Partnering with Metrc: Capturing the Rollout of Retail ID with Video and Photography in New Jersey

The Hood Collective recently partnered with Metrc to help document the real-world impact of their new Retail ID system—an innovative solution designed to bring item-level traceability, product education, and compliance clarity to cannabis operations. Our assignment: visit four cannabis businesses across New Jersey to capture how they’re using Retail ID in practice, from cultivation to delivery.

Over the course of these site visits, we produced a combination of photography, video, and user testimonials to show the system in action. Each stop revealed a different angle on the cannabis supply chain—from the community-focused retail experience at Earth & Ivy, to the small-batch precision of Jersey Smooth, to the high-output cultivation of Green Gardens, and the integrated tech of North Lake Supply.

Here’s a look at what we saw—and how Retail ID is reshaping cannabis transparency from the inside out.

Introducing Retail ID: A New Layer of Cannabis Transparency

Metrc has long been the backbone of cannabis compliance in the U.S., known for its seed-to-sale tracking systems that help regulators and operators maintain transparency and accountability. But as the market matures, so do the demands of the supply chain. Operators are looking for tools that don’t just satisfy regulations, but also streamline workflows, protect brand integrity, and offer a better experience for consumers. That’s where Retail ID comes in.

Retail ID is Metrc’s latest innovation—an item-level labeling system that uses unique QR codes to track individual cannabis products through every stage of the supply chain. From cultivation and distribution to dispensary shelves and consumer hands, each product can be scanned to instantly access lab results, compliance data, ingredient lists, and even consumer reviews. It’s designed to increase confidence, reduce operational friction, and make recall procedures faster and more precise. For brands and retailers, it’s also a way to strengthen trust in a crowded and highly regulated market.

To bring this technology to life, Metrc needed more than a product page or press release. They needed storytelling. They needed to show what Retail ID actually looks like in use—how it functions in the hands of delivery drivers, cultivators, processors, and budtenders. They needed real people, real places, and real operations.

That’s where The Hood Collective came in. Metrc brought us in to capture the rollout visually and authentically. Our job was to visit four different cannabis operators across New Jersey—each one using Retail ID in a different way—and document the system in action through photo, video, and interviews. Not staged. Not theoretical. Just honest footage of the technology doing what it’s built to do.

What follows is a look inside each of those stops.

Earth & Ivy – Delivery Meets Transparency in New Brunswick

Our first stop was Earth & Ivy, a dispensary in New Brunswick known for its commitment to education, inclusion, and breaking down outdated cannabis stigma. Founded by former Division I athletes who found cannabis to be a safer alternative to pharmaceuticals, their mission is deeply personal—and that shows in how they approach customer care.

We captured Retail ID in action during a delivery transfer, where staff used the system to scan and confirm individual units quickly and accurately. For a team focused on transparency and safety, Retail ID reinforced their core values—offering patients and adult-use customers instant access to lab data and product details right from the label.

Jersey Smooth – Craft Precision at Every Step

In Ewing, we visited Jersey Smooth, a small-batch processor known for its attention to flavor, formulation, and extract quality. Their team lives by the principle “Gold In = Gold Out,” and that standard applies to everything from raw inputs to final packaging.

Retail ID supports that commitment by allowing Jersey Smooth to label each product unit with a unique QR code—making it easier to track inventory, maintain compliance, and reinforce trust with their retail partners. During our visit, we documented the production process and captured interviews with the team as they explained how item-level traceability adds another layer of professionalism to their operation.

Garden Greens – Large-Scale Cultivation with Item-Level Control

In Vineland, we toured the expansive Garden Greens facility—one of the largest cannabis cultivators in New Jersey and a family-run operation with deep agricultural roots. With over a century of farming experience behind them, Garden Greens brings a legacy approach to modern cannabis, blending scale with precision.

Retail ID plays a key role in managing their output. With thousands of units moving through their system, the ability to label and track products at the individual item level helps streamline compliance and reduce the potential for error. During our visit, we documented how the team uses Retail ID to stay organized, efficient, and audit-ready—without sacrificing the craft that built their reputation.

North Lake Supply – Integrated Systems on a Family Farm

Tucked into the hills of Augusta, North Lake Supply blends old-school values with modern cannabis infrastructure. Built by friends on a family farm, the operation includes both cultivation and processing under one roof—making efficiency and organization essential to their workflow.

During our visit, we documented how North Lake uses Retail ID in tandem with Stash Stock and the Metrc system to streamline their inventory tracking. By assigning a unique QR code to each retail unit, they’ve simplified internal transfers and reduced time spent on manual checks.

Cannabis Video Production for Metrc: Retail ID Rollout in New Jersey

Retail ID isn’t just a new feature—it’s a meaningful step forward in cannabis compliance, transparency, and consumer trust. By documenting how real operators across New Jersey are using the system in their day-to-day workflows, The Hood Collective helped Metrc tell a story that’s visual, grounded, and real.

From dispensary deliveries to large-scale cultivation, we captured the kind of footage and testimonials that help cannabis technology connect with its audience. It’s not just about what the product does—it’s about showing how it works in the hands of the people who rely on it.

If your cannabis business is launching a new platform, product, or tech solution, we can help you tell that story. We specialize in cannabis video production, photography, design, and branded content—built specifically for operators, brands, and innovators across the cannabis industry.