This bulletin applies to Metrc (Colorado) and announces two system 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 data field that shows the source package quantity at the time the sample was taken (“Quantity When Sampled”), visible to testing facilities and state regulators.
Bulletin summary and effective date
Metrc’s Colorado bulletin (CO_IB_2.16.2026) introduces changes intended to reduce sampling-related data entry errors and improve visibility into sampling context during lab transfers.
- Effective date: March 16, 2026
- Applies to: Colorado Metrc users involved in creating Test Batch (Test Sample) packages and generating Transportation Manifests for testing transfers
- Key outcomes: Item category consistency during sampling and additional manifest transparency for labs and regulators
Update 1: Test Sample item category restriction
What changed in Metrc
Starting March 16, 2026, Metrc will display an error and block the action when a user attempts to create a Test Batch (Test Sample) package using an item category that differs from the source package’s item category.
Example of what will be blocked: creating a Test Sample from a source package categorized as Concentrate, but attempting to package the Test Sample under Buds.
How to avoid the error
When creating Test Batch (Test Sample) packages, users are encouraged to use the “Same Item” selection (as referenced in the bulletin) so the sampled package inherits the correct item category from the source package.
Why this matters for Colorado compliance
Item category accuracy is a core Metrc data integrity requirement. If test samples are miscategorized, it can create downstream compliance risk, including mismatched inventory types, confusing lab results associations, and transfer documentation inconsistencies. This restriction is designed to prevent those avoidable errors at the point of sample creation.
Day-to-day operational implications
Colorado operators should expect workflow changes mainly at the moment of packaging test samples:
- Teams will need to confirm the source package item category before creating the Test Sample package.
- SOPs should reinforce using the same item/category approach when sampling.
- If staff previously used sampling as a workaround to “reclassify” material into another category, that process will now fail and should be replaced with the appropriate compliant conversion/production workflow (as allowed by Colorado rules and your license privileges).
Update 2: “Quantity When Sampled” added to manifests (labs/regulators)
What changed on the Transportation Manifest
As of March 16, 2026, Metrc will display the quantity of the source package at the time the Test Batch (Test Sample) package was created on the Transportation Manifest as “Quantity When Sampled”.
Who can see this field
Per the bulletin, this information is visible only to:
- Testing Facilities
- State Regulators
Even if your facility cannot see the field on your copy of the manifest, you should assume labs and regulators can use it as additional context during intake, investigation, or audits.
Why this matters operationally
“Quantity When Sampled” gives regulators and labs more context about the sampled lot/package, which can support:
- More consistent lab intake and chain-of-custody context
- Improved auditability when sample sizes are evaluated against the source package size
- Faster resolution of discrepancies if a sample transfer is questioned
What Colorado cannabis teams should do now
Update sampling SOPs and staff training
Because Metrc will now enforce item category consistency for Test Samples, train staff to validate the source package’s item category before creating a Test Batch (Test Sample). This is particularly important for operations that handle multiple forms (flower, trim, concentrate, infused products) where category mix-ups are more likely.
Reduce preventable sampling errors before transfers
Since labs and regulators will see “Quantity When Sampled,” ensure sample creation steps are performed carefully and consistently so the resulting manifest context matches your internal records and expectations.
Packaging labels, Retail IDs, and Metrc readiness
Sampling and transfers often run in parallel with labeling workflows, especially when packaged items or retail-ready inventory is involved. DistruLabels is a 100% free tool for creating compliant packaging and retail labels and can help teams stay organized around Metrc Retail ID compliance by producing clear, consistent labels that match your Metrc package and retail identifiers.
For larger Colorado operators that need more than labels, DistruERP is Distru’s comprehensive Cannabis ERP platform designed for end-to-end supply chain management, including inventory, orders, fulfillment, and operational workflows that help reduce Metrc data entry friction at scale.
Metrc support and training resources
If you need help interpreting these changes or adjusting workflows, Metrc provides several official resources:
- Metrc Support Portal: https://support.metrc.com
- Metrc Learn (training): https://learn.metrc.com
- Metrc Expert: Available inside the Metrc system via the help/widget icon for step-by-step guidance and knowledge base articles
Because this bulletin affects how Test Samples can be created and what labs/regulators can see on manifests, Colorado operators should plan to align procedures and training before the March 16, 2026 effective date.
