Navigating the cannabis distribution landscape in Florida can feel overwhelming for newcomers and even seasoned professionals. From compliance lingo to operational shorthand, the industry is packed with unique terminology. Understanding these terms is essential for dispensary managers, logistics coordinators, and anyone involved in the supply chain. Below is a friendly and helpful breakdown of the most common cannabis distribution terms in Florida, demystified.
1. Seed-to-Sale
This refers to the entire lifecycle tracking of cannabis products—from cultivation (seed) to final sale to the customer. Florida law requires all cannabis businesses to use an approved seed-to-sale tracking system (currently Metrc) to ensure compliance and traceability.
2. Metrc
The statewide cannabis tracking system used in Florida, short for Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance. Metrc monitors cannabis plants and products through RFID tags, ensuring full accountability during cultivation, processing, and distribution.
3. MMTC (Medical Marijuana Treatment Center)
Florida operates under a vertically integrated model, meaning a licensed company must handle cultivation, processing, distribution, and retail sales. These companies are called MMTCs. Only MMTCs can legally distribute cannabis within the state.
4. Manifest
A document required for every cannabis shipment. It outlines the product details, origin, destination, driver info, and route. Manifests are generated in Metrc and must be carried during transport. It serves as a regulatory checkpoint and chain-of-custody record.
5. Chain of Custody
This term refers to the documentation or paper trail that records the chronological history of the product’s movement and handling. In Florida’s cannabis industry, a tight chain of custody ensures accountability, compliance, and product integrity from the grow facility to the retail shelf.
6. COA (Certificate of Analysis)
Before cannabis products can be sold or distributed, they must be lab-tested for potency, contaminants, and safety. The COA is a lab-issued document verifying a product’s contents and compliance with state standards. Distributors must transport products with accompanying COAs.
7. Batch
A “batch” is a specific quantity of product harvested or processed at the same time and under the same conditions. It’s tracked as a unit in the seed-to-sale system and is essential for quality assurance, recalls, and regulatory reporting.
8. Diversion
This refers to any situation where cannabis is redirected to the illegal market. Preventing diversion is a key focus of Florida’s regulatory agencies, and distributors must follow strict transport and record-keeping protocols to remain compliant.
9. Transport Manifest Number
Each legal cannabis shipment is assigned a unique manifest number in Metrc. This number links the delivery to regulatory oversight, allowing the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana Use (OMMU) to track every cannabis delivery across the state.
10. Compliance Hold
If there’s a suspected issue with a cannabis product (such as a failed test or packaging violation), regulators may place it on a “compliance hold,” meaning it cannot be transported or sold until cleared.
Mastering these terms builds confidence in navigating Florida’s regulated cannabis landscape, especially for professionals working in operations, distribution, and compliance. A working vocabulary leads to smoother audits, safer deliveries, and better-informed decisions.
Read More: The Importance of Cannabis Distribution in a Regulated Industry