California Will Require Cannabis QR Codes

California’s Bureau of Cannabis Control has announced emergency regulations that would require cannabis retailers and delivery services to post QR codes in their storefront windows and carry it with them while transporting or delivering cannabis products.

“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.” – Bureau of Cannabis Control, February 3, in a press release

The changes would allow consumers to check whether a dispensary is licensed by the state and allow law enforcement to scan the codes to determine whether they are transporting products that originated in the regulated market.

Terra Carver, of Humboldt County Growers Alliance, told the Times-Standard the organization appreciates the “proactive approach” by the agency to help consumers identify legal retailers. She said it’s “literally” a matter of “life or death” for consumers who are “trying to figure out if the dispensary they are shopping at is selling poisoned products or not.”

The rules are subject to five days of public comments. If approved, California would be the first state to require QR codes as part of its cannabis enforcement mechanisms.

According to an Arcview and BDS Analytics report outlined by CNN, illicit cannabis sales in California in 2019 were estimated at $8.3 billion, while legalized sales were expected to reach $3 billion.

The agency first announced the QR codes plan in January.