Cannabis shipping companies play a critical role in maintaining regulatory compliance, bolstering public safety, and securing product integrity—from cultivation to the final sale. Their core responsibility is ensuring every package remains fully traceable throughout its transit journey, and METRC integration is central to this process.
RFID Tags & Unique Identifiers
Every cannabis plant and package receives a unique RFID‑enabled METRC tag immediately after harvest. These tags, issued directly by METRC, embed a 24‑digit Unique Identifier (UID). They are scanned at key touchpoints—such as when shipping manifests are created and when shipments are received—establishing a documented, tamper‑proof chain of custody within METRC’s seed‑to‑sale platform.
Manifests & Secure Transfer Documentation
Shipping companies generate METRC manifests that annotate the contents, origin and destination licenses, route details, and driver identification. METRC’s “Quick Entry” and bulk CSV upload tools enable efficient creation and replication of transfer manifests, significantly reducing human error. Upon receipt, another scan verifies contents, and any mismatch can immediately trigger a rejection, halting the process before unauthorized inventory movement can occur.
API‑Powered Integration via Metrc Connect
Modern cannabis logistics platforms integrate with METRC using Metrc Connect APIs. Through automated, near‑real‑time data synchronization, shipping companies can push transfer events, inventory changes, and package statuses directly from their TMS or ERP systems into METRC. This minimizes manual data entry, enhances operational speed, and safeguards against errors during peak shipping periods.
Processing Jobs & Product Transformation
Some shipments contain products requiring transformation—such as concentrates, pre‑rolls, or infused edibles. In these cases, shippers must use METRC’s “Processing Job” feature to document batch composition, ingredient sourcing, and processing steps. Each change in product form or category triggers a new traceable digital record within METRC’s system. Best practices include validating source packages and accurately recording changes to maintain inventory integrity.
Quality Assurance & Testing Data Validation
Post‑shipment, shipping companies often coordinate with labs and receiving facilities to ensure test data is properly associated with each package in METRC. With regulations requiring COA uploads, shippers must verify that METRC entries match laboratory results in terms of potency, contaminants, and unit formats. Discrepancies—such as misformatted decimal values—must be corrected proactively to prevent shipment holds or recalls.
Audit Trails & Regulatory Oversight
Every action—tag scanning, manifest creation, API transfer, auditing—generates a timestamped record in METRC. Regulators routinely perform audits, and these immutable logs provide evidence that product moved only through legal channels under licensed custody. Centralized traceability discourages diversion and helps enforce tax compliance.
In Summary
Cannabis shipping firms rely on a multi-layered traceability framework rooted in METRC integration. From RFID tagging to digital manifests, API-powered data synchronization, processing job tracking, and quality checks aligned with lab results—every step is designed to uphold a transparent, compliant, and secure supply chain. As more states adopt METRC and shipping regulations evolve, companies will continue refining integration and automation to stay ahead of regulatory demands while safeguarding consumers and markets.