor per item – on average, this equals about 2,000 hours in labor savings per year, per retailer. “As state labeling requirements evolve, the industry has to quickly adapt,” said Chris Wren, CCO at Planet 13. “By the time we receive a product, it will already have the necessary unit level information which we can instantly update and scan into our POS system, Dutchie. This will save us hours of labor and manual data entry, allowing us to redirect more time and resources toward customer service and strategic initiatives.”

Third-party POS integrators can use Metrc Retail ID to help dispensaries operate more efficiently through direct cycle counting, elimination of additional labeling, and strengthened inventory management practices, which ultimately optimizes compliance and consumers’ experience. “Metrc Retail ID will allow our customers to tackle significant challenges in inventory management and relabeling,” said Daphne Funston, Vice President of Product at Dutchie. “Through our integration with Metrc Retail ID, retailers can effortlessly scan their inventory using QR codes to streamline receiving and checkout processes. This reduces human error and eliminates unnecessary time and costs associated with relabeling, allowing retailers to focus more on their customers and improve inventory accuracy for compliance.”

Metrc is partnering with major industry players and early adopters of Metrc Retail ID, including Wyld, Planet 13, Glass House Brands, Good Day Farms, Organic Remedies, Sonoma Hills Farms, Exotic Elevations and more. In addition to Dutchie and IndicaOnline’s active integration, third-party integrators who are currently in the process of integrating include Treez, Blaze and FlowHub.

At this time, Metrc has enabled new features within the system in Maryland, Montana and Nevada, at no additional cost, offering operators the ability to generate QR codes through simple workflows that can be implemented quickly. The states who will have access to functionality in coming weeks are Michigan, New Jersey, Missouri, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The company is working to expand this access across additional Metrc markets. For businesses interested in more immediate access, information can be found here.

Aurora Cannabis Inc., a leading Canadian-based global medical cannabis company, and Vectura Fertin Pharma, Inc., an innovator in wellness and healthcare, have announced that Aurora has entered into a commercial collaboration with Cogent International Manufacturing Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vectura Fertin Pharma.

Through this arrangement, Cogent will initially launch its newly developed CBD lozenge on Aurora’s Canadian medical cannabis patient platform, giving access to patient feedback which will be used to validate the product proposition and patient responses to the product while building real-world patient data for future analysis.

Following the successful launch of the CBD lozenge, the two companies may explore opportunities regarding the potential commercialisation of other Vectura Fertin Pharmamedical cannabis products in Canada.

“We are excited about this commercial collaboration that will allow Aurora to leverage its industry-leading patient platform in Canada to support advancements in medical cannabis, as well as to provide our patients with access to Vectura Fertin Pharma’s new CBD lozenge,” said Miguel Martin, CEO for Aurora. “As a global leader in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical-grade medical cannabis, we are pleased to see increased interest in the possibilities of medical cannabis as part of healthcare options made available to Canadians.”

Michael Kunst, CEO for Vectura Fertin Pharma, said: “At Vectura Fertin Pharma, we are committed to building a pipeline of innovation, based on scientific rigor, to improve unmet medical and health needs. We are delighted to be working with the Aurora team who share our high standards for safety and quality, and our strong focus on improving people’s lives.

“Through this strategic collaboration, the Aurora platform will enable us to bring our new CBD lozenge, as prescribed by a healthcare professional, to the largest patient base in Canada, and to both study its impact and validate the product proposition through the generation of real-world patient data.”

The agreement between Aurora and Cogent is expected to have an initial term of 24 months, with a target of launching CBD containing products on Aurora’s Canadian medical cannabis marketplace, starting with a CBD lozenge.

The products will be manufactured, packaged and labelled by Cogent for sale and distribution by Aurora through its leading direct-to-patient e-commerce sales channel, requiring minimal additional capital investment by Aurora. The expected launch of the first SKU in market is targeted for later in 2024.

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