The Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) requires that a package tag with a unique identification number (UID) be affixed to each package of marijuana to maintain traceability for possible recalls, inventory management, and investigations into inversion and diversion.
The purpose of this bulletin is to help answer the following questions:
How does the package tag maintain traceability for possible recalls?
How does the package tag help with inventory management?
How does the package tag help the CRA investigate inversion and diversion of product?
Possible Recalls
Package tags allow for targeted recalls. Without package tags, recalls could be significantly larger than they need to be, resulting in unnecessarily expensive and time-consuming disruptions to the market any time a recall for public health and safety is required.
Package tag UIDs included on each product give consumers the ability to check their product quickly and easily to determine if it is part of a recall. Without package tags, sales locations could be overwhelmed by consumers returning and/or inquiring about product that did not actually pose a risk to public health or safety, but which could not be distinguished from product that did pose a risk.
Inventory Management
Inventory is tracked at the package level. Package tags allow sales locations to fix inventory discrepancies much more quickly and easily. Accurate inventory is essential for regulatory compliance. Package tags make it easier for licensees to
reconcile Metrc information, transfer manifests, and actual inventory.
Investigations into Inversion/Diversion of Product
Package tags allow CRA staff to effectively audit and focus resources on only those packages or licensees that are not in compliance. Licensees that are in compliance do not need to be bothered by investigations into products or activities that do not involve them.
If a consumer files a complaint about a product they purchased from a sales location, or if a regulated product is found outside of the regulated market, a package tag allows for the history of that individual package to be traced to its origin.
Package tags provide more transparency and traceability, which makes it more difficult to falsify
tracking information.