METRC Retail ID: Simplifying Cannabis Retail

Before METRC Retail ID, cannabis retailers spent hours doing one of the most tedious jobs in the business: printing and stickering labels, one by one, on every single product unit. Each incoming shipment meant thousands of tiny barcodes to manage, new unique IDs to generate, and endless chances for human error. It was necessary for compliance, but it slowed everything down.

Now, GrowFlow integrates directly with METRC Retail ID, making it simpler than ever for retailers to receive, validate, and sell compliant products without all the manual work. 

By introducing a scannable QR code tied to each product’s official METRC record, Retail ID removes the need for relabeling and streamlines the entire intake process. What used to take hours can now be done in minutes.

What Metrc Retail ID Actually Does

METRC Retail ID gives every retail unit its own digital identity. Each QR code links directly to the product’s METRC record and verified test results. That means when a consumer scans the code, they see official compliance data; and when a retailer scans it, their POS immediately recognizes the item as part of a tracked METRC package.

For retailers, this is the first time traceability goes all the way down to the individual product level. Instead of creating new barcodes for every jar, vape, or gummy bag, stores can simply receive pre-stickered products and start selling. 

METRC’s own time studies estimate this saves about a minute per item, the equivalent of 2,000 hours and $25,000 a year for an average retailer. Even if the exact savings vary, the difference is unmistakable: Retail ID turns compliance into a background process instead of a full-time job.

How It Works in GrowFlow Retail

GrowFlow’s integration makes Retail ID seamless from the moment a shipment arrives. When a retailer syncs a transfer from METRC, GrowFlow automatically detects whether the incoming package includes Retail IDs. The system highlights those packages and prompts a quick validation scan.

Scanning one QR code allows GrowFlow to decode it back into the package’s METRC tag, confirming that the items match what’s in the transfer. If a supplier split or re-batched product after labeling, a common scenario, GrowFlow catches that mismatch instantly, so it’s fixed before anything hits the sales floor.

Once validated, that same QR code drives everything else: receiving, inventory lookup, sales, and returns. At the register, scanning the Retail ID QR automatically finds the item and its price - no extra setup, no new label, no confusion.

Why Retail IDs Matter

Retail IDs remove a huge operational burden that’s plagued cannabis retailers since the start of legalization: the endless churn of labels, stickers, and manual data entry. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot happening to make it so simple, but that’s the point - to make everyone’s lives more simple. 

Now, the same small code on the product connects every step, from seed-to-sale compliance to point-of-sale transactions. It’s a smarter, faster, and more transparent way to stay compliant without adding extra work.

Implementing Retail ID 

For more information on setting up and using Retail ID in GrowFlow, check out our Help Center article. It includes step-by-step instructions for setup, validation and best practises to ensure smooth transition.

The Bottom Line

METRC Retail ID simplifies one of the most time-consuming parts of cannabis retail. For the first time, stores can stay fully compliant without relabeling a single product.

With GrowFlow’s new Retail ID integration, dispensaries can receive, validate, and sell Retail ID-enabled inventory more efficiently than ever - bringing together compliance, transparency, and ease of use in one streamlined workflow.