What Is a Retail ID?
A Retail ID is a unique identifier assigned to each unit of a finished cannabis product — typically printed as a QR code on the label. Rather than tracking at the bulk package level, Retail IDs give every single jar, bag, or cartridge its own serialized identity.
Retail IDs connect each unit to its full product history, including test results, COAs, origin data, and brand information. This benefits everyone in the supply chain:
Manufacturers: Product data is locked in at packaging — retailers don't need to relabel or re-enter anything.
Retailers: A single scan at receiving, cycle count, or POS validates the unit and syncs with Metrc.
Consumers: Scanning the QR code shows real-time product information, including lab results and origin.
How NY Is Different: Stricter Validation Rules
Important for NY Operators: New York's Metrc implementation adds validation rules that don't exist in other states. If you've used Retail IDs in GrowFlow outside of NY, the workflow here is more specific — especially around Finished Goods designation and how child packages inherit Retail IDs.
The core difference: in NY, once a package is marked as a Finished Good and Retail IDs are generated, Metrc considers that package to be in its final physical form. You can't change the product after that point without triggering a new Finished Goods designation and consuming more of your state Retail ID allotment.
How you proceed depends on whether you're keeping the product the same or converting it into something new.
Scenario 1: Keeping the Product the Same
Example: Pulling 50 individual jars from a parent case of 500 identical jars to fill a dispensary order.
The product hasn't changed — you're splitting a finished package, not making a new one. In this case:
No new Retail IDs are generated. The child package inherits the exact QR codes already assigned to the physical units being moved out.
You must specify which physical units are moving. Because each Retail ID represents one individual item, Metrc requires you to associate exactly which units are leaving the parent package — you can't just enter a quantity.
How to Associate Retail IDs (Current Process)
Until GrowFlow adds this workflow directly, you'll complete this step in Metrc:
1. Log in to Metrc.
2. Click Packages in the main Metrc navigation bar.
3. Select the Product Labels tab.
4. Locate and select the sub-lotted child package > Click the Associate Labels button.
5. In the QR Scan input field, use a scanner to scan all QR codes for the units split into the child package until all are scanned. The Quantity fields will auto-populate with each scan.
Use a scanner or any tool that can read and translate QR code data.
Scan each physical unit and associate its Retail ID to the corresponding Metrc tag for the child package.
Tip! The Product Labels permission must be enabled in your Metrc account. If you don't see this option, contact your Metrc administrator.
Scenario 2: Converting the Product
Example: Taking a bulk 1 lb bag of flower and repackaging it into 3.5g units under a different item name or brand.
This is a true conversion — you're creating a new finished product. Here's how it works in NY:
The new packages are designated as Finished Goods in GrowFlow.
Designating them as Finished Goods triggers new Retail ID generation for each individual unit.
Each new Retail ID deducts from your state-allocated Retail ID allotment.
Make sure your new item is fully configured in GrowFlow — including item name, brand, and required product details — before marking packages as Finished Goods. Once the designation is made and Retail IDs are generated, the package is locked into its final physical form.
Special Note for Microbusinesses
Microbusiness Timing Requirement: Products must be completely finalized — both physically and in GrowFlow — before they are transferred to the distribution license. Distributors are required to receive packages that are already in their final physical form and already marked as Finished Goods. This means:
Retail IDs must be generated while the product is still under the manufacturing license.
Labels must be printed and physically applied to units before transfer.
Once Finished Goods arrive at the distribution license, the package can be split for retail distribution — but no Retail ID changes can happen at that stage.
Important: Do not transfer packages to distribution until labeling is complete.
GrowFlow Retail IDs vs. NY Retail IDs: At a Glance
| Industry Standard | NY Metrc (State-Specific) |
Unit-level QR code per finished product | Yes | Yes |
Finished Good designation locks physical form | No | Yes — once designated, product cannot change |
Splitting a package (same item) | Standard child package workflow | Child must inherit existing Retail IDs; units must be individually associated |
Creating new units (true conversion) | Mark as Finished Good; new IDs generated | Same — but IDs deduct from state allotment |
Associate specific units to the child package | Not required | Required — scan each unit in Metrc (Product Labels permission needed) |
Microbusiness: label before transfer | Best practice | Mandatory — IDs must be generated and applied under manufacturing license before transfer to distribution |