METRC Transportation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A METRC transport manifest lists 10 packages, but only 9 are loaded on the vehicle. What is the correct course of action before departure?
- Proceed with the transfer and note the discrepancy verbally to the driver
- Edit the manifest in METRC to remove the missing package before departure (Correct answer)
- Deliver the 9 packages and create a second transfer for the missing package the next day
- Cancel the entire transfer and restart with a new manifest
Correct answer: Edit the manifest in METRC to remove the missing package before departure
The manifest must accurately reflect what is physically loaded; the missing package should be removed from the transfer in METRC before the vehicle departs.
Question 2: Which METRC entity type is specifically authorized to transport cannabis between licensed facilities on behalf of other licensees?
- Cultivator
- Retailer
- Distributor or licensed transporter (depending on state) (Correct answer)
- Testing laboratory
Correct answer: Distributor or licensed transporter (depending on state)
In most METRC states, only licensed distributors or dedicated transport licensees are authorized to move cannabis between third-party facilities.
Question 3: How does METRC track the physical vehicle used during a cannabis transport?
- GPS coordinates are auto-uploaded to METRC by vehicle telematics
- The vehicle license plate and make/model are recorded on the transfer manifest (Correct answer)
- Vehicles are assigned unique RFID tags that sync with package tags
- METRC does not track vehicle information; only package tags are recorded
Correct answer: The vehicle license plate and make/model are recorded on the transfer manifest
METRC transfer manifests require vehicle information including license plate and make/model so regulators can cross-reference transport records with vehicle data.
Question 4: A cannabis retailer in a METRC state wants to return unsold product to their distributor. What METRC action initiates this process?
- The retailer creates a return transfer in METRC to the originating distributor (Correct answer)
- The distributor creates an inbound transfer from the retailer
- The retailer adjusts the packages to zero and the distributor re-creates them
- The state regulator issues a transfer order on behalf of both parties
Correct answer: The retailer creates a return transfer in METRC to the originating distributor
The retailer initiates a return transfer in METRC, creating an outbound shipment back to the distributor just as any other licensed transfer.
Question 5: In METRC, what is the consequence if a receiving licensee accepts a package that was NOT listed on the incoming transfer manifest?
- The system automatically reconciles the extra package into inventory
- It creates an untracked inventory discrepancy that is a compliance violation (Correct answer)
- The package is auto-tagged by METRC upon acceptance
- The originating facility is charged a penalty fee through METRC
Correct answer: It creates an untracked inventory discrepancy that is a compliance violation
Accepting packages not listed on the transfer manifest creates untracked inventory, which is a serious compliance violation that can result in license suspension.
Question 6: What is a 'layover' or 'hub stop' in the context of METRC cannabis transport compliance?
- An unauthorized stop where cannabis is temporarily stored at an unlicensed location
- A permitted intermediate stop at a licensed facility recorded on the manifest (Correct answer)
- A regulatory inspection checkpoint mandated by the state
- A rest break required by DOT hours-of-service rules for cannabis drivers
Correct answer: A permitted intermediate stop at a licensed facility recorded on the manifest
Some states allow licensed intermediate stops (hub stops) that must be pre-recorded on the METRC manifest; any unrecorded stop at an unlicensed location is a violation.
Question 7: A METRC transfer is created but the receiving facility never accepts or rejects it within the state's required timeframe. What typically happens?
- The transfer auto-completes and inventory is added to the receiver automatically
- The transfer remains open indefinitely with no consequences
- Regulators may audit both facilities for non-compliance and the transfer may be flagged (Correct answer)
- The originating facility's inventory is restored and the transfer is canceled by the system
Correct answer: Regulators may audit both facilities for non-compliance and the transfer may be flagged
Transfers not accepted or rejected within the required window are flagged in METRC compliance reporting, triggering potential regulatory audits of both licensees.
METRC Transportation 3
A METRC transport manifest lists 10 packages, but only 9 are loaded on the vehicle.
What is the correct course of action before departure?