METRC Frequently Asked Questions

AUTHORED BY: JORDAN ZOOT

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Authored By: Jordan Zoot

METRC Frequently Asked Questions

METRC Frequently Asked Questions – are exactly what their name implies…a compilation of frequently asked questions about METRC

What is the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace system?

The California Cannabis Track-and-Trace (CCTT) system is the program used statewide to record the inventory and movement of cannabis and cannabis products through the commercial cannabis supply chain—from cultivation to sale.

What software is being used for this system?

And who is the service provider?

The state’s contracted service provider for the CCTT system is the technology company Franwell, Inc., and they are using the Metrc software program—the same program now used in many other states for their medicinal and adult-use cannabis programs.

Do I have to use CCTT-Metrc?

Yes. All state-issued annual licensees are required to use the CCTT-Metrc system to record, track, and maintain information about their cannabis and cannabis product inventories and activities. Please note that temporary licensees are not required to use the system, nor will they be provided access to it. Instead, the state’s emergency regulations require temporary licensees to document all sales and transfers of cannabis and cannabis products between temporary licensees—or between temporary licensees and annual licensees— by manually using paper sales invoices or shipping manifests. A sample sales invoice/shipping manifest (in a printable fill-in PDF) is available on the California Cannabis Portal’s California Track-and-Trace System web page, under Sales Invoice/Shipping Manifest Sample: cannabis.ca.gov/track-and-trace-system.

Note: All annual licensees must use the CCTT-Metrc system to manage inventory related to transfers to and from temporary licensees and to print an “external” manifest that serves as, or supplements, the paper manifest.

What is a Unique Identifier (UID)?

A unique identifier (UID) is an alphanumeric code or designation used to uniquely identify a specific plant, cannabis, and/or cannabis product on licensed premises. UIDs are specifically provisioned as the plant or package tags and are ordered by and assigned to the annual licensee within the CCTT-Metrc system. The annual licensee is responsible for assigning a CCTT-Metrc nonrepeating, a globally unique identifier to each immature lot, flowering plant, and distinct cannabis product. This assignment is accomplished via the issuance of encrypted radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to annual licensees. The assigned UIDs then track the cannabis and cannabis products when they are transferred from one licensee to another.

METRC Frequently Asked Questions

How will I get my UIDs?  And do I have to pay for them?

Once annual cannabis licensees or the designated Account Managers have been trained and provided access to the CCTT-Metrc system, they may order their UIDs through the system. The cost of UIDs, along with all other costs needed for administering California’s state cannabis programs (the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Division, California Department of Consumer Affairs’s Bureau of Cannabis Control, and the California Department of Public Health’s Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch), their respective licensing systems, and the CCTT-Metrc system have been factored into the fees for the state’s cannabis licenses. There is no additional cost for the UIDs.

Do I have to complete the state-provided training before I can use the CCTT-Metrc system?

Yes. Upon submission of an annual-license application, the applicable licensing authority—the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Bureau of Cannabis Control, or the California Department of Public Health—will send system-training registration information to the applicant. Annual licensees will not be allowed to access the CCTT-Metrc system until the required CCTT-Metrc Account Manager New Business System Training has been completed by license holders or their designated Account Manager. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the required user training while their annual license application is being reviewed. Once an annual license is approved and the license holder or designated Account Manager has completed the required CCTT-Metrc Account Manager New Business System Training, he or she will be able to access the CCTT-Metrc system.

When and how will CCTT-Metrc system training be provided?

Franwell provides the required CCTT-Metrc Account Manager New Business System Training sessions for licensees who have submitted an annual license application to one or more of the licensing authorities. These training sessions are provided via live, interactive webinars and pre-recorded webinars. The registration process for training is provided by the applicable licensing authority upon receipt of a complete annual license application.

As more annual licensees are credentialed into the CCTT-Metrc system, Franwell will offer more frequent Account Manager New Business System Training webinar sessions and additional “advanced topics” training opportunities.

Are there any restrictions on the number of designated CCTT-Metrc system users for each licensed individual or entity?

No. However, each licensee is required to designate an owner or another party in the licensed organization who can legally represent the licensed entity and act as the licensee’s CCTT-Metrc Account Manager. The licensee’s designated Account Manager will be required to complete the CCTT-Metrc Account Manager New Business System Training and subsequently train each licensee-designated system user in the proper and lawful use of the CCTT-Metrc system.

Note: Licensees will be responsible for all data entered into the CCTT-Metrc system by their employees or contractors.

METRC Frequently Asked Questions

Who will have access to my CCTT-Metrc information?

Pursuant to Section 26067(b) of California’s Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), information received and contained in the CCTT-Metrc system is confidential and may only be viewed by the licensee and authorized employees of the state of California, or any city, county, or city and county to perform official duties pursuant to MAUCRSA or a local ordinance.

Also, upon the request of a state or local law enforcement agency, licensing authorities will provide access to, or provide information contained in, the CCTT-Metrc system database to assist law enforcement in its duties and responsibilities pursuant to MAUCRSA.

Does the CCTT-Metrc system have an interface, or file upload process, that allows connection to third-party systems?

Yes. The CCTT-Metrc system offers access to third-party business applications via a standard Application Programming Interface (API) or file upload.

For more information, please see the “Integration and API” section of the Metrc California web page at: metrc.com/california. A list of third-party vendors who have completed the required steps and have been validated to use the API to interface with the CCTT-Metrc system also is accessible from the Metrc California web page.

Do I need to purchase additional hardware to use the CCTT system?

No. CCTT-Metrc is a completely web-hosted system, which means all access to the CCTT-Metrc system is via the Internet. Only an Internet connection (via an Internet service provider) and a web browser (such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Mozilla Firefox) is required. Access to a web browser and the Internet usually is achieved easily by using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. In addition, there is no software to download, install, or maintain.

How does using the CCTT-Metrc system allow the state of California to prevent inversion and diversion of cannabis or cannabis products?

The CCTT-Metrc system and plant- and package-tagging requirements alone are not expected to eliminate illegal inversion or diversion of cannabis throughout the commercial cannabis supply chain, but they are valuable auditing tools for assisting state and local compliance and enforcement staff. A multifaceted approach of regular monitoring—including reviews of licensee-reported data and onsite inspections—and referrals to law enforcement are expected to limit illegal movement significantly. The CCTT-Metrc system also will be used to identify anomalies indicative of potentially fraudulent activity. The state’s licensing authorities, sister state agencies, and local agencies will work collaboratively to develop analytical tools and inspection protocols to identify and investigate potentially fraudulent activity during all phases of the commercial distribution-chain activities, and they will take appropriate action as needed.

How can I find out more about the CCTT-Metrc system?

Additional information regarding the CCTT-Metrc system will be published on the following websites as it becomes available: California Cannabis Portal cannabis.ca.gov California Department of Food and Agriculture CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing Divisioncalcannabis.cdfa.ca.gov California Department of Consumer Affairs Bureau of Cannabis Control bcc.ca.gov California Department of Public Health Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branchcdph.ca.gov/mcsb

METRC Frequently Asked Questions

Source: California CannabisTrack-and-Trace System

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