Metrc, a provider of cannabis regulatory technology systems in the U.S., announced a new contract with the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands (GVI) to support the regulation of its medical and adult-use cannabis markets.
The Metrc system enables licensed operators to track all activities related to cannabis plants and products, including origin, testing results, handling, and chain-of-custody information, through the company’s unique RFID tracking model and software-as-a-service (SaaS) system; this information is then accessible to regulators. In the event of a recall, Metrc's traceability features allow regulators and businesses to pinpoint affected product for targeted and timely actions.
Additionally, licensees will have access to the newly launched Metrc Retail ID functionality. This provides businesses with the option to generate QR codes for item-level identification and allows consumers with a smartphone to scan and access product information such as origin, authenticity, lab results, and more. Metrc Retail ID reduces waste by eliminating the need for secondary labeling and acts as an inventory identifier through point-of-sale.
GVI legalized medical cannabis in 2019 when Governor Albert Bryan signed the Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act. The Cannabis Use Act to legalize adult-use cannabis was then passed by the territorial legislature in 2022, which Governor Bryan signed into law in January 2023. The Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR) is the GVI regulatory body tasked with overseeing the territory’s market.
The announcement marks Metrc’s second partnership with a U.S. territory and island, having worked with the government of Guam since November 2021.
