This article is borrowed from the Metrc Supplemental Guide and goes over the packaging process.
- Package Tags
- Creating Packages
- Edible/Non-Edible Process
- Package Adjustments/Rejections
- Things to Keep in Mind
Package Tags
Metrc automatically generates the Package ID numbers and assigns them to a unique facility.
- The Package Tag facilitates the movement of product between licenses and the distribution of product to consumers.
- The Package Tag is perforated with the ID printed on the top and bottom sections.
- The larger top portion stays with the package.
- The smaller bottom portion can be attached to a retail device such as a bud jar, or used on intake paperwork at Manufacturing, Testing, or Retail facilities.
Package Tag Breakdown
The package tag uses a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Retail tags are blue and medical tags are yellow. The barcode printed on the tag is a standard UCC 128 barcode.
Item 1: Facility Name
The name of the licensed facility
Item 2: Facility License Number
The facility’s State license number
Item 3: Tag Number
The unique Tag ID Number is printed on the tag alphanumerically and is embedded in the barcode and RFID chip.
Item 4: Package Tag Order Number
The order number of which the tag was a part
Item 5: Facility Type
This banner further distinguishes a tag associated with a Medical license from a tag associated with a Retail or Recreational License. For the state of Massachusetts, all tags will be associated with Retail or Recreational Licenses.
Perforation of Package Tags
Item 1: Perforation
Package tags are perforated.
Item 2: Larger Portion
The larger top portion stays with the package.
Item 3: Smaller Portion
The smaller bottom portion can be attached to a retail device such as a bud jar, or used on intake paperwork at the Manufacturing, Testing, or Retail facilities.
Creating Packages
Item 1: New Tag
Enter the tag number or use the magnifying glass to the right to select the next alphanumeric tag number from your tag inventory to assign and affix to the product being packaged.
Item 2: Room
Select the Room in which the package will be located.
Item 3: Item Drop Down
Select the appropriate Item from the dropdown list. Use the magnifying glass to the right to view a list of your license’s Items.
Item 4: Package Quantity
Select the unit of measure from the dropdown menu.
Item 5: Package Date
Select the day on which the package is being made. Select "today" to populate the current date.
Item 6: Production Batch Checkbox
Only select the Production Batch checkbox if the package you’re creating is a new Production Batch.
Item 7: Product Requires Remediation
Only select the Product Requires Remediation checkbox if you are packaging product that has failed testing and requires Remediation.
Item 8: Harvest Batch Name
Enter the Harvest batch from which the product is being packaged. You can click the magnifying glass to the right to display a list of all the active Harvest Batches at your facility.
Item 9: Quantity Pulled from Batch
Enter the weight of the product being packaged from the Harvest batch and select the unit of measure from the dropdown menu.
Item 10: Add Contents button
You can use this button to add additional sources from which you’re packaging product.
Item 11: Add button
The Add button can be used to create additional packages from the same screen.
Item 12: Create Packages button
Select Create Packages to save the information and create your package(s) in Metrc.
Item 13: Cancel button
The Cancel button will exit the screen without saving any data.
Item 14: Clear button
The Clear button will clear all entered information.
Creating a Package from an Existing Package
Item 1: New Tag
Enter the tag number or use the magnifying glass to the right to select the next alphanumeric tag number from your tag inventory to assign and affix to the product being packaged.
Item 2: Room
Select the Room in which the package will be located.
Item 3: Item Drop Down
Select the appropriate Item from the dropdown list. Use the magnifying glass to the right to view a list of your license’s Items.
Item 4: Package Quantity
Select the unit of measure from the dropdown menu.
Item 5: Package Date
Select the day on which the package is being made. Select "today" to populate the current date.
Item 6: Production Batch Checkbox
Only select the Production Batch checkbox if the package you’re creating is a new Production Batch.
Item 7: Product Requires Remediation
Only select the Product Requires Remediation checkbox if you are packaging product that has failed testing and requires Remediation.
Item 8: Package #1
Enter the source package tag from which product is being packaged. You can click the magnifying glass icon to the right to display a list of all the active Packages at your facility.
Item 9: Quantity Pulled from Batch
Enter the weight of the product being packaged from the source Package and select the unit of measure from the dropdown menu.
