This article explains Metrc (Kentucky) Support Bulletin KY_IB_0014 (effective ongoing), which clarifies how dispensaries should use the Patient Status Lookup tool to verify patient allotments during check-in and before completing a sale.
What the Metrc Patient Status Lookup does in Kentucky
The Patient Status Lookup feature in Metrc is designed to help Kentucky medical cannabis dispensaries confirm what a patient is eligible to purchase and how much of each allotment remains before dispensing. Operationally, this reduces the risk of over-dispensing, prevents avoidable voids/returns, and supports accurate compliance documentation tied to each retail transaction.
Key patient allotment numbers to verify before a sale
When you open Patient Status Lookup, Metrc displays three core values for each allotment type. These are the numbers staff should reference during patient check-in and again immediately prior to finalizing the transaction.
- Limit: The patient’s allowed amount for the allotment type.
- Purchased: What the patient has already purchased in that allotment type during the applicable period.
- Available: What remains for the patient to legally purchase (typically Limit minus Purchased).
Important Kentucky note about “Infused” limits
Per the bulletin, Kentucky currently has no item categories that track toward the Infused limits shown in Patient Status Lookup. Instead, products that might appear “infused” in common industry language are accounted for in Metrc under the THC purchased/available columns based on the item’s category mapping.
How to run a Patient Status Lookup in Metrc
To check a patient’s current status in Metrc, use the Lookup icon (magnifying glass) on the top navigation toolbar and select Patient Status Lookup. In the action window, enter the patient’s ID number to populate that patient’s allotment information.
From the results grid, you can view high-level limits and remaining availability. Expanding the patient record (using the drill-down control next to the patient ID) shows additional details, including the amounts already purchased for each allotment type.
Practical implications for dispensary day-to-day operations
Use it at check-in, not after the cart is built
Metrc strongly encourages using Patient Status Lookup at Patient Check-In and again prior to dispensing. In practice, this helps staff guide product selection early (for example, steering a patient away from a category that would exceed availability) and reduces last-minute transaction rework.
Understand how sales affect “Purchased” automatically
In Kentucky Metrc workflows, all package sales map into the patient’s “Purchased” totals based on the item and category used in the transaction. This means accurate item setup and correct category selection are not just inventory issues—they directly impact whether the patient’s allotments decrement correctly.
How Kentucky Metrc categories pull from patient allotments
The bulletin provides a category-to-allotment relationship so operators can predict how a product will decrement a patient’s available amounts at checkout.
Flower allotment (Flower Products)
- Raw Plant Material
- Shake/Trim
THC allotment (Infused Products)
- Infused Edible
- Infused Liquid Edible Beverage
- Dermal Patch
- Infused Non-Edible
Concentrate allotment (Concentrate Products)
- Concentrate (each)
- Oil for Oral Administration
- Tinctures (each)
Infused allotment
The bulletin indicates N/A for Infused as a tracked allotment category in Kentucky at this time. Operationally, this is why verifying the THC columns in Patient Status Lookup is critical for products commonly viewed as infused.
Metrc support and training resources referenced in the bulletin
Metrc Support Portal
For assistance, Metrc directs operators to the full-service support portal at https://support.metrc.com. First-time access typically requires a username (created at login), the state selection, the facility license number, and a valid email to set a password.
Metrc Learn training
Metrc Learn offers interactive training on system workflows and efficiency improvements. Operators can access it at https://learn.metrc.com (and should update old bookmarks to the current link).
Metrc Expert knowledge base
Metrc Expert is available within the Metrc system (via the on-screen widget) and provides step-by-step guidance and searchable help content for common tasks like patient status checks and retail workflows.
Labeling and Retail ID compliance: where tools help
While Patient Status Lookup focuses on allotments and dispensing eligibility, it connects directly to day-to-day retail compliance: transactions must be accurately recorded, and products must be labeled in a way that matches the item, package, and retail workflows being reported.
DistruLabels (free) for compliant cannabis labels
DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels. It supports day-to-day dispensary and manufacturing needs by helping teams generate labels that align with operational requirements, including workflows tied to Metrc Retail ID compliance.
DistruERP for larger, multi-stage operations
For operators needing more than labeling—such as full inventory control, purchasing, production, compliance workflows, and multi-location supply chain visibility—DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed for larger operations that require complete supply chain management.
