Find answers to common questions about item categories in the track and trace system.
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026
Q: What if I don’t find an item category that matches the product I’m making?
A: If your cannabis or cannabis product doesn’t appear in the examples, use these criteria to choose the most accurate item category:
- If your product is defined in California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 4, section 15000, choose the item category that matches the definition.
- If there is no regulatory definition, choose the item category that is most like your cannabis or cannabis product.
If you’re still unsure which item category to select, email trackandtrace@cannabis.ca.gov for clarification before creating the item.
Q: What’s the difference between an item name and an item category?
A: An item name is a unique, descriptive label the licensee creates to identify a specific item.
An item category is a track and trace term used to describe the product types identified in regulations.
Q: What happens if I select the wrong item category?
A: Correcting the item category depends on how far the product has moved through the supply chain.
Before any adjustment, repackaging, transfer or regulatory compliance testing
If you catch an error before the product has been adjusted, repackaged, transferred or tested, you can correct the item category by selecting the product and then select the X icon in the far-right column. This will return the contents to the source package and allow you to recreate the item using the correct category.
Before regulatory compliance testing but after adjusting, repackaging or transferring the product
If you catch the error after the product has been adjusted, repackaged or transferred, but before test samples have been created in track and trace or regulatory compliance testing has started, you can correct the item category by repackaging the product with a new unique identifier (UID) number and selecting the correct item category when creating the new package.
Review the cannabis or cannabis product’s label. You may need to update the label to reflect the new UID.
After creating test samples in track and trace or starting regulatory compliance testing
Do not transfer or repackage the cannabis or cannabis product if you have already created test samples in track and trace or started or finished regulatory compliance testing.
If you catch the error after creating samples or starting regulatory compliance testing, open a ticket in the Metrc Support Portal found at support.metrc.com.
Q: Why does my product still have a “testing in progress” status when the lab has completed regulatory compliance testing?
A: The status only changes to “test passed” after the track and trace system verifies the lab has uploaded the passing results required for regulatory compliance testing of the batch. If your product still shows a ‘testing in progress’ status, check whether the lab uploaded results for the correct lab test batch or uploaded all required test results.
View completed lab test batches by selecting the source package in the packages grid, then selecting the lab test batches tab. This information can be compared to the Required Lab Test Batches listed on the manifest used to transfer the test sample to the lab.
If all required batches match but the status is still stuck, or if the wrong item category was assigned to the test sample, open a testing ticket in the Metrc Support Portal found at support.metrc.com.
See CA Bulletin 2025-007 Required Lab Test Batches in the Metrc Bulletin Database: Regulatory Updates Archive.
Q: What should I do if I receive a product assigned with the wrong item category?
A: If you have not accepted the transfer, reject the manifest and ask the originating licensee to correct the item category and resend the transfer manifest.
If you have accepted the transfer, open a ticket using the Metrc Support Portal found at support.metrc.com.