Staying Compliant with the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program in 2024
Metrc, short for Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting and Compliance, is the mandatory cannabis tracking system used in South Dakota. It provides end-to-end tracking for all cannabis supply chain activities, ensuring a closed, legal ecosystem. All licensed cannabis businesses in South Dakota are required to use Metrc for inventory management, reporting, and tracking to maintain compliance, prevent diversion, and protect public health.
The South Dakota Department of Health oversees the state's cannabis industry, implementing specific requirements for medical cannabis operators. After the passing of Initiated Measure 26 in 2020, the South Dakota Medical Cannabis Program (SDMC) became operational, allowing patients with qualifying conditions to access cannabis products from licensed dispensaries. While recreational cannabis remains illegal, ongoing legislative efforts continue to push for legalization. South Dakota offers four primary cannabis licenses: Medical Cannabis Dispensary License, Medical Cannabis Cultivation Facility License, Testing Facility License, and Product Manufacturing Facility License, enabling businesses to operate across the medical cannabis supply chain.
To maintain compliance and ensure a safe, transparent supply chain, South Dakota has adopted Metrc as the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system. Metrc provides cannabis businesses with essential tools, including training, support, and guidance materials, to help them navigate regulatory requirements. With Distru’s seamless Metrc integration, operators can streamline their compliance workflows and focus on growing their business, knowing they’re staying fully compliant with state laws.
Metrc ensures regulatory compliance by tracking the entire cannabis supply chain, preventing diversion, enhancing market security, and simplifying product recalls. All cannabis businesses must use Metrc to maintain full compliance with the state's legal framework. This applies to all cannabis licensees including:
If you’re not already using Metrc, you’ll find a list of helpful resources below that can get you started. Once you’re licensed and up and running, take a look at our Seed to Sale software to see how you can streamline your operations and simplify the entire process, saving you time and money.
A major part of seed to sale tracking is Radio Identifications Tags (RFID tags). These tags are single-use and attach a unique identifier to plants and packages to track every item individually throughout its lifecycle.
As the name suggests, plant tags are attached to each plant so we can always trace exactly which one a product came from.
Plant tags include:
With all of this info tracked, at any point in the produce cycle, you can also trace everything back to the exact plant and location it came from.
Metrc package tags
Similar to plant tags, a package tag gets attached to every package. Each package can contain only one type of product and is given a unique 24-digit number to identify it with.
The cost of Metrc tags in South Dakota
Plant tags cost 45c each while package tags cost 25c each.
How to purchase Metrc tags
Both plant and package tags are purchased direct from Metrc. Once logged in, you’ll find ‘Tag Orders’ under the Admin menu in the top right hand corner.
Metrc is the most prevalent track and trace system in the cannabis industry. It helps both businesses and state regulators track products, improve compliance and discourage improper market behaviors. The main goals of implementing Metrc in South Dakota are to:
No, there are no Metrc alternatives allowed in South Dakota at all. Every cannabis business, recreational or medical, must use Metrc and remain compliant at all times.
That said, they do allow third party applications, like Distru, to help you stay compliant and streamline your workflow. We don’t replace Metrc, we leverage automation and a more user-friendly interface to make those Metrc tasks easier to manage.
To obtain a Metrc certificate in South Dakota, you must first have a licensed cannabis business in the state. Once licensed, you'll need to:
1. Complete the New Business training offered by Metrc
2. Set up your Metrc account
3. Assign an admin to manage your Metrc account
4. Receive your Metrc credentials, which serve as your certificate to use the system
It's essential to stay current with Metrc updates and training to maintain compliance with South Dakota regulations.
To log in to your Metrc South Dakota account:
1. Go to the official Metrc South Dakota Website
2. Click on the "Log In" button
3. Enter your username and password
4. Click "Log In" to access your account
If you forget your password, click the "Forgot Password?" link on the login page. Enter your username and follow the instructions to reset your password. If you have any issues with logging in or resetting your password, contact Metrc support for assistance.
Distru integrates with the Metrc API to sync inventory, sales, and transfers, reducing manual data entry. Features like automated reporting and error handling simplify compliance for South Dakota cannabis businesses.
Distru is a Metrc-validated software that integrates seamlessly with Metrc South Dakota. By connecting Distru with your Metrc account, you can:
To integrate Distru with your Metrc South Dakota account, reach out to the Distru support team for assistance.
Distru’s all-in-one solution integrates seamlessly with Metrc, automating workflows and compliance tasks for medical markets. Distru offers robust compliance features, automated reporting, real-time syncing, and cannabis-specific tools to help you maintain compliance in South Dakota.
Schedule a DemoDistru is more than just a Metrc South Dakota integration; it's a comprehensive compliance solution tailored to the unique needs of cannabis businesses in South Dakota. Our software combines powerful compliance features with operational tools to help you manage your entire supply chain, including cannabis accounting, ERP, data analytics, and order fulfillment. Designed specifically for South Dakota’s regulatory landscape, Distru empowers cannabis operators to streamline their operations while ensuring full compliance with state regulations.
Key features of Distru include:
We've seen it all before, and we're here to help.