This article explains Metrc (Minnesota) Support Bulletin MN_IB_0057 and how Minnesota licensees should track and sell “deli style” cannabis flower in Metrc, including the required item category, how to create compliant bulk packages, and how to record variable-weight retail sales accurately.
What “deli style” cannabis flower means in Minnesota
In this bulletin, “deli style” refers to selling cannabis flower directly from a bulk flower package at the dispensary. Instead of selling only pre-packaged fixed weights (for example, a sealed 3.5 g unit), the consumer or patient selects a weight (within their legal allotment), and staff weigh and package that amount at the time of sale.
The compliance goal is straightforward: even though the customer-facing transaction is variable weight, the inventory event still needs to be traceable in Metrc from a specific bulk package to the final quantity sold.
Required Metrc item category: CANNABIS FLOWER DELI-STYLE (BULK)
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) created a dedicated Metrc item category to distinguish bulk flower intended for deli-style sales from other flower categories.
Requirement: Any cannabis flower that will be sold to the end consumer or patient as deli style must be in the Metrc item category CANNABIS FLOWER DELI-STYLE (BULK).
Why the item category matters operationally
Using the correct item category affects day-to-day compliance in several ways:
- Transfers to dispensaries: Bulk flower intended for deli-style retail must be transferred using the deli-style item category so the receiving dispensary is holding correctly categorized inventory.
- Audit clarity: Regulators and internal auditors can quickly differentiate flower meant for variable-weight dispensing versus other packaged flower types.
- POS and receipt accuracy: Correct categorization supports accurate mapping between Metrc packages and point-of-sale items, especially where weights vary by customer.
How to create deli-style bulk packages in Metrc
The bulletin’s core instruction is that deli-style flower begins with the correct item setup, and then the inventory is placed into a compliant package tied to that item category.
Process overview (what changes in Metrc)
To create a deli-style package, the operator first creates or selects an item configured under the new deli-style bulk category. Then the bulk flower is repackaged in Metrc so the resulting package is associated with CANNABIS FLOWER DELI-STYLE (BULK).
This matters when bulk flower was originally created under a different flower category. Under the bulletin, bulk flower purchased or held under another category must be repackaged into the deli-style bulk category before it is sent to a dispensary for deli-style retail sales.
Special note for Tribal Regulatory Authority (TRA) sourcing
The bulletin notes that retailers may bring deli-style cannabis into CANNABIS FLOWER DELI-STYLE (BULK) from a Tribal Regulatory Authority (TRA). In that scenario, retailers generally should not need to perform the repackaging step described above, because the product is already coming in under the deli-style bulk category.
How to record deli-style sales from bulk packages
Once the deli-style bulk package is at the dispensary and available for sale, the retail sale is recorded in Metrc like other sales, with one key operational difference:
The quantity sold is the exact weight the consumer requested and staff weighed out.
In practice, that means the budtender (or your POS workflow) will enter the variable weight sold against the deli-style bulk package. If the customer requests 3.5 grams, the sale quantity is entered as 3.5 grams; if they request 7 grams, the sale quantity is entered as 7 grams.
Day-to-day implications for dispensary teams
- Scale discipline: Because each transaction is variable weight, consistent weighing procedures and staff training are essential to keep physical inventory aligned with Metrc.
- Package depletion accuracy: Small entry errors compound quickly with deli-style sales. Accurate entry prevents shrink investigations, adjustments, and reconciliation issues.
- POS integration configuration: The bulletin flags that you may need to coordinate with your third-party integrator to ensure the POS properly supports variable-weight sales tied to the correct Metrc package and item category.
Labeling and Metrc Retail ID: using DistruLabels
Deli-style operations often increase the frequency of on-demand packaging, which makes compliant labeling and Retail ID handling more operationally important. DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels and can help teams generate labels that align with Metrc requirements, including Metrc Retail ID workflows where applicable.
For larger operators that need broader compliance automation beyond labeling (inventory, purchasing, production, sales, integrations, and multi-site controls), DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed for end-to-end supply chain management.
Where to get help: Metrc Support and training resources
If you need help implementing the bulletin’s deli-style workflow in Metrc, Metrc provides several official support options referenced in the bulletin:
- Metrc Support Portal: https://support.metrc.com/
- Metrc Learn training: https://learn.metrc.com/
- In-app resources: In Metrc, use the Support dropdown to access guides, manuals, and other educational materials.
Keeping deli-style bulk flower in the correct item category, repackaging when necessary, and recording exact weights sold are the core compliance outcomes of Minnesota bulletin MN_IB_0057.
