The Importance of Auditing Your Metrc Inventory and Sales Data in Real Time
Metrc (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance) is the seed-to-sale tracking system employed by many states in the USA, including California, to monitor the production and distribution of cannabis products, and to create safety and transparency for consumers of cannabis. It ensures that every gram of cannabis is accounted for from cultivation to sale, helping state regulators maintain oversight of license holders. For cannabis operators, keeping Metrc records accurate is crucial for avoiding penalties and maintaining their licenses.
Weedetect is a platform that integrates with Metrc directly to identify discrepancies between your source data set (i.e. MJ Platform, Meadow, LeafLogix, Distru, Trellis) and Metrc. In this guide, we'll explore the importance of auditing your Metrc inventory and sales data, as well as how Weedetect can be used to perform real-time audits.
Why is auditing Metrc essential?
Auditing your Metrc data regularly is key to preventing discrepancies, as well as ensuring your source data and Metrc haven't diverged. Errors in inventory and sales can create serious compliance risks. For instance, if your actual inventory levels are different from what's reflected in Metrc, you can be flagged during an inspection. Metrc compliance should be a top priority for cannabis businesses, especially in the state of California. Weedetect helps you spot these issues before they escalate into true compliance violations.
What scenarios might result in discrepancies in Metrc?
One of the most common scenarios that result in Metrc discrepancies is technical downtime. For instance, Metrc's API is having an outage, or if your business uses a platform that's responsible for syncing data with Metrc, they may run into technical difficluties from time to time. When downtime occurs, the onus of correcting any discrepancies in Metrc is generally left to the license holder. This is a costly and time consuming process, and it draws you and your team's attention away from what matters most, running your cannabis business.
What exactly is a Weedetect audit?
A Weedetect audit is a process that compares your source data against what's recorded in Metrc. It identifies discrepancies ranging incorrect inventory levels, to invalid expiration dates or sell-by dates, to records that are missing in Metrc entirely. The audit results are prioritized based on their potential risk to your compliance status, enabling you and your team to make informed decisions and focus on the most pressing discrepancies first.
How does auditing Metrc with Weedetect simplify compliance?
Weedetect simplifies compliance by automating the audit process and providing clear and actionable reports. Instead of manually cross-referencing your Seed-to-Sale data with Metrc, a common practice employed by many cannabis operations, Weedetect handles this for you. This automation reduces the time and effort needed to maintain compliance and helps you stay on top of any potential issues before they escalate.
- Simply export the relevant data from your Seed-to-Sale system (or whichever system your business uses as the source of truth), and upload it to Weedetect. We don't require a particular CSV format, whatever your Seed-to-Sale system generates, we support.
- Select which CSV columns you want to audit, and initate the audit. Weedetect will compare the uploaded data against what's in Metrc, identifying any discrepancies, and notifying you and your team once it's complete.
- View the generated audit report. Take note of any high priority discrepancies, such as invalid expiration/sell-by dates, and traige as necessary. Your team should either a) resolve the discrepancy in Metrc (you soon will be able to do this from Weedetect directly), or b) resolve the discrepancy in your Seed-to-Sale system. The latter typically shouldn't be required, since the data you're auditing is from your source of truth.
Wrapping up
Weedetect makes it easier to maintain accurate and compliant Metrc records, helping you avoid the costly consequences of discrepancies. If you're interested in learning more about our solution, please request access or simply drop us a line with any questions.