The legalization of cannabis in Canada and across parts of the United States has created not only retail markets but also complex logistics systems. Transporting marijuana in a legal framework requires strict oversight, security, and tracking—elements that distinguish today’s industry from the illicit networks of the past.
Canada: Centralized Oversight and Provincial Distribution
When Canada legalized cannabis in 2018, it adopted a model built on federal production licenses and provincial distribution controls. Licensed producers must report all movements of cannabis through Health Canada’s Cannabis Tracking and Licensing System (CTLS), which maintains a national database of product flow. This requirement ensures that every gram is traceable from cultivation through final sale.
Provinces play the wholesale and distribution role. In Ontario, the Ontario Cannabis Store (OCS) acts as the exclusive distributor. According to OCS’s 2024 “By the Numbers” report, the agency shipped more than 106 million cannabis units to retailers, averaging nearly 200 deliveries each day. Earlier annual reports described OCS as the largest legal cannabis wholesaler in the world, underscoring the scale of centralized logistics in Canada.
British Columbia operates under a similar framework. Its Cannabis Distribution Act establishes the government as the exclusive supplier to licensed retailers. Inventory moves from federally licensed producers into provincial warehouses before reaching retail outlets. These controls, backed by federal monthly reporting, give Canada an integrated system where all transport links are visible to regulators.
United States: Fragmented but Controlled
In the U.S., cannabis transport operates within a patchwork of state laws. Federal prohibition prevents any legal interstate shipments and prohibits sending marijuana through the U.S. Postal Service. Instead, each state has designed its own rules for intrastate transport, with strict licensing and manifest requirements.
California illustrates this approach. State law requires licensed distributors to handle all cannabis transport. Shipments must travel in fully enclosed vehicles, stored in locked, non-accessible compartments. Every movement is documented with a shipping manifest that is electronically submitted to regulators and physically carried in the vehicle. Distributors are also responsible for coordinating testing and quality assurance before products reach retail shelves.
Colorado, another mature market, authorizes both medical and adult-use marijuana transport under similar conditions. Regulations make clear that licensed cannabis can be transported on any public road within the state, provided it remains sealed, documented, and traceable. Licensed transport companies also move products and samples between growers, manufacturers, and retailers.
Technology and Tracking Systems
Most U.S. states use digital seed-to-sale tracking platforms, with Metrc being the most common. Cannabis plants and products carry RFID tags, and every transfer generates a manifest logged in the system. This technology creates a verified chain of custody, allowing regulators to audit shipments and reconcile them against sales data.
Canada relies on Health Canada’s CTLS reports and provincial supply chain software to achieve similar transparency. Both countries require extensive record-keeping that ensures accountability and helps prevent diversion into the illicit market.
Conclusion
The logistics of cannabis in legal markets are far more sophisticated than many realize. Canada’s centralized model gives provinces control over large-scale wholesale distribution, while the U.S. relies on state-level frameworks backed by manifests and digital tracking. Although fragmented, these systems share a common goal: ensuring that marijuana transport is secure, transparent, and compliant. In both countries, the journey from grower to consumer is no longer hidden in the shadows but managed with the precision of a regulated industry.