What happens with my seed-to-sale software if regulations change?
The market for cannabis is evolving. Health Canada manages oversight and sets the compliance requirements for legal production of cannabis in Canada. In the last five years, these requirements have changed multiple times and are set to change again with the legalization of cannabis for recreational use on October 17, 2018. A responsible software vendor will ensure that all its clients have the information they need to comply with the latest Health Canada requirements.
With SaaS or cloud-based seed-to-sale platforms, software updates are usually global to all clients/users. On-site implementations sometimes require individual upgrades performed by the client in conjunction with the vendor. Often this means scheduling both parties, which can delay access to the latest features and functionality. If there are modifications for specific clients, this can mean a complicated upgrade path with the risk of unintended software bugs and related down time or additional costs to re-customize.
As you choose your seed-to-sale software solution, be sure to consider the future of compliance and those implications on your business. No one knows for sure what the future holds, but history has shown that the only true constant is change.
For more information about the Cannabis Act in Canada visit: What you need to know about cannabis – Canada.ca
For more information, download our software buyer’s guide here: How to Purchase Seed-to-Sale Software
AirMed supports wholesaling to provincial distributors
AirMed Cloud seed-to-sale software supports wholesale selling and shipping from licensed producers to other LPs and from LPs to provincial distribution centres.
As a cannabis management system, our software offers full functionality for multi-level packaging with layered barcoding that meets GS-1 barcode standards. LPs using AirMed can assemble retail-ready individual product packages using a ‘master case’ system and identify and track products at each packaging level.
“Our master case processing lets you use layered barcoding for individual containers through to cases of multiple containers,” noted Justin Hearn, President and CEO of AirMed Canada Systems Inc. “AirMed’s track-and-trace system allows retail packages to be traced to the lot or batch and ultimately back to the original genetic material. And AirMed’s comprehensive multi-step recall process completely automates recalls if they are ever needed.”
AirMed software offers full SKU and barcode management that supports GS-1 barcoding standards. Pricing can be set at the package or master case SKU, and custom pricing can be set for specific SKUs by customer. The software offers features for creating and processing the orders as well as fulfilling and shipping them to provincial agencies.
“We’re proud to be supporting our customers with full master case inventory control, GS1 integration, comprehensive wholesale order management, efficient fulfillment and tracking, and compliance reporting,” said Hearn. “AirMed’s wholesale distribution module is helping LPs produce, prepare, sell and ship hundreds of thousands of products to the recreational market right across Canada.”
For more information on how AirMed helps your business, visit our Software page or our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you’d like to discuss your specific needs, please give us a call at 1-877-313-2442 or use one of the contact forms to start the ball rolling.
ACMPR and the licensed cannabis producer
What does ACMPR cover?
For the cannabis industry in Canada, the most critical compliance implications are those covered by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. This legislation covers every aspect of marijuana production and sale. Overseen by Health Canada, these regulations must be adhered to at every stage of cannabis business from propagation through to sale. As of August 24, 2016, the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR) replaced the previous Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR).
ACMPR is designed to provide an immediate solution for Canada to meet legal requirements. But Health Canada is continuously evaluating how a system of medical access to cannabis should function alongside the government’s commitment to legalize, strictly regulate and restrict access to cannabis. As a result, laws and regulations may change.
Currently, the legislation contains four parts.
Part 1 sets out a framework for commercial production by licensed producers responsible for the production and distribution of quality-controlled fresh or dried marijuana or cannabis oil or starting materials (i.e., seeds and plants) in secure and sanitary conditions.
Part 2 sets out provisions for individuals to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes or to designate someone to produce it for them.
Parts 3 and 4 include transitional provisions, consequential amendments to other regulations, and provisions repealing the MMPR.
All those wishing to produce cannabis in Canada must apply to Health Canada to become a licensed producer under the ACMPR legislation, and all licensed producers MUST comply with the ACMPR regulations.
What are the specific ACMPR regulations that affect software and record keeping?
The ACMPR has many regulations that apply to the medical marijuana industry in Canada as a whole. Not all of those have implications for record keeping or to the method (software) used for that record keeping. (For links to the different websites that cover ACMP download our Seed-to-Sale Software Buyer’s Guide.)
How do I meet ACMPR compliance?
To be ACMPR compliant, your organization must have ways of meeting all of the regulations listed above.
Many of the regulations listed above apply to processes, so you’ll need to be utilizing best practices and documented standard operating procedures. You’ll also need to be able to prove to Health Canada that you have used best practices. That’s where seed-to-sale software comes in. Your cannabis business management software should provide you with the means to meet compliance when it comes to record keeping and reporting.
To support you in this process, a viable software vendor will supply you with a document that outlines exactly how the system they provide meets those requirements.
For a free demo to learn how AirMed meets these and other regulations, please email info @ airmed.ca.