In Ohio’s regulated cannabis industry, maintaining transparency and accountability across the supply chain is critical. For distributors, compliance with the state’s mandated tracking system is not optional—it is the foundation of lawful operation. The state relies on a centralized seed-to-sale tracking system to monitor the movement of cannabis from cultivation through final sale, with the aim of preventing diversion, ensuring product safety, and maintaining regulatory oversight.
The system currently used by the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program (MMCP) is METRC (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance), a widely adopted platform in U.S. cannabis markets. METRC is a web-based solution that provides real-time tracking of cannabis inventory, including transfers, sales, testing, and destruction.
Why METRC?
Ohio selected METRC for its robust compliance features and adaptability to a medical-use regulatory structure. The system enables regulators at the Ohio Department of Commerce, the State Board of Pharmacy, and the Medical Board to monitor every gram of cannabis that moves through licensed operations. Distributors must integrate METRC into their daily operations, using it to log every transport manifest, transfer between licensees, and inventory change.
Distributors are required to use state-issued METRC RFID tags, which are affixed to each package and tracked through every stage of movement. This tagging allows for end-to-end traceability and ensures that product transported between cultivators, processors, testing labs, and dispensaries is fully documented and compliant with state law. Each transfer must be logged in METRC before transportation, and receiving parties must accept deliveries within the system.
In addition to preventing diversion to the illicit market, Ohio’s reliance on METRC also supports public health by linking products to mandatory testing results. Test results from certified laboratories are entered into METRC, ensuring that only product which meets safety standards reaches patients.
Compliance officers in cannabis distribution are tasked with training staff on METRC procedures, performing regular audits, and maintaining up-to-date records. Failure to comply can result in fines, license suspension, or revocation. To further ensure accuracy, many companies integrate METRC with third-party platforms like BioTrack, Flourish, or Distru, which streamline operations while maintaining data synchronization with the state system.
Additionally, transport manifests created in METRC must include detailed information such as origin and destination license numbers, vehicle information, and delivery personnel credentials. Drivers are expected to carry physical or digital copies of the manifest during transport, and law enforcement or regulatory officials may verify compliance during transit checks.
Ultimately, Ohio’s use of METRC underscores a broader goal: maintaining a secure, legal, and patient-focused medical marijuana industry. For cannabis distributors, proper use of the tracking system is not only a legal requirement but a demonstration of operational integrity and commitment to regulatory excellence.
As the Ohio market evolves—particularly with ongoing discussions around potential recreational legalization—the role of state tracking systems will likely expand. Distributors must continue to prioritize compliance and embrace technological tools to stay aligned with Ohio’s evolving cannabis framework.