Cannabis, commonly known as Marijuana, is a drug used for medical and recreational purposes. Medically, marijuana is used for the treatment of epileptic seizures, PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain. And though the legalization of cannabis for medical as well as recreational purposes is a reform that might come into effect by July 2018, the growth, management and control of this drug remain an issue of concern for the manufacturers as well as the government.

According to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, Marijuana continues to be classified as a Schedule II drug. Hence, the possession, usage and sale of cannabis in Canada through sources other than the ones certified by the government are considered illegal. Adapting safe and precise traceability practices can go a long way in managing the sale of this drug and ensuring the safety of its users.

Here’s a closer look at the importance of seed-to-sale tracking for the cannabis industry:

Problems regarding the management of legal cannabis in Canada

The manufacturing and sale of legal cannabis in Canada is currently structured under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). These guidelines allow federally regulated businesses to produce quality controlled marijuana for medical purposes and also permits designated individuals to produce a small amount of cannabis for their own medical needs.

Despite these regulations, the production and sale of illegal marijuana remain a prevalent concern. The key problems regarding the sale of legal cannabis are:

Lack of supply chain management
Reluctance of practiced physicians to become authorized sellers
Lack of a standard cost determination procedure
Lack of inventory management, especially in the case of a recall of unsafe drugs

How good traceability practices can help

Traceability is the process of tracking the production, the distribution and the sale of a product, from its creation to the time it reaches the customer. Reliable and efficient traceability practices allow an accurate seed-to-sale tracking of Marijuana and can help tackle many issues faced by the industry:

Allows regulatory bodies to track the drug in real time

Efficient tracking practices allow manufacturers to trace the distribution and sale of Marijuana in real time, accurately. This data can be easily utilized by the regulatory bodies to track the product to its sale and consumption, ensuring there is no illegal transaction involved.

Standardizes the sale of the product

Since the process of production and distribution can easily be standardized using traceability, the method of cost determination can become uniform and the cost can be based on the quality of the final product and the cost of manufacturing involved.

Prevents the drug from reaching users it is not intended for

Use of effective traceability technologies can help manufacturers and authorities trace the product until it is scanned for purchase, and even beyond. This streamlines the supply-chain and the inventory management of the drug, keeping it out of reach for consumers it is not intended for.

Eases the process of recall

As Marijuana is a naturally produced drug, its chances of contamination can be relatively steeper than other medications. Efficient inventory management eases the process of recall ensuring safety of the end consumer.

Adapting the best traceability practices

Competent seed to sale tracking practices can be implemented for your business with the use of barcoding and RFID technologies. Jet Marking Systems offers a wide range of products such as barcode readers, RFID readers and lot tracking systems that can ensure complete tracking and inventory management for the pharmaceutical industry.

In collaboration with our parent company Jet Label, we can also offer security labels and augmented reality tags that allow consumers to verify their purchase’s authenticity using a free smartphone app. To learn more about adapting the best tracking systems for your business, consult our experts today.

seed to sale tracking