The Cole Memo

Metrc, the company behind the seed-to-sale tracking system used in several state cannabis programs and soon to be Illinois’ official provider, announced a series of sustainability initiatives in a recent press release.

The company says it has redesigned its plant tags to use 30% less plastic, with a single-layer format that reduces total production waste by 46%. According to Metrc, the changes are expected to divert 185,000 pounds of material from landfills and reduce carbon emissions by 295 metric tons per year. Metrc stated that the new tags began rolling out gradually across Metrc markets in February, with a full implementation expected in the coming months.

Metrc also stated it will eliminate the use of anti-static pink plastic bags in its packaging, replacing them with more sustainable brown paper alternatives. The company estimates this change will remove nearly 11,000 pounds of plastic from the supply chain each year.

In honor of Arbor Day, Metrc announced a donation of 5,000 trees through the nonprofit One Tree Planted, aimed at supporting reforestation in areas affected by wildfires and natural disasters.

The company says it has been working with environmental consulting firm Resource Innovations to evaluate and reduce its environmental impact across key areas, including waste and greenhouse gas emissions.

Metrc is also preparing to become Illinois’ new seed-to-sale tracking provider, replacing the state’s current system, Biotrack. You can read more about that transition by clicking here or by going directly to this link: https://thecolememo.com/2025/03/24/time4metrc/

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Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E332 – The Cole Memo

In this episode, Cole looks at how cannabis tax revenue is being used to fund Flock license plate readers in Champaign County and raises broader questions about where Illinois cannabis tax dollars actually go. The conversation also turns to the latest federal cannabis rescheduling developments after a DEA judge paused proceedings amid new questions about the process behind the proposed move to Schedule III. Later, Cole dives into the debate over THC potency limits, including whether higher-dose cannabis beverages should be available outside dispensaries, what role age restrictions should play, and how cannabis regulations compare with the way alcohol is sold. Watch video version and read full show notes here: https://thecolememo.com/2026/09/30/e332/

1. Cannabis Taxes, Flock Cameras & the Fight Over THC Potency | E332 01:17:31
2. Brad Spirrison Returns: Where Illinois Cannabis Goes From Here | E331 42:16
3. Illinois Bill Would Pay People Harmed by Cannabis Criminalization | E320 25:28
4. Brian Dombrowski on the Fight Over Hemp and the Future of Cannabis | E319 01:39:08
5. The Cannabis Industry’s Growing Divide, Plus an Illinois Outdoor Home Grow | E318 54:49