Pubdate: Sat, 12 Mar 2016
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2016 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Laurel Andrews

ALASKA SIGNS 5-YEAR CONTRACT WITH MARIJUANA SEED-TO-SALE TRACKING COMPANY

The company that will provide a seed-to-sale tracking system for 
every single cannabis plant in Alaska's commercial industry is the 
same company that tracks commercial cannabis in Colorado and Oregon, 
the state announced this week.

Franwell, which calls itself a technology company focusing on supply 
chain tracking, has contracted with the state for more than five 
years, according to Alcoholic and Marijuana Control Office director 
Cynthia Franklin.

The contract was finalized March 7 and lasts until June 30, 2021, 
Franklin wrote in an email. The total cost of the contract is $105,000.

Franwell's Metrc system will be used to track Alaska's commercial 
marijuana plants. Metrc was designed specifically for Colorado's 
marijuana industry; the system has tracked more than 3 million 
plants, according to the company's website. Metrc is also being 
deployed in Oregon's recreational cannabis industry.

Under Alaska's marijuana regulations, all commercial grows, 
retailers, testing facilities and manufacturers must use the tracking system.

Every plant and package of marijuana will be tagged. Each tag has a 
RFID (radio frequency identification) chip, a barcode and 
human-readable identification. The plants will be tracked through the 
stages of growth, as well as the drying and curing process, according 
to an FAQ on the Alcoholic and Marijuana Control Office's website.

The system is scheduled to be implemented on May 23, the FAQ says.

Metrc will cost $40 a month for each licensee, plus tag costs of 
$0.45 each for plant and $0.25 for a package tag, according to the FAQ.

In-person and webinar trainings will be provided by the company 50 
weeks out of the year, the FAQ says.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom