Kentucky has selected Metrc, a leading cannabis compliance and tracking company, to provide the track-and-trace platform for its upcoming medical cannabis market. The contract marks the first of its kind in the state, which legalized medical cannabis in April 2023.
Metrc to Support Regulatory Compliance and Patient Safety
The metrics track-and-trace platform will enable the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the agency responsible for developing and implementing regulations for the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program, to monitor all activities affecting the status of a cannabis plant or product, from seed to sale. This will ensure regulatory compliance, help combat the illicit market, and safeguard the health and well-being of Kentucky’s patients.
Metrc’s system uses unique radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and software-as-a-service (SaaS) technology to collect and report data on cannabis cultivation, processing, testing, distribution, and sales. The system also allows licensed operators to optimize inventory control, accurately report sales data, and improve cultivation management.
Metrc’s CEO, Michael Johnson, said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to launch the state’s first-ever track-and-trace program. He added that his team looks forward to working alongside the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to build a regulatory framework that will create a marketplace with the strongest foundation, where patients are guaranteed safe consumption and licensees are provided an environment to thrive.
Kentucky Prepares for Medical Cannabis Launch in 2025
Kentucky became the 37th state to legalize medical cannabis when Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law in April 2023. The bill allows registered patients with qualifying conditions to access cannabis edibles and concentrates, but not smokable products, starting January 1, 2025.
The bill also establishes a Medical Cannabis Advisory Board, which will oversee the licensing of cannabis businesses, the registration of patients and caregivers, the certification of physicians, and the setting of fees and taxes. The board will also review the list of qualifying conditions and make recommendations for adding or removing conditions.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has been tasked with developing and implementing regulations for the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program to ensure Kentuckians suffering from serious medical conditions have safe, affordable access to medical cannabis, achieved via a commitment to evidence-based practices, transparency, outreach, and education.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services said it was pleased to partner with Metrc, a company with extensive experience and expertise in cannabis tracking systems. It said that Metrc’s platform will help the agency fulfill its regulatory duties and protect the public health and safety of Kentucky’s medical cannabis patients.
Metrc Expands Its Presence Across the U.S.
Metrc holds exclusive government contracts in every region of the U.S. and has a particularly strong presence in the South, where it also serves Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia. While these states have diverse regulatory frameworks, each jurisdiction shares the common goal of ensuring safe legal cannabis markets. Metrc continues to be the preferred partner of regulators and businesses in serving their unique needs and goals.
Metrc also recently began servicing operators in the cannabis industry directly, offering its platform as a tool to help them comply with state regulations and streamline their operations. Metrc said it has more than 15,000 active licenses and over 100 integrations with third-party software providers on its platform.
The metrics track-and-trace platform is expected to go live in Kentucky in late 2024, ahead of the launch of the state’s medical cannabis market in 2025.