When you’re running a cultivation, manufacturing, or distribution operation, your focus is on the product, not data entry. But cannabis compliance hinges on accurate METRC data. Small data entry mistakes can easily slip through the cracks, and during an audit, those small mistakes can turn into big, expensive problems.

Every cultivator has a gut feeling about their highest-yielding strains. But feelings don’t always translate to profit. To make smart business decisions, you need hard numbers.

The challenge is that a true apples-to-apples comparison is difficult. Different strains have different cycle times and plant counts. Your METRC data holds all the answers, but getting them requires some work.

Your METRC data is the official record of your business. Keeping it clean and accurate is not just good practice—it’s essential for staying compliant. But you’re busy, and a deep dive into your account can take hours you don’t have.

So, here’s a simple 5-minute checklist you can run through once a week to catch the most common issues before they become serious problems.

As a cultivator, your focus is always on the current grow. You’re worried about today’s environment, this week’s feeding schedule, and next month’s harvest. It’s easy to forget about the harvests you finished six months or a year ago.

But all that old harvest data sitting in your METRC account is one of the most valuable assets you have. It tells the story of what worked, what didn’t, and where you can improve. You just have to know how to look at it.

For any cannabis license—cultivator, distributor, or manufacturer—transfers are the lifeblood of the business. They are also one of the most common sources of compliance headaches in METRC.

When a transfer is stuck in the wrong status, it means your inventory is in limbo. Product that you think is gone might still be on your books, and product you’re waiting for isn’t officially yours yet. Let’s break down what each status means and what you need to do.

Running a cultivation business means you’re always living in the future. Your sales team wants to know what product will be available in two months. You need to plan for trimming and packaging resources. But when someone asks, “What’s the expected yield from that flower room?” the answer is often just a guess based on gut feeling.

What if you could replace that guess with a solid, data-backed forecast?

Cannabis yield forecasting isn’t about having a crystal ball. It’s about using the data you already have to make a much more educated guess. It’s one of the biggest competitive advantages you can have.

Few things cause more stress for a cannabis operator than getting a notice for a compliance inspection. Your mind immediately starts racing: Is all our data correct? Are there any mistakes we missed?

A METRC audit is stressful, but it doesn’t have to be a panic. The key is being prepared ahead of time. Inspectors are looking for one primary thing: does your digital record in METRC match the physical reality of your operation?

Here’s a simple guide to what inspectors look for and how to prepare your METRC data for an inspection.