METRC Plant Batch and Cultivation Lifecycle Tracking — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In METRC, what are the two primary categories used to classify cannabis plants?
- Immature plants and mature (vegetative/flowering) plants (Correct answer)
- Indoor plants and outdoor plants
- Seed-derived plants and clone-derived plants
- Medical plants and recreational plants
Correct answer: Immature plants and mature (vegetative/flowering) plants
METRC distinguishes between immature plants (seedlings and clones that have not yet been individually tagged) and mature plants (vegetative or flowering plants that each require their own UID plant tag).
Question 2: What is a 'plant batch' in METRC, and how does it differ from tracking individual plants?
- A plant batch groups immature plants under a single record; individual plants are tracked separately only after they mature (Correct answer)
- A plant batch is a group of plants that share one UID tag throughout their entire lifecycle
- A plant batch is used exclusively for plants destined for extraction, not flower production
- A plant batch is a regulatory term for plants inspected simultaneously by a state auditor
Correct answer: A plant batch groups immature plants under a single record; individual plants are tracked separately only after they mature
METRC allows immature plants to be grouped into batches with a single record, reducing administrative burden. Once plants mature (typically at a state-defined size or age), each must receive its own individual UID plant tag.
Question 3: When a cultivator harvests plants in METRC, what must be created to record the harvested material?
- A harvest batch that records the wet weight, strain, and which plants were harvested (Correct answer)
- A transfer manifest to move the harvest to the drying room's inventory
- A new package with a UID tag applied before the plants are cut
- An enforcement notice filed with the state regulatory agency within 24 hours
Correct answer: A harvest batch that records the wet weight, strain, and which plants were harvested
Harvesting is recorded in METRC by creating a harvest batch, which captures the wet weight of material, the associated plants, and strain information. The harvest batch tracks the material through drying and processing until it becomes a finished package.
Question 4: A cultivator's plant dies due to pest infestation before harvest. How should this be recorded in METRC?
- Record the plant destruction in METRC, documenting the reason, weight of waste, and method of destruction (Correct answer)
- Remove the plant tag and reassign it to a healthy plant to avoid a gap in inventory
- Report the loss verbally to the state inspector at the next scheduled visit
- No action is needed if the plant died naturally before it was harvested
Correct answer: Record the plant destruction in METRC, documenting the reason, weight of waste, and method of destruction
All plant losses must be documented in METRC, including cause of death, waste weight, and destruction method. Removing and reusing tags or failing to record the loss are compliance violations.
Question 5: In METRC, at what point during cultivation does a plant transition from being tracked in a batch to requiring an individual plant tag?
- When the plant transitions from the immature/clone stage to the vegetative growth stage (Correct answer)
- When the plant reaches 12 inches in height regardless of growth stage
- Only when the plant is moved to a flowering room
- When the plant produces its first detectable flower cluster
Correct answer: When the plant transitions from the immature/clone stage to the vegetative growth stage
METRC requires individual plant tags when plants move from the immature stage to vegetative/mature status. The exact definition of 'mature' can vary slightly by state, but the immature-to-vegetative transition is the standard trigger for individual tagging.
Question 6: After a harvest batch is created in METRC, what is the next step in the cultivation tracking workflow?
- Record post-harvest weights (dry weight after curing) and create packages from the finished material (Correct answer)
- File a harvest completion report with the state regulatory agency within 72 hours
- Immediately transfer all harvested material to a licensed processor
- Archive the harvest batch record and begin a new batch for the same strain
Correct answer: Record post-harvest weights (dry weight after curing) and create packages from the finished material
After harvest, operators record ongoing weights as material dries and cures in METRC. Once processing is complete, packages are created from the harvest batch, each receiving a UID package tag, which transitions the material into the distribution/sales tracking workflow.
METRC Plant Batch and Cultivation Lifecycle Tracking
In METRC, what are the two primary categories used to classify cannabis plants?