If you have been tracking your medical cannabis use for months, you have built up a valuable record. That data is yours — and you should be able to take it with you. CSV export makes that possible.
Here is why data portability matters for cannabis patients, what CSV export actually gives you, and why it should be a non-negotiable feature in any tracking app you use.
Why data portability matters
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to data portability — the ability to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format. For cannabis tracking, this typically means CSV (a spreadsheet-compatible format) or JSON (a structured data format).
But beyond the legal right, there are practical reasons you might want to export your data:
- Switching tools. If you move from one tracking app to another, you should be able to take your history with you. Starting from scratch after months of tracking is frustrating and unnecessary.
- Clinic appointments. Some patients like to bring data to their consultations. A CSV can be opened in Excel or Google Sheets, printed, or shared with your clinician.
- Personal analysis. You might want to run your own analysis on your data — looking at patterns across years, comparing strains, or building your own charts. CSV gives you the raw data to do that.
- Peace of mind. Knowing you can take your data at any time means you are not locked in. If a service changes its terms, raises prices, or shuts down, your data is not trapped.
What a good CSV export includes
Not all exports are equal. A good cannabis tracking CSV export should include:
- Complete dose history. Every logged dose with date, time, strain, method, and amount.
- Stock records. Product names, quantities, and any restock events.
- Notes and effects. Any personal notes or effect ratings you have recorded alongside doses.
- Metadata. Export date, account identifier, and column headers that are clear and self-explanatory.
The export should be downloadable from within the app — typically from a Settings or Account page — without needing to contact support. Self-serve data export is a sign that the company takes data ownership seriously.
CSV vs JSON: which format?
CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is the most widely compatible format. It opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, LibreOffice, and most data analysis tools. It is human-readable in a text editor and easy to share.
JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is more structured and better for preserving relationships between data (e.g., which dose belongs to which product). It is less human-readable but better for importing into other apps or running automated analysis.
The best approach is to offer both. Grams Left provides a CSV dose log for spreadsheet users and a fuller JSON account export for people who want the structured record.
Red flags: when an app makes export hard
Some apps make data export difficult — either by design or by neglect. Watch out for:
- No export option at all. Your data is trapped. Move on.
- Export by request only. Having to email support to get your own data is a friction tactic. Self-serve export should be standard.
- Incomplete exports. Only exporting the last 90 days, or only certain data types, or in a proprietary format. A full export should mean full export.
- Long delays. GDPR gives organisations up to a month to respond to data requests. Self-serve export should be instant.
How Grams Left handles export
In Grams Left, you can download your dose history as CSV or a fuller account export as JSON from Settings at any time. No support ticket is required.
If you are currently tracking in a spreadsheet, keep it as your historical record. Grams Left does not currently import CSV files; if you move to the app, enter your current stock balance and continue from that point. The core tracker is free — start tracking free with no card required.