Metrc is a cannabis traceability solution providing end-to-end tracking and tracing specifically designed for government agencies regulating legalized marijuana. Metrc provides regulatory bodies a compliance management solution, and provides marijuana businesses a cloud based reporting system to manage and report supply chain activities as determined by regulations.
Metrc, which stands for Marijuana Enforcement, Tracking, Reporting & Compliance. It is software built by a company in Florida called Franwell that has been building RFID software for the past few decades. Various states contract with Franwell to use Metrc, which means that the states are the primary customers, not the operators. While Metrc has friendly customer support staff you can reach out to for help, they aren’t primarily concerned about helping you run a successful business.
What Metrc is not
Although Metrc provides track and trace capabilities that you must comply with, it is not software designed to help you run your business. Thus, you need additional tools to manage your customer relations, purchases, orders and team, which is where Metrc-integrated business software comes into play. To learn more about this, check out our blog called Can I Manage My Business with Metrc and Spreadsheets Alone.
Metrc’s History
The State of Colorado contracted Franwell in 2011 to help implement Metrc for their regulatory body MED, Marijuana Enforcement Division. Prior to using Metrc, Colorado was using a hard copy method of record keeping that was delivering sub-par results. The adoption of Metrc ushered in a higher standard of reporting and accountability around cannabis inventory and sales data. Colorado elected to work with Franwell because the vendor demonstrated an ability to provide on-going hosting, maintenance and support of its system--something other vendors were not willing to do at the time.
Colorado thus became the first state, in 2013, to implement a track-and-trace system, setting the stage for other states to follow in its path.
