The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA) now has a better handle on how the state’s medical cannabis program is operating thanks to the implementation of a seed-to-sale tracking system.
Operated by Metrc, the system tracks retail marijuana from either the seed or immature plant stage until resulting products are sold to customers. Use of the system has been required for all medical cannabis pharmaceutical processors in Virginia since the beginning of June.
Aside from helping the CCA regulate the medical cannabis market and protect consumers, it is also providing a wealth of real-time data, some of which was recently released.
In July and August, the system recorded:
- 17,786 plants harvested.
- $29,942,138 in sales.
- 256,432 transactions
The Metrc system has also indicated the most popular products.
- Flower (buds) – 47%
- Concentrates – 32%
- Infused edibles – 15%
- Shake trim – 5%
Trim consists of the trimmings that cultivators remove from buds, and shake is small pieces of cannabis flower that accumulate at the bottom of storage containers during the handling process.
“This system gives us a clear, real-time view of medical cannabis across Virginia,” said Jamie Patten, Acting Head and Chief Administrative Officer of the CCA. “We can see which products are popular, track plant growth, and understand sales trends. That information helps us protect patients, prevent illegal products from entering the market, and make smart decisions for the program’s future.”
Public access to this information is to be improved, with CCA planning to create a public dashboard on its website. When that will happen isn’t clear.
In other recent CCA news, the Authority is to soon launch a a new safe driving campaign to remind Virginians who use cannabis of the risks and consequences of driving while high. According to the CCA, 17 percent of Virginia drivers report driving high a few times or more in the past month.
“These risky behaviors put everyone on the road at risk, and the legal consequences are serious,” says the CCA. “First-time offenders face fines, jail time, and loss of a driver’s license.”
Virginia legalized medical cannabis on July 1, 2020 and recreational (adult-use) cannabis possession and home cultivation on July 1, 2021 for adults aged 21 and over.
