Metrc Obtains New Government Contract with the US Virgin Islands for New Track-And-Trace Platform

In a recent press release (1), Metrc, a United States (US) provider of cannabis regulatory technology systems, disclosed their new contract with the Government of the US Virgin Islands. With this contract, it will help “…support the regulation of its medical and adult-use cannabis markets,” (1).

“Governor Bryan and the U.S. Virgin Islands government is committed to building the best cannabis regulatory framework possible, and we are honored to pioneer the territory’s inaugural track-and-trace program,” Michael Johnson, CEO at Metrc, commented (1). “The Metrc team is excited to work alongside the OCR to establish a marketplace with the utmost integrity, ensuring safety for consumers and providing licensees with the optimal conditions for growth and success.”

As mentioned in the press release (1), “Metrc’s robust track-and-trace platform provides the ultimate transparency to ensure regulatory compliance, help combat the illicit market, and safeguard the health and well-being of U.S. Virgin Islands patients and consumers.” With the system, licensed operators are able to keep track of all activities that are connected to cannabis plants and products. Additionally, this will consist of testing results, handling, origin, and chain-of-custody information (1), which will be managed through Metrc’s radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking model and software-as-a-service system. Regulators will be able utilize and access this information more easily. If a recall is issued, the track-and-trace system (1) will be able to better allow both regulators and businesses to navigate and find the recalled product so that further action can be taken.

“Metrc is the ideal partner to work with the OCR to institute a streamlined seed-to-sale tracking system for our medical and adult-use cannabis supply chains,” Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director of OCR, said (1). “A strong regulatory framework underpinned by the Metrc system creates a transparent and data-rich market, helping to stabilize the economy and expand entrepreneurship and job opportunities for residents.”

Licensees of the program will be able to access Metrc Retail ID™. Through this (1), “…businesses with the option to generate QR codes for item-level identification and allows consumers with a smartphone to scan and access product information such as origin, authenticity, lab results, and more. In addition to providing transparency benefits for consumers, Metrc Retail ID™ reduces waste by eliminating the need for secondary labeling and acts as an inventory identifier through point-of-sale.”

Medical cannabis was legalized in the US Virgin Islands in 2019 under the Medical Cannabis Patient Care Act (1). In 2022, the Cannabis Use Act made recreational cannabis legalized in the territory but wasn’t signed into law until January 2023, by Governor Albert Bryan (1). Overseeing the cannabis industry in the Virgin Islands is the Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR).

Through this new contract between Metrc and the US Virgin Islands, it will be the second partnership formed with a US territory and island for the company (1). In November 2021, Metrc had partnered with the government of Guam.

To learn more about Metrc’s track-and-trace technology, please click here.

References

1. Metrc LLC. METRC announces new track-and-trace government contract with the U.S. Virgin Islands https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/01/27/3015943/0/en/Metrc-Announces-New-Track-And-Trace-Government-Contract-with-the-U-S-Virgin-Islands.html (accessed Jan 29, 2025).
2. METRC’s track and Trace Technology: Ensuring compliance https://www.metrc.com/track-and-trace-technology/ (accessed Jan 29, 2025).