solo sciences Launches Proprietary Cannabis Authentication System To Protect Consumers From Rampant and Dangerous Counterfeit Products

Boston, MA (Jul. 24, 2019) -- solo sciences today announced the launch of its first product offering, solo*, the world’s first cryptographically-secure cannabis product authentication system. The company has created a first-of-its-kind, closed-loop intelligent authentication system for cannabis products – enabling distributors to verify the origin of their merchandise and consumers to verify the authenticity of products. 

As with goods in all consumer industries, the cannabis market is saturated with counterfeit products that can easily pass as the real thing to the unwitting customer, and the consequences of purchasing and consuming knock-off cannabis products can be fatal. With solo sciences’ research showing that up to 80% of all packaged cannabis products on the US market are counterfeit, both legal and illicit, it’s more important than ever for consumers to know what they’re getting when walking into a dispensary. As regulations around cannabis continue to be unpredictable, solo* provides consumers with trust and transparency, by offering a comprehensive solution that verifies the legitimacy of a product.

In addition to publicly unveiling its cannabis authentication product, solo sciences is also announcing that more than 1.2M units with the solo*CODE™ will start shipping in August through its partnership with Vertical Companies. 

“We’re proud to be a launch partner for solo*CODE™,” said J. Smoke Wallin Vertical Wellness CEO. “We demand the highest standards in terms of product safety and excellence. We want the distributors in our network to know that our brands and CBD products they’re selling in stores or online are the real thing. Through the solo*CODE™, consumers can get a download of exactly what’s going into their bodies, in real-time through the mobile app. This builds trust and transparency and should be the industry standard across the industry"

The mobile-first platform uses an app to decipher uniquely encoded labels – identifying authentic products without the need for expensive packaging technologies like holograms and RFID. The patented technology creates a unique digital fingerprint that can only be used and decoded using the solo* app. The mobile app then allows for real-time decryption of the solo*CODE™, producing the product authenticity report. Unlike other authentication technologies, the solo*CODE™ can be applied to any pre-existing product without the need for packaging redesign. solo* acts as a certification for cannabis brands, establishing trust among consumers and distributors, while closing the loop with manufacturers and securing the supply chain. By working directly with manufacturers, solo* allows for transparency upstream and downstream, helping to ensure consumer safety.

“The world of cannabis is murky, unpredictable, and often not safe,” said Ashesh (Alex) Shah, CEO and founder of solo sciences. “As brands and governments are struggling to fight the illicit market, we created solo* to solve that problem by creating transparency into what cannabis providers are actually selling to consumers. solo* is designed to keep people out of the dark when it comes to what they’re consuming and putting into their bodies, so they feel secure and knowledgeable about the products they’re purchasing.” 

The company was founded by Shah, a former CIA Profiling Specialist on the Presidential Task Force, who holds 8 patents and brings more than 25 years of experience in global operations, integration and enterprise management. Co-founder Katie Flannery is one of the only female founders in the cannabis industry, a former consultant in the medical device and pharmaceutical industry, advising clients such as Medtronic, Philips Healthcare, and Hospira/Pfizer.

To date, solo* has partnerships with 53 cannabis brands and is expected to ship more than 9M encoded units into the market over the next 12 to 24 months. Over the next year, the company plans to expand its reach, partnerships and packaging operations to become the new standard for cannabis authentication.

About solo sciences

solo sciences provides instantaneous product authenticity reports via solo*, its proprietary technology offering, comprised of a secure tag, mobile app and backend system. The solo sciences mission is to build confidence and establish trust among consumers, while enabling retailers and distributors to close the loop with their suppliers. For more information visit solosciences.com.

Contact Information

Kayla Abbassi

Account Manager

VSC on behalf of solo sciences

kayla@vscconsulting.com