Item 10: Add Contents button
You can use this button to add additional sources from which you’re packaging product.
Item 11: Add button
The Add button can be used to create additional packages from the same screen.
Item 12: Create Packages button
Select Create Packages to save the information and create your package(s) in Metrc.
Item 13: Cancel button
The Cancel button will exit the screen without saving any data.
Item 14: Clear button
The Clear button will clear all entered information.
Edible/Non-Edible Process
In this graphic, you can see how several packages of Flower and Trim were used to create an intermediate product (Production Batch of Concentrate). Some of that Concentrate product is then used to make four separate Production Batches. If these are the final Production Batches, product will be pulled from them to create “sale packages” that will be manifested to the Retailer. Every item being created in the graphic requires a new package tag, which will carry the source package in its history, ensuring accurate product tracking throughout the supply chain.
Package Adjustments/Rejections
Package Adjustments can be made in the system to address certain discrepancies, inconsistencies, and errors in the data that’s been entered. Package Adjustments cannot be used to correct an error in Sales data at a Retailer. Package adjustment reasons are populated by the State; licensees may use the note section to further explain why a package adjustment was made.
A licensee can reject one or more packages from a manifest that has been sent to them. Rejection reasons are populated by the State; licensees may use the note section to further explain why they are rejecting a certain package.
Adjustment Reasons
Please remember all adjustment reasons are setup by the State, not Metrc.
API Related Error – When a sales entry or adjustment has been duplicated/entered erroneously by the POS system in Metrc.
Drying - After conducting a physical inventory, moisture loss was observed, or a moisture increase was observed
Entry Error- A typing mistake was made with the input of info for the package. For example, entered 100 grams instead of 10 grams. This could include Unit of Measure issues as well. This should not be used instead of correcting sales.
Overpulled - Too much product was placed in the Metrc package resulting in more product remaining in originating package than is reflected in Metrc. Requires a note indicating the corresponding package
Underpulled - Too little product was placed in the Metrc package resulting in more product being in the new package than is reflected in Metrc. Requires a note indicating the corresponding package
Package Material – Jar or bag included in the package weight
Plants Unpacked - Grow Only, to indicate the planting of immature plants (adjust and report as unpacked)
Processing Loss - The loss of weight as a result of a process. For example, when rolling joints and there is crumbling into pieces that cannot be collected.
Scale Variance – When there is a difference between two scales (not drying)
Spoilage – Edibles/Non-edibles past expiration/spoiled
Theft - when theft occurs internally or externally. The State should be notified, and documentation filed with support@Metrc.com.
Waste - Selected to reflect throwing marijuana away because it is unusable as a result of passing expiration dates, formation of mold or mildew, or other spoilage scenarios.
Things to Keep in Mind
- An Immature Plant or Seeds can be packaged strain specifically from the Immature plants menu and transferred for sale.
- To create an intermediate product, like a Production Batch of Concentrate, you will pull from a package or packages of raw product to create the new package for the new Concentrate. You may then pull product out of that Production Batch to create additional Production Batches (e.g. infused edible products). Each new Production Batch will have a new Package Tag and be marked as a Production Batch. If these Production Batches are final products, packages will be created from them for transfer to the Retailer.
- A package must exist to be selected for transfer. Transfers are real-time inventory dependent.
- There must be a contents section identifying the source package(s) for each new package created by pulling product from an existing package.
- Select the most appropriate adjustment reason from the dropdown menu when adjusting a package.
- To send a sample for testing from a Harvest, Submit for Testing from the Harvest to create a new package for the Test Sample. Follow the Test Sample to the Active Packages area to select and add it to a Transfer Manifest for movement to a licensed lab. Keep in mind that the among being pulled from the source Harvest batch should be the exact amount required for the sample. No other packages should be created from the Harvest until the Test Sample has passed all testing.
- To send a sample for testing from a package, Submit for Testing out of an existing package to create a new package for the Test Sample. Follow the Test Sample to the Active Packages area to select and add it to a Transfer Manifest for movement to a licensed lab. Keep in mind that the amount being pulled from the source package should be the exact amount required for the sample. No other packages should be created from this source package until the Test Sample has passed all testing.
- Package tags may only be used once and for the product they were originally created to hold.