Dispensaries check ID by scanning the barcode on a government photo card, matching the photo to the person standing in front of them, and confirming the birth date, expiration date, and document security features. Every legal dispensary in the United States must verify that a customer is 21 or older, or 18 or older with a valid medical recommendation, before a single product leaves the counter.

How Does Metrc Age Verification Work

The Check at the Door

  1. Ask every customer for a photo ID. No exceptions for regulars, seniors, or people who look well past 21.
  2. Take the card in hand. Do not read it from a wallet or a phone screen.
  3. Compare the face on the card to the face at the counter. Look at the eyes, nose, chin, and hairline.
  4. Read the date of birth and do the math. A birth year that puts the customer at 20 means no entry.
  5. Check the expiration date. An expired card is not valid identification in any legal market.
  6. Scan the barcode on the back with a handheld reader or a countertop unit.
  7. Read the scanner result. It returns the name, birth date, and a pass or fail flag.
  8. Log the visit in the state traceability system if your state requires it.
  9. Hand the card back and let the customer enter the sales floor.

What the Scanner Reads

Most state IDs and driver licenses carry a PDF417 barcode encoded to the AAMVA standard. The scanner decodes that strip and compares the data to the printed text. A mismatch between the barcode and the front of the card is a strong sign of a counterfeit. Many shops run the same scan again at checkout so the sale ties to a verified person in the point of sale system.

age verification requirements for weed delivery

Accepted Forms of ID

Rules differ by state. Several markets reject foreign identification outright, and a few reject vertical licenses issued to people under 21 even after the holder turns 21.

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Medical Patients Get a Second Check

In medical-only states, staff verify the patient card or physician recommendation along with the photo ID. They check the recommendation number against the state registry, confirm the expiration date, and note the purchase limit tied to that patient. Caregivers must show their own ID plus paperwork that names the patient.

Online Cannabis Age Verification: Rules and Regulations

Red Flags Staff Watch For

What Happens If the Check Fails

The sale stops. Staff return the card, refuse entry, and may keep a record of the attempt. Dispensaries that sell to a minor face fines, license suspension, and in some states criminal charges, so budtenders are trained to hold the line even when a customer pushes back.