Big news for the Illinois cannabis industry: Metrc is officially set to replace BioTrack as the state’s seed-to-sale tracking system. According to the State of Illinois, July 1 marks the date when Metrc becomes the official cannabis tracking system for all Illinois operators. Below, we’ve gathered everything currently known about the transition—including timelines, processes, and how Canix is helping licensees prepare.
Overview: July 1 – Official Transition Date
The State of Illinois has confirmed that July 1 is when Metrc officially takes over as the cannabis inventory tracking system. While many licensees will start using Metrc beforehand, July 1 is the formal deadline for having all operations recorded in Metrc.
Currently available resources to help you prepare include:
How Will the Transition Work?
- Mapping Items
- Metrc will map all existing BioTrack items to their new Metrc equivalents.
- Submitting Existing Inventory
- All remaining inventory in BioTrack will be submitted to Metrc as external incoming transfers. This ensures a recorded handoff between the two systems.
- Re-Tagging Inventory
- Physically and Digitally re-tag your inventory with Metrc RFID tags.
- The recommendation is that any inventory already tested—and expected to sell in the next few months—be sold through in BioTrack to avoid re-testing in Metrc.
- Prior Tag Numbers for Historical Reporting
- Metrc will include a field to store the original BioTrack tag number. This will allow for consistent record-keeping and historical reporting.
Important Upcoming Dates
Illinois has divided the transition into three phases, each focusing on different license types and responsibilities:
Phase 1: April 1 – 18
- Who? Transporters and Testing Laboratories
- What?
- Gain access to Metrc
- Prepare staff and, for labs, update Lab Information Management Systems (LIMS)
- Review internal processes and procedures
- Be ready to transport or test Metrc-tracked products from other licensees
Phase 2: April 25 – May 25
- Who? Cultivation Centers, Craft Growers, and Infusers
- What?
- Gain access to Metrc
- Prepare staff and inventory management systems
- Review processes and procedures
- Tag and record inventory in Metrc
Phase 3: April 25 – June 17
- Who? Dispensaries
- What?
- Gain access to Metrc
- Prepare staff and point-of-sale (POS) / inventory systems
- Review processes and procedures
- Begin receiving Metrc deliveries and packages
- Tag and record inventory in Metrc
By the end of Phase 2 (May 25) for production facilities and by June 17 for dispensaries, all inventory should be tagged and recorded in Metrc. Starting new plants in Metrc (for growers) and selling through BioTrack-tagged inventory (for dispensaries) will help minimize re-tagging efforts.
Additional Key Dates & Trainings
- March 26, 12pm: State of Illinois cannabis businesses e-Townhall
- (Register here)
- March 27, 9am: Metrc webinar for Testing Labs
- March 28, 9am: Metrc webinar for Transporters
- March 28, 12pm: State of Illinois cannabis businesses e-Townhall (repeat presentation)
- (Register here)
- April 7: Metrc webinar for Third-Party Integrators
- A chance for IT vendors to discuss technical integration steps.
- April 21 – 24: Metrc Roadshows for all cannabis businesses
- In-person training and Q&A in Chicago, Springfield, and southern Illinois (locations/times TBA).
- May 25: Testing Laboratories report lab test results only in Metrc
- June 2: All product transfers must take place in Metrc only
- June 17: All cannabis licensees should be fully transitioned to Metrc
- July 1: Metrc becomes the official cannabis inventory tracking system for Illinois
Practical Recommendations for Licensees
- Re-tagging
- All plants and packages must be re-tagged in Metrc. Make sure you have Metrc RFID tags and plan for the labor to apply them physically to your products.
- Testing
- Any inventory moved into Metrc that is not sold before the transition will likely need to be re-tested under Metrc’s system. Therefore, if you already have tested inventory that can be sold in the next few months, it is often best to sell it through BioTrack first.
- Smoothing the Transition
- Cultivation facilities should start new plants in Metrc early during Phase 2.
- Dispensaