METRC Waste Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In METRC, what must a licensee do before disposing of cannabis waste?
- Notify local law enforcement 24 hours in advance
- Record the waste in METRC and render it unusable (Correct answer)
- Obtain written approval from the state regulator
- Freeze the waste for a mandatory holding period
Correct answer: Record the waste in METRC and render it unusable
METRC requires that cannabis waste be logged in the system and rendered unusable (e.g., mixed with non-consumable material) before disposal.
Question 2: Which METRC action is used to record that plant material has been designated as waste?
- Package Adjustment
- Plant Waste (Correct answer)
- Harvest Waste Entry
- Inventory Reduction
Correct answer: Plant Waste
The 'Plant Waste' action in METRC is specifically used to record that harvested or growing plant material has been designated for disposal.
Question 3: How long must cannabis waste records typically be retained under METRC-integrated state regulations?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years (Correct answer)
- 7 years
Correct answer: 3 years
Most METRC-integrated states require cannabis business records, including waste logs, to be retained for a minimum of 3 years.
Question 4: Which of the following methods is commonly approved for rendering cannabis waste unusable before disposal?
- Burning in an open field
- Mixing with non-consumable solid waste such as soil or compost (Correct answer)
- Flushing down sanitary drains
- Storing in sealed containers indefinitely
Correct answer: Mixing with non-consumable solid waste such as soil or compost
Mixing cannabis waste with non-consumable materials like soil, compost, or paper renders it unusable and is a commonly approved disposal method.
Question 5: When a licensee records waste in METRC, what information is typically required?
- Only the weight of the waste
- Waste reason, weight, and the plants or packages it originated from (Correct answer)
- The name of the disposal company only
- The market value of the discarded product
Correct answer: Waste reason, weight, and the plants or packages it originated from
METRC waste entries require the waste reason, total weight, and traceability back to the source plants or packages to maintain chain of custody.
Question 6: Which category of cannabis material requires a waste entry in METRC when destroyed during cultivation?
- Only mature flowering plants
- Only harvested wet material
- Immature plants, mature plants, and harvested material (Correct answer)
- Only products that have already been packaged
Correct answer: Immature plants, mature plants, and harvested material
METRC requires waste entries for any stage of cannabis material—immature plants, mature plants, and harvested material—when they are destroyed or disposed of.
Question 7: A licensee discovers mold on a batch of cannabis and must destroy it. What is the correct first step in METRC?
- Call the state hotline to request a variance
- Immediately remove the product from the licensed premises
- Create a waste entry in METRC citing the appropriate waste reason (Correct answer)
- Transfer the product to a licensed waste disposal company before recording anything
Correct answer: Create a waste entry in METRC citing the appropriate waste reason
The correct first step is to document the destruction in METRC with a waste entry and the appropriate reason (such as failed quality control) before any disposal occurs.
METRC Waste Management 1
In METRC, what must a licensee do before disposing of cannabis waste?