Big News: We Finally Got Access to METRC's Sandbox!
After what felt like forever, I'm super excited to announce that we've finally gotten our hands on the METRC sandbox! This means we can start working on integrating our system with METRC, testing how everything fits together, and making sure it all works smoothly. This is a major step for us, and we’re already diving in to make sure we meet all compliance standards and make the entire process easier for everyone involved.
What Is METRC?
So, what exactly is METRC? Well, METRC is the system that keeps track of everything happening with cannabis—from the seed all the way to when it's sold. It's used to make sure all the growers, distributors, and dispensaries are following the rules and staying compliant with state laws. If you're in the cannabis business, you have to deal with METRC one way or another, and integrating with it makes everyone's life way easier. It’s the backbone of tracking every part of the cannabis journey, ensuring transparency and compliance at every step.
Integrating with METRC
Getting certified with METRC is no joke. There are a ton of different data points we have to connect with to make sure we meet all the regulations. But the truth is, we're still figuring out exactly which of these data points our system will need to integrate directly versus which ones are more relevant for our users in other capacities. METRC covers so many areas of cannabis tracking, and we want to make sure we’re hitting the most critical points for our integration while keeping things simple for everyone using our platform.
Let’s break down some of the main things we'll need to integrate with, and why they matter for the industry:
Caregivers, Facilities, and Harvests
Caregivers, facilities, and harvests are three important pieces of the puzzle. Caregivers are people who help medical patients, making sure that those who need cannabis for health reasons can get it safely. We need to keep track of who the caregivers are, which patients they are connected to, and make sure they’re approved by the authorities. This means integrating caregiver data so that the right information is available and up-to-date. It’s also worth noting that this part might be more important for specific user groups, like medical dispensaries, depending on how our users engage with METRC.
Facilities are where all the growing and processing happens, from the early stages of planting seeds to the final steps of packaging. METRC tracks each facility to make sure that everything happening there is compliant. We need to log everything that goes on at a facility, like growing cannabis, processing it, or storing products. Each facility has to have a license and comply with strict standards, and that’s where our integration helps—making sure each step is properly tracked and transparent. Understanding which specific data points around facilities are essential for our integration versus those that might be more of a background check for users is something we’ll be diving deeper into.
Harvests are another critical piece. Harvest time is when all the hard work comes together, and plants are taken from the field and processed for use. We need to make sure that all information about the harvest is recorded—how much product is gathered, when it’s harvested, and what happens to it next. Logging harvests accurately in METRC is key for staying compliant and ensuring that every product can be traced back to its origin. Whether we need all the details for every harvest or just enough to support tracking depends on what’s most useful to our users, and we're working through these details.
Tracking Products from Start to Finish
After harvesting, the cannabis plants get turned into various products. These can be flowers, oils, edibles, or any other type of cannabis product. METRC requires us to track all of these items, which means we need to know things like the product type, the batch number, and how much THC or CBD is in it. This is important because customers need accurate information about what they’re buying, and regulators need to know that everything meets safety standards.
Lab tests are a huge part of this. Every cannabis product has to be tested to make sure it’s safe—checking for things like contaminants, potency, and quality. By pulling lab test results into our system, we can make sure that only products that pass all the safety tests get approved for sale. If a product doesn’t pass the lab tests, we can flag it and make sure it doesn’t reach the shelves. This is all about ensuring the safety and reliability of the cannabis products that consumers use.
Where Everything Happens
Locations are a huge part of keeping things organized. We need to know where the plants are grown, where they’re processed, and where they’re stored. This means tracking all the different rooms, fields, and buildings involved. Each location has to be tracked in detail—knowing where a specific product has been is important if there are ever questions about its quality or if a recall is needed.
METRC makes it possible to track products all the way down to individual rooms or storage areas. It’s all about being able to say exactly where a product has been at any given time, which is super important for transparency and compliance. By knowing exactly where each product is, we make sure that we’re always ready for inspections or audits, and we can easily show that everything has been handled properly. We also want to make sure that we’re balancing what our users need to know about locations—sometimes high-level tracking is enough, and sometimes it requires more granularity.
Packages and Plant Batches
Once we have products, they get packaged up for sale or for transport. METRC keeps track of every package, and we have to make sure we know what’s inside each one and where it’s going. Packages are tracked with unique IDs, and we need to link those IDs with all the information about what’s inside—like the product type, its origin, and test results. The question of whether our system needs to integrate with every single package detail or just enough to facilitate compliance is something we’re considering as we move forward.
