OpenTHC: BioTrack Compliance Engine Crash Course
Overview of BioTrack
Purpose: BioTrack is a centralized compliance reporting system for cannabis regulation used in several states (e.g., New York, Florida, New Mexico, Illinois) and territories like Puerto Rico.
In New Mexico, the CCD overlooks BioTrack.
Centralized System: All data from cannabis businesses is entered into a centralized database that the government uses for compliance and regulatory purposes. This system is API-driven and interfaces with various applications.
Key Components
Licenses:
Cannabis businesses (growers, processors, retailers, etc.) are categorized into license types, which determine their operations.
Examples include cultivation, processing, retail, waste management, and lab testing.
Data Flow:
Businesses input data into BioTrack directly via the state portal or through third-party software that integrates with BioTrack's API.
Data includes inventory, harvest details, transactions, and facility-specific information (e.g., plant location, strain type).
System Functions
Unique Identifiers: BioTrack generates unique IDs for inventory and transactions. These IDs are critical for labeling and tracking products through the supply chain.
Reporting: Regulators use BioTrack to generate reports on inventory, harvests, and business operations.
Third-Party Software: Many businesses use alternative front-end solutions (e.g., Greenbits, Confident Cannabis) to input and manage their data more efficiently.
Challenges and Limitations
System Reliance: Connectivity issues or downtime can disrupt operations, delaying inventory labeling and data updates.
Data Constraints: BioTrack has limited capacity for handling additional data sets, such as comprehensive lab results or newly discovered cannabinoids.
Integration Gaps: Not all third-party software solutions integrate seamlessly with BioTrack, leading to inefficiencies in data sharing.
Future Topics
Comparison with other compliance systems like METRC.
Discussion on bespoke systems used in specific regions (e.g., Vermont, Canada).
Exploration of distributed and federated systems for cannabis compliance.
