4 Cannabis Transport Tips for Growers
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The idea of "the harvest" goes back way further than recorded history does. Reaping the fruits of your labor is a natural human undertaking, and so is distributing those fruits to the community. And while the transactional nature of the harvest may be ingrained in our DNA, modern seed-to-sale tracking requirements —and cannabis transport— are anything but simple.
Owners and cultivators alike know just how stringent the tracking and reporting requirements are in each of the 21 states (plus Guam and Washington D.C.) where recreational cannabis products are legal. With a staggering 91% of all Americans supporting at least some form of legalization, those requirements will only grow in complexity over the coming years.
Given the industry's booming fortunes, wise owners and cultivators must develop operating procedures and infrastructure with that complexity in mind. So without further ado, let's take a look at that process in action.
On the Move With Cannabis Crops
There are 50 states in the Union, with only 21 allowing legal recreational marijuana use with another 16 states giving the go-ahead to medical marijuana. In the end, however, marijuana usage remains illegal at the federal level, creating a complex regulatory clash when it comes to transportation.
What does that mean for cultivators like you? Headaches if you don't dot your I's and cross your T's. Let's take a granular look at these competing regulations.
Shipping Manifest
From the moment you plant your cannabis seeds to the moment your customers take delivery of their product, your crops need to be accounted for. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that every single shipment includes a detailed invoice obtained through the METRC reporting system (or whichever system your particular state uses). METRC, which stands for "Marijuana Enforcement Tracking and Reporting Compliance," is the most commonly used system, as 16 out of the 21 recreation-legal states employ it. Even if you transport your goods across state lines to a jurisdiction that uses a different method of compliance, this step demonstrates absolute fidelity to your state's regulations.
Vehicle Transportation
It is almost universal across the United States, but you are not allowed to use DOT-registered vehicles to ship your product. That means tractor-trailers and other large-scale vehicles are a no-go. Most cultivators resort to cargo vans, so pack every inch of the van with your products to ensure that your shipping costs don't exceed your overall revenue.
Product Safety
In the push to remain legal and compliant, it is easy to lose sight of what matters most: the integrity of your harvest. It is in the best interests of your company to implement some form of safety practice when it comes to your shipping procedures. What those safety features look like depends on whether you are transporting plants for future transplants or some other form of a marijuana product. In the case of transplants, it's easiest and most efficient to transport when the plants are young before their root system becomes too complex.
Documentation
In the world of cannabis transport, documentation is everything. Nothing kills your bottom line more quickly than regulatory noncompliance. When transporting your products, it should be your business's regular policy to include every piece of documentation you can think of. That means:
- Invoices
- METRC tracking data
- Documentation regarding the product's intended use
- Documents attesting to the monetary value of the product
- All necessary staffing documents related to the driver and transport crew
Of course, this is far from an inclusive list. Requirements differ on a state-by-state basis, so there's no harm in oversharing.
Security
Since legalization, marijuana has become a highly valued commodity. Unfortunately, that means an increase in product theft. To ensure that your products reach their destination safely, you must take certain precautions. It certainly doesn't help that so much of the industry revolves around cash payments, meaning careful accounting is always required.
There are two ways to go about ensuring security:
- Use armed security to escort your product
- Purchase a suitable insurance policy that covers cannabinoids
Either way, safety, and security are prime concerns in cannabis transport.
Cannabis Transport Tips for Cultivators
Now that we've taken a look at all the logistical planning considerations involved with cannabis transport, it's time to look at the tools and solutions that can help insulate your business against loss and accidental regulatory noncompliance. Seed-to-sale software, to be specific.
Seed-to-sale software possesses a full suite of business management tools specifically tailored for the cannabis industry. It gives owners, cultivators, and other key stakeholders a bird's eye view of operations as it spans the entire organization, from inventory management to accounting. Given the aggressive regulatory nature of the industry, a solution that tackles every aspect of reporting is a crucial addition for you and your team. Here's what to look for in a suitable seed-to-sale system, and tips on how to best purpose it.
METRC integration
METRC integration is a must.
If you are communicating all the necessary facets of your business to METRC as required, then you can easily use seed-to-sale solutions to produce key regulatory data whenever you need it. Look for a seed-to-sale platform that seamlessly integrates with your METRC reporting practices so that you can easily generate accurate manifests and other track-and-trace reports at a moment's notice.
Automated data tracking
The cannabis industry is awash in data. Keeping track of it all is one of the toughest parts of being a cultivator! With the right platform, you can access and leverage data analytics in a wide variety of ways.
With automated data tracking functionality, you can use it to effortlessly record key compliance data such as:
- Liquid grams
- Yield size
- Critical batch characteristics
Data tracking isn't just about compliance; it also serves to refine your internal operations. With powerful data processing options, you can:
- Forecast inventory levels
- Manage warehousing space
- Optimize shipping routes
- Track employee productivity
Data tracking is a game changer that will help you in all aspects of your business.
Full inventory visibility
Seed-to-sale software makes inventory management a breeze. The transparency that it brings to your inventory processes is priceless in a vertically-integrated cannabis operation. Using a single interface, you can communicate crucial inventory-generated data within your entire tech stack, unifying and streamlining the cannabis shipping and transport process while eliminating costly redundancies.
Temperature management
While we've mostly focused on cannabis transport in this article, how you grow is as important as how you distribute your product. Knowing the temperature qualities of your plants can inform and ensure the best conditions to transport plants from place to place. A seed-to-sale platform also allows you to control all the other key production aspects automatically, including:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- CO2 concentration
- Lighting
In other words, seed-to-sale is built to simplify your life in every possible way. As operations come up to speed with seed-to-sale implementation, you'll garner valuable data that promotes peak operational efficiency, allowing you to easily scale production as you see fit. You'll also be able to track product movements through each phase of production, helping you to reduce expenditures and offset risk.
Cannabis Operations Simplified
Owning a cannabis-based business is a difficult task filled to the brim with complexity. There are innumerable regulations to memorize, with as many variables to control, all couched in an untenable ocean of data. Fortunately, you can gain control of your processes through solid logistical planning and efficient use of technological solutions such as seed-to-sale software.
Unsure how to begin your digital transformation? Rockton Connect has got you covered! Contact us today to learn more about seed-to-sale software.