The complete guide to Metrc Retail ID.
Give every finished retail unit its own serialized QR code — and keep generation, label design, package data, and printing together in Illumify.
Generate Retail IDs after the finished product has passed testing and before you create child packages or begin a transfer. Print one unique QR code per retail unit, verify a sample before the full print run, and apply the correct label to each unit.
What is Metrc Retail ID?
Metrc Retail ID is a unique, serialized QR code for an individual cannabis product unit. A package may contain hundreds or thousands of units, but each unit receives a different Retail ID.
When scanned, the QR code can open a Metrc-hosted product page with information connected to that item, including its origin, testing data, and Certificate of Analysis where available. The same identifier can also support inventory intake, unit-level tracking, and point-of-sale workflows when the receiving systems support Retail ID.
New York uses the term Retail Item ID for the same unit-level identifier. Metrc may also present Retail ID functions under Product Labels. A Retail ID QR code is not the same thing as the Metrc package UID attached to the package itself.
Why Retail ID matters across the supply chain
For brands and manufacturers
Retail ID adds unit-level serialization without separating compliance data from the product. It can reduce secondary labeling, preserve product identity through distribution, and give consumers direct access to verified product information.
For distributors
Serialized unit labels help operators receive, split, transfer, and audit finished goods while maintaining a connection to the original Metrc data.
For retailers
Retail ID can support faster intake and checkout when the retailer's inventory and point-of-sale systems are configured to scan it.
For consumers
A phone scan can provide access to product and test information directly from Metrc, helping customers verify what they are purchasing.
Which packages are eligible?
Before generating Retail IDs in Illumify, confirm that the package meets all of the following conditions:
- The package's lab-test status is TestPassed or RetestPassed.
- The package has remaining quantity.
- The package is not on hold.
- The package has not been finished, destroyed, or discontinued.
- The package is the source package, not a child package or an unknown-source package.
- The Metrc user and API key have the required Product Labels or Retail ID permissions.
- If your jurisdiction uses a paid allotment, the correct Metrc license has enough Retail IDs available.
Retail ID availability, terminology, cost, required status, and transfer deadlines vary by jurisdiction. Confirm the current requirements with your regulator and Metrc before relying on this guide as a compliance procedure.
The recommended Retail ID workflow
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Create the finished product package
Complete production and establish the source package that represents the finished retail product.
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Complete required testing
Wait until Metrc reports the package as TestPassed or RetestPassed. Retail ID is intended for finished goods that are ready for labeling and sale.
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Confirm quantity and permissions
Verify the number of units to label, the correct Metrc license, the user's Product Labels permissions, and any jurisdiction-specific Retail ID allotment.
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Generate the serialized Retail IDs
Generate one Retail ID for each unit that will enter the retail supply chain. Each returned URL is unique and must remain paired with a single physical unit.
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Print and verify labels
Print a small test set first. Scan the QR codes, verify that they are unique and readable, and confirm the displayed product information before printing the full run.
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Apply labels before repackaging or transfer
Affix one label to each unit. Generating and printing from the source package before creating child packages reduces mismatches and rework.
How to generate and print Metrc Retail IDs in Illumify
1. Generate Retail IDs from the package
Open the eligible source package in Illumify and choose Generate Retail ID. Enter the number of serialized IDs required and submit the request. Illumify sends the request through the package's connected Metrc license and stores the returned Retail ID URLs with the package.
2. Build or choose a Retail ID label template
In the label designer, use a cannabis label template that includes the Retail ID data field as a QR code or barcode. You can place the Retail ID alongside package information, product details, dates, lab results, license information, and other fields available in Illumify.
3. Print the serialized labels
Select the source package, open the label-printing flow, and choose the Retail ID-enabled template. Illumify creates one label for each selected Retail ID URL, merging the unique QR code with the package and testing data in the template.
4. Run a scan check
Before committing to the full run, scan labels from the beginning, middle, and end of the test set. Confirm that each QR code resolves, the codes are unique, and the printed product information matches the source package.
The Retail ID, package record, lab results, and label template stay in one connected process. That reduces CSV handling, duplicate data entry, and the risk of printing a valid QR code with the wrong package information.
Common Retail ID issues
| Issue | What to check |
|---|---|
| The package is not eligible | Confirm TestPassed or RetestPassed status, positive quantity, and that the package is not on hold, finished, destroyed, or discontinued. |
| A child package cannot generate IDs | Return to the source package where the Retail IDs are generated and print the unit labels from that source. |
| Metrc rejects the request | Check the facility's Metrc API key, Product Labels permissions, license selection, and Retail ID allotment. |
| The label prints without a QR code | Confirm that the template uses the Retail ID data field and that Retail ID URLs have been returned for the package. |
| The QR code will not scan | Check print density, QR size, contrast, printer calibration, label material, and whether the code was distorted during resizing. |
| The product page shows unexpected information | Verify the source package, item, lab results, and Metrc record before continuing the print run. |
Frequently asked questions
Is a Retail ID the same as a Metrc package tag?
No. The package UID identifies a package in Metrc. A Retail ID is a serialized QR code for one individual retail unit inside the finished-goods workflow.
How many Retail IDs should I generate?
Generate one unique Retail ID for each physical unit that will be labeled. Confirm the package quantity and your jurisdiction's rules before submitting a large request.
Can I generate Retail IDs before testing is complete?
Not through the Illumify workflow. The package must be TestPassed or RetestPassed.
Can I generate Retail IDs from a child package?
No. Illumify generates them from the eligible source package. Labels should be generated and printed before child-package creation whenever possible.
Can a Retail ID be included on a custom branded label?
Yes. Illumify's label designer can merge each Retail ID QR code with product, package, testing, license, date, and other available data on the same template.
What are New York's Retail Item ID requirements?
New York calls the identifier a Retail Item ID. Under Metrc's February 27, 2026 bulletin:
- Beginning March 1, 2026, products transferred from licensed distributors to dispensaries must have a Retail Item ID QR code on each unit.
- Beginning March 31, 2026, finished goods must have a Retail Item ID on each unit and must be TestPassed or RetestPassed in Metrc before transfer.
- Products received by a dispensary on or before February 28, 2026 do not need to be returned for relabeling solely to add a Retail Item ID.
Retail Item IDs are license-specific. Confirm the current allotment for the correct license and review the latest New York and Metrc guidance before changing your procedure.
Does scanning a Retail ID replace every state-required label element?
No. Continue to include every label element required by your state. Retail ID adds a serialized QR code and access to connected Metrc information; it does not automatically replace jurisdiction-specific packaging and labeling requirements.
Bring Metrc and label printing into one workflow
Illumify connects package data, lab results, serialized Retail IDs, and custom label templates so your team can move from passed testing to printed finished goods without spreadsheet handoffs.
Request a DemoOfficial resources
- Metrc Retail ID overview
- Metrc Retail ID QuickStart
- New York Retail Item ID Important Updates, February 27, 2026
- Metrc Support
Metrc is a registered trademark of Metrc LLC. Illumify is an independent software provider. This guide is educational and is not legal advice.