The California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) last week announced the launch of a new campaign that encourages cannabis consumers to find quick response (QR) codes at cannabis retailers and scan them with their smartphones to verify that the shops are licensed.
As part of the campaign, the BCC is encouraging cannabis retailers to print out unique QR codes and post them in their store windows to stress to consumers the importance of purchasing products from the legal market.
According to the BCC, a QR code identification system for licensees emphasizes the fact that many consumers are not able to distinguish licensed cannabis retailers from unlicensed ones, something that the Bureau says was demonstrated last week when the BCC and other state agencies worked with the City of Los Angeles to serve search warrants at 45 unlicensed dispensaries in three days.
“We believe licensed retailers will benefit from a recognizable emblem distinguishing them as a licensed business in the community,” said BCC Chief Lori Ajax. “We also want to provide consumers with the best information possible so they can determine which licensed California cannabis retailers carry products that are tracked, tested, and legal.”
Cannabis consumers with smartphones can scan the QR codes, which are linked to the BCC online license search where they can confirm the retailer’s license status as well as verify the shop’s address and license location to ensure that the information is correct.
The BCC has posted an educational video for consumers on their YouTube channel demonstrating how to scan and verify a cannabis retailer’s QR code.
There is also a QR code fact sheet for retail licensees, entitled Information Regarding Posting of QR Codes by Commercial Cannabis Retail Licensees, that is available on the BCC website.
People without QR code-enabled phones can verify a cannabis retailer’s license information with the BCC’s online license search tool.
