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Emergency Cannabis QR Requirements

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In February, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (CBCC) announced the implementation of a new regulation mandating that cannabis retailers and delivery services have a Quick Response (QR) code certificate “in plain sight” on their windows and a copy in their delivery vehicles.

According to the CBCC press release, the emergency regulations are meant to address the vaping crisis: “The emergency regulations are designed to help consumers identify licensed cannabis retail stores, assist law enforcement, and support the legal cannabis market, where products such as vape cartridges are routinely tested to protect public health and safety.”

The code certificate needs to be posted within three feet of any public entrance to a cannabis dispensary or “in a locked display case mounted on the outside wall of the premises.” In addition to paper, the QR code certificate can be printed on glass, metal, or other material. It needs to be 8 ½ inches by 11 inches, the size of a standard sheet of paper. The code itself needs to be 3.75 inches by 3.75 inches.

The regulatory change was pursued by the CBCC to allow consumers and law enforcement officials to be able to quickly discern the origin of a product and ensure its safety after the code is scanned. QR codes will help consumers know they are purchasing a product from a vendor in the legal market.

The cartridges that caused the illnesses that led to the vaping crisis last year originated in the underground market. As of February 18th, 2020, the CDC reported 2,807 cases of illness associated with e-cigarettes across the U.S. and 68 cases resulted in deaths, with four of those in California.

“The proposed regulations will help consumers avoid purchasing cannabis goods from unlicensed businesses by providing a simple way to confirm licensure immediately before entering the premises or receiving a delivery,” said CBCC Chief Lori Ajax.

Unfortunately, illegal cartridges with a lethal amount of Vitamin E look nearly identical to those from legal retailers, as do underground sellers who maintain brick and mortar stores. And because they are underground, they do not comply with regulations. Recent estimates have shown that in California, the underground black market is more than twice the size of the legal market.

Those with smartphones will be able to scan the QR codes to ensure the product comes from a licensed retailer. When they scan the code, it will send them to the BCC's License Search database where they will be able to see the business license number, license type, its official name, contact information, business structure, premise address, license status, issue date, expiration date, and activities.

In addition, you can see whether the business holds a license for adult use, medical, or both. The database also includes phone numbers and email addresses for all the businesses. In addition, you can see if they hold multiple licenses. Many of the businesses also have links to their respective websites. Active licenses are listed along with those who are suspended, canceled, revoked, inactive, or expired.

While the emergency regulations present another regulatory hurdle for compliant California cannabis businesses, the silver lining is that legal market operators can now advertise their compliance with safety standards – an additional edge in the battle to win market share from black market operators.

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