Two Edmonton-based cannabis businesses—Plantlife and Token Naturals—and US-based technology company, Metrc, are launching a pilot project in Alberta designed to improve the transparency and safety of cannabis products.
In this public-private partnership, Metrc will employ QR codes using Retail ID to provide consumers real-time access to data such as lab test results, Certificate of Analysis (COA), product origin, potency, authenticity, and supplemental information including cannabinoids, terpenes, cultivar, and photos – ultimately helping identify legal cannabis products and learn more about them.
"Alberta is leading the charge in making government and markets more efficient by reducing red tape and unlocking the potential of private enterprise,” said Dale Nally, the Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction. “This pilot is yet another example of that effort: using technology to increase consumer confidence and transparency, reduce inefficiencies, and keep Albertans safe."
In the regulated cannabis industry, businesses must meticulously track their inventory at every stage of development and production to comply with safety requirements. However, only limited information is allowed to be shared with consumers, to limit marketing and advertising of an intoxicating product.
“Metrc Retail ID unlocks existing data from across the supply chain and makes it available to consumers,” said Metrc’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Michael Johnson. “Instead of product information being siloed within businesses, we’re creating transparency for the consumer.”
Requirements for packaging and labelling cannabis products prior to sale, distribution or export is outlined under the Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Regulations. Considering there is still no third-party validation system in place despite cannabis being legalized in Canada on October 17, 2018, the collection of these data points would improve efforts to ensure the safety and security of Alberta’s legal cannabis market.
Token Naturals, an independent Canadian company, excels in providing cannabis manufacturing services with industry-leading margins and a personal touch.
“Token Naturals works to make the cannabis industry more accessible to participate in,” said Keenan Pascal, CEO of Token Naturals.
“By adopting Metrc’s Retail ID system, we would be ushering in the next generation of the cannabis industry, one that is transparent, responsible and engaging by leveraging existing information to enhance consumer awareness.”
Token Naturals will use Metrc’s software to generate and print product-specific QR codes and ship them with select products to Plantlife dispensaries. When a consumer purchases the selected product, Plantlife will provide a QR code sticker for the consumer to scan with their phone. Once scanned, the QR code navigates to a landing page that provides additional product information in a user-friendly format.
Currently, labels on cannabis products are required to display specific details about the product and include various warning symbols. Plantlife Cannabis, the largest independently owned and operated dispensary in Alberta, frequently receives inquiries from customers who wish to better understand label and packaging information.
“The technology reinforces why consumers should be buying from the legal, regulated market,” said Ian Scott, Vice-President of Operations at Plantlife Cannabis. “These products are rigorously tested and safe for consumption, and with Retail ID, consumers will now know exactly what they’re putting into their bodies – something the illicit market can’t compete with.”
Throughout the duration of the pilot project, Metrc will streamline the evaluation process by bridging the gap between cannabis growers, distributors, manufacturers, retailers, and regulators.
