METRC Oregon: 6 Tips You Need To Know
Are you thinking about running a legal cannabis business in Oregon? Well, to get a license, you'll need to be (really) familiar with METRC.
You can get started in Oregon now if you know the right moves to take.
METRC is the first (and most important) step in remaining compliant with state regulators.
That's why an extensive understanding of the platform and its role is vital to keeping your license in Oregon.
Dive into our six tips on mastering METRC in Oregon below
1) Get To Know The Oregon Liquor Commission
When you're ready to connect to the Oregon cannabis tracking system, you'll need to reach to The Oregon Liquor Commission. They are the governing body responsible for maintaining the METRC.
When planning your cannabis business in Oregon, you need to know which regulators administer the system. If you don't know that, it'll be challenging to start your business at all.
You can rely on this agency for most questions and resources specific to the platform and compliance in Oregon.
Cannabis businesses go through this agency for license applications, appeals, and to obtain training.
Always make sure that you follow up with the Oregon Liquor Commission when you have questions about reporting.
If you make a mistake in METRC data-entry, it could cost you big time. When it comes to the OLC, due diligence is essential.
The extra time you spend working with them will make your life that much easier.
2) Learn METRC & Oregon's State Contract
Franwell and Oregon Liquor Commission partnered on making METRC the state's cannabis tracking system (CTS) for managing compliance data.
Again, this means you have to use METRC to run a licensed cannabis business in Oregon.
Make sure that you have learned the program and gone through the available training. The state offers that alongside Franwell!
You can get so much better at using these programs if you get trained and use the program every day.
As Oregon updates its systems, you can learn more too. Please make the most of it by becoming an expert!
3) METRC Impacts Licensure in Oregon
METRC impacts your licensure when you are in Oregon because you have to use METRC if you would like to maintain your license.
Your business has to use this program to ensure compliance with state regulators.
Make sure that you can report all products properly. Otherwise, OLC officials will be dropping by your store for an audit. Why?
The state needs to know where legal cannabis is at all times so that as little product as possible flows into the black market.
If you can't follow the rule of compliance, you could receive a massive fine or have your license revoked.
If you ever think you are having problems, you should reach out to the Oregon Liquor Commission to ensure that everything is working as it should be.
Do not be afraid of reaching out when you have issues. Ensure that you have contact information on every desk if your staff needs to reach out to someone for help.
Compliance data maintenance takes a ton of work, but it ultimately goes into ensuring the state is happy with you, and the doors of your business stay open!
You have grown and harvested your cannabis, but you need to know where it is when you ship it. It would be best if you also remembered that these batch numbers do not change at all.
Sure, you have handed over your batches to your customers, but those batch numbers hold up throughout the process of manufacturing or selling.
If there is something wrong, the state can trace that batch back to your business.
This idea is not meant to scare you. You need to know that you have done the right thing when you are growing or shipping your products.
4) Get METRC-Certified NOW
METRC certification courses get your familiar with reporting data to the state the right way! Remember, the more you know about it, the less likely it will be that regulators come knocking on your door.
This certification is the best way to show your business knows how to use the METRC CTS system. You can access course schedules certification in Oregon via METRC's or the OLC's website.
You might think that you know how to handle everything, but that is not always the case.
Schedule training to learn METRC and report compliance data in the right way. You can go back and keep the materials from courses for use in the future.
We highly recommended sending all your employees to training because of how costly compliance can be if you mess up data entry.
5) METRC Login, Batch Numbers, & Transfers
Once you complete training, you can get licensed and set up METRC with the state. You get a login and information that attaches your business to the system.
Your business will be assigned batch numbers, and you can report those batch numbers at any time. It is that simple. Remember, these batch numbers do not change at all.
After transferring your batches to your customers, the values stay the same throughout the process– including manufacturing or selling. You still have to input transfer information.
If there is something wrong, the state can trace that batch back to your business. You have to use METRC to report your batches.
6) Don't Forget About Your METRC API
Added software in your tech arsenal can help with managing your business.
There are programs like Outspoke that link up with METRC, so you remain compliant while using them.
METRC API integrations help you operate your business with ease and accuracy because they coonect software to your compliance data.
Using your METRC API to integrate with relevant software saves you time on entry and better understand your state compliance data.
