Metrc (Rhode Island) Support Bulletin RI_IB_0052 explains the required workflow for changing a mother plant into a flowering plant in Metrc. Because mother plants are intended to remain in a vegetative “source” status, the bulletin directs cultivators to recreate the plant as a new planting, move that planting into flowering with a new plant tag, and then record destruction of the original mother plant tag to keep inventory and plant counts accurate.
Bulletin scope and who it applies to
Bulletin: Metrc Support Bulletin RI_IB_0052
State: Rhode Island
Audience: Licensed cultivation operators using Metrc plant tracking
Effective date: Ongoing
What this process changes in Metrc (and why it matters)
In day-to-day operations, cultivators often decide a mother plant will no longer be maintained strictly for vegetative propagation and instead will be flowered for harvest. This decision requires a tracking change in Metrc so the system reflects the correct plant lifecycle, tagging, and accountability.
Metrc’s guidance is explicit: rather than converting the existing mother plant record into flowering, you recreate it as a new planting (count 1), advance that new planting through the appropriate growth phase change to flowering (assigning a new plant tag), and then “virtually destroy” the original mother plant record with proper waste documentation and notes.
Required workflow: convert a mother plant to a flowering plant
1) Create a new planting from the mother plant
Navigation: Go to Plants > Mother Plants, select the mother plant you intend to flower, then choose the Create Plantings action.
What to enter: Provide a Batch Name, select the Plant Type, set Plant Count to 1, choose the correct Location, and enter the Planting Date.
Result in Metrc: Metrc creates a new planting record that will show under Plants > Immature.
2) Change the new planting’s growth phase to flowering
Navigation: Go to Plants > Immature, select the new planting you just created, then choose the Change Growth Phase action.
What to confirm/select: Confirm Plant Count, select a Starting Tag (this is the new plant tag that will represent the flowering plant), select Growth Phase as Flowering, verify Location, and enter the Change Date.
Result in Metrc: The plant now appears under the flowering section (Plants > Flowering) and can be managed as a standard flowering plant (e.g., moved, tracked, and ultimately harvested) under its new tag.
3) Destroy the original mother plant record in Metrc
Navigation: Return to Plants > Mother Plants, select the original mother plant record, then choose the Destroy action.
Waste documentation required: Select the Waste Method, enter the Material Mixed value, and enter the Destroy Date.
Minimum waste value: Waste must be recorded at a value equal to or greater than 0.0001g.
Reason and notes: Select “Waste” as the reason and include a detailed note stating this is a virtual destruction because the plant was recreated and transitioned to flowering under a new tag. The note should reference the new plant tag assigned to the flowering plant so an auditor can clearly follow the chain of custody across records.
Practical implications for Rhode Island cultivation operations
Tagging and audit clarity: This workflow creates a clean audit trail: the mother plant remains a mother plant record until it is destroyed, and the flowering plant exists as a separately tagged plant that can be traced forward to harvest and packages.
Inventory accuracy: If the original mother plant is not destroyed after creating the new flowering record, you risk inflating plant counts and creating discrepancies between physical plants and Metrc records.
Standard operating procedures: Teams should align cultivation decisions (when a mother is “retired” into flowering) with Metrc actions the same day whenever possible, using accurate Planting Date and Change Date entries that match real-world activity.
Common compliance risks to avoid
Skipping the destruction step: Creating a new planting and moving it to flowering without destroying the original mother plant leaves an extra active plant record in Metrc.
Weak destruction notes: Notes that do not reference the new flowering plant tag make it difficult to prove continuity during inspections or internal audits.
Incorrect locations or dates: Location mismatches and backdated entries that don’t reflect actual movement can create red flags when records are reviewed against camera footage, work logs, or facility maps.
Support and training resources from Metrc
Metrc Support Portal: Contact Metrc Support and manage cases at https://support.metrc.com. If it’s your first time using the portal, Metrc may require your state, facility license number, and a valid email to set a password.
Metrc Learn (LMS): Metrc’s training resources are available at https://learn.metrc.com. You can also typically access training links from within the Metrc system’s Support area, depending on your permissions and state configuration.
Tools that help with downstream labeling and Metrc Retail ID readiness
While this bulletin focuses on plant tracking, the operational impact continues downstream into packaging and retail readiness—especially where accurate IDs and traceability must be reflected on labels.
DistruLabels: DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels and can support workflows where Metrc Retail ID information must be represented accurately on finished goods labels.
DistruERP: For larger, multi-department operations that need end-to-end supply chain management, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform that can help coordinate cultivation-to-distribution processes alongside compliance-driven recordkeeping.
