Metrc (Colorado) published Metrc Support Bulletin CO_IB_2.16.2026 announcing two Metrc updates effective March 16, 2026: (1) a new restriction that prevents creating a Test Batch (Test Sample) package in a different item category than the source package, and (2) a new Transportation Manifest field that displays the source package quantity at the time the sample was taken (visible to labs and regulators).
Bulletin details (Metrc Colorado)
Bulletin number: CO_IB_2.16.2026
Distribution date: 2/16/2026
Effective date: 3/16/2026
Subject: New Features - Test Batch (Test Sample) Package Item Category Restriction & Quantity when Sampled
Contact point: Metrc Support
Feature 1: Test Sample item category must match source
Starting March 16, 2026, Metrc will display an error and stop the action if a user tries to package a Test Batch (Test Sample) using an item category that does not match the source package’s item category. This is a system enforcement change intended to prevent category mismatches during sampling workflows.
What Metrc will block
If the source package is categorized as one item category (for example, “Concentrate”) and the user attempts to create the Test Batch (Test Sample) package under a different item category (for example, “Buds”), Metrc will show a red error message and the Test Sample package creation will not proceed.
How to avoid the error
When creating Test Batch (Test Sample) packages, Metrc recommends selecting the Same Item checkbox so the sample inherits the source item information and stays category-consistent.
Practical implications for daily operations
This change impacts any workflow where staff routinely create lab samples from inventory, including cultivation-to-lab, manufacturing-to-lab, and post-production compliance sampling. Operators should expect fewer downstream corrections (and fewer category-driven reporting issues), but they should also plan for brief retraining: the person creating samples must confirm the source package and ensure the sample is not being created under a different item category for convenience or habit.
For compliance teams, this is a meaningful data-integrity improvement because item category consistency affects how inventory is interpreted in Metrc, how lab submissions appear to testing facilities, and how regulators evaluate package history.
Feature 2: “Quantity When Sampled” shown on Transportation Manifests
Also effective March 16, 2026, Metrc will display the quantity of the source package from which a Test Batch (Test Sample) was created on the Metrc Transportation Manifest. Metrc refers to this as the quantity of the source package “when sampled.”
Who can see this new manifest information
This new “Quantity When Sampled” detail will be visible only to Testing Facilities and State Regulators. Metrc notes the change is shared for general industry awareness even though not all license types will see the field.
Why it matters operationally
For operators shipping samples to a lab, this creates additional context for the receiving testing facility and for regulatory review because it ties the sample back to the source package size at the time sampling occurred. In practice, it can reduce confusion during intake, help labs validate sample context, and support clearer auditing of sampling events without changing how operators build the manifest day to day.
Labeling and inventory workflow tips (Metrc-aware)
Because these updates tighten the relationship between the source package and the sample package, accurate package identity and labeling discipline become even more important. A sample package that is correctly categorized in Metrc still needs a compliant physical label and a scannable identifier so it can be handled correctly across handoffs and reconciliations.
DistruLabels: DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels. It helps teams produce consistent labels that support Metrc Retail ID compliance and reduces the risk of mismatches between what’s in Metrc and what’s on the package.
DistruERP: For larger operators that need complete supply chain management beyond labeling, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform that connects inventory, production, compliance, and fulfillment workflows so Metrc reporting aligns with real operational movement.
Metrc support and training resources referenced in the bulletin
Metrc Support portal: Access support at https://support.metrc.com (also reachable from within Metrc via the Support option). First-time portal access typically requires your username, state, facility license number, and a valid email to set a password.
Metrc Learn training: Training is available at https://learn.metrc.com and via the Metrc Support menu option labeled “Sign up for Training.”
Metrc Expert knowledge base: Within Metrc, use the widget icon in the lower right-hand corner to open Metrc Expert for step-by-step guidance and articles.