Plant batches are also a big part of tracking. Plants are often grouped into batches, which makes it easier to manage them. We need to keep an eye on each batch to make sure we know how they’re doing and if there are any issues. For example, if one batch shows signs of disease or pests, we need to be able to trace all the plants in that batch to handle the situation effectively. Keeping batch records up to date in METRC helps with this, making it easier to identify problems early on. Again, it’s about figuring out which level of detail is necessary for our integration versus what’s more about general METRC reporting.
Sales, Retail, and Tags
Another aspect we need to consider is RFID tags and how they fit into the METRC system. METRC provides RFID tags, but it’s up to individual businesses to source compatible printers that can handle these tags. Typically, METRC recommends thermal transfer printers like those made by Zebra. We need to think about how our system will handle tag printing, making sure that users can easily print the required tags using their own equipment. We'll need to integrate this process to make it as seamless as possible while ensuring compliance.
Another big piece is tracking the products all the way to the point of sale. Retail IDs are used to track products that are being sold, and this makes sure that everything being sold is compliant and has passed all the safety tests. This integration allows us to track which products are on the shelves, where they came from, and if they’ve been approved for sale. It’s all about keeping everything consistent and legal.
Sales data needs to be logged so we know what's being sold, where, and when. This kind of tracking not only helps with compliance but also gives businesses valuable insights into what products are most popular and what inventory needs to be replenished. We also need to deal with tags—every plant, batch, and product gets a tag so it can be identified at any point in time. This tagging system is what makes it possible to track everything from start to finish, and it makes the entire process much more efficient. Understanding which of these data points are more valuable for direct integration versus high-level reporting is something we are still exploring.
Transfers and Transporters
Cannabis products don’t just stay in one place—they move from growers to processors, from processors to stores, and eventually to customers. METRC tracks every transfer, and we have to make sure we do the same. Whether it’s a truck full of plants moving to a lab for testing or finished products heading to a dispensary, we need to know exactly what’s being moved, where it’s going, and who is transporting it. Each transfer has to be documented in detail, and that’s where our system comes in—automating the tracking process so there are no gaps in the record.
Transporters are the licensed companies that handle the movement of cannabis products. They have to follow strict rules, and we need to be able to track which transporter is moving which product. This makes sure that everything is handled safely and legally, and that products arrive where they’re supposed to without any issues. By integrating transporter data, we make the entire process more secure and transparent. Figuring out which data is relevant for our users versus what is mostly useful for METRC compliance is part of our ongoing exploration.
Measuring Consistently
Lastly, we need to keep track of units of measure. It might not seem like a big deal, but making sure every gram, ounce, or milliliter is measured consistently is key for both compliance and business. Every product needs to be logged accurately, especially when reporting to regulators. If there are inconsistencies, it could lead to problems with compliance, and that’s something we definitely want to avoid.
Getting Started with METRC in Minnesota
For those interested in getting started with METRC in Minnesota, the METRC partner page provides a helpful overview of how businesses can ensure they stay compliant. It covers onboarding, using the system, and offers links to resources for training and support. This page is a great starting point for understanding how METRC integration can benefit your operation, and you can check it out here: METRC Minnesota Partner Page. Understanding the requirements is an important first step for anyone looking to operate in Minnesota’s cannabis industry, and the resources on this page are invaluable for getting started.
Moving Forward
Getting certified by METRC means we have to connect with all these different parts and make sure everything lines up perfectly. It’s a lot of work, but we’re committed to making it happen because it’s going to make a big difference for anyone using our system—whether they’re growing, processing, or selling cannabis. The goal is to make this integration smooth, automated, and as easy to use as possible. By streamlining the process, we aim to make compliance something that happens naturally, without adding extra headaches for the people using our system.
We’re just getting started, and honestly, we're learning as we go. There’s a lot we don’t know yet, and we’re figuring things out one step at a time. As we continue moving towards METRC certification, there will be plenty of new challenges and lessons to tackle. I’m super excited to have finally reached this point, and we know there's a ton of testing and development ahead, but having access to the sandbox is a huge step forward. We’re already diving into testing every feature, making sure we can handle each data point METRC requires, and ensuring that our integration is seamless. It’s a long journey, but we’re committed to making it as easy as possible for our users.
If you’re in the cannabis industry and have thoughts on how we can make this better, definitely let me know. Your ideas are what help us make this work for everyone. We want to make sure that this system fits the needs of the people who use it every day, so feedback is always welcome. Whether it's about simplifying processes, adding features, or anything else, we're all ears.
Stay tuned for more updates—this is only the beginning, and we’ll keep sharing what we learn along the way. I can’t wait to see what we build from here. It’s exciting to think about how much easier compliance and tracking can be when everything works smoothly together, and we’re just scratching the surface of what’s possible. Thanks for following along as we take these first big steps into METRC integration!