Jan. 1 is the deadline for a workable software solution to accept applications for licenses to conduct business as a cannabis cooperative association and for separate, interoperable software to track cannabis. This software, the Cannabis Track and Trace software, will regulate how cooperatives grow, move and sell cannabis, and both are part of the statute under the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA) of 2015.
While Accela builds the portal to apply for and process licenses, Franwell Inc. is building out the Track and Trace software.
The track and trace software project began July 1 and is slated for completion by June 30, 2018. The $22 million project is under the supervision of the Department of Food and Agriculture, as is the licensing software. Any other interoperable systems will likely run through that department or the Bureau of Cannabis Control, which is housed under the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Over the five-month lifespan of the project, it has remained on schedule and on budget.
The project is required to compare budgeted versus actual expenses and has been given the highest rating by the California Department of Technology, which is monitoring its progress because it is defined as a medium-critical project for the state. While the project is on track, any changes would be weighed using a cost/benefit analysis.
In a February 2017 Oversight hearing, state CIO Amy Tong and Lori Ajax, chief of the Bureau of Cannabis Control, said the January deadline may see software that is not fully functional but that it should be stood up and other components could be added in the future.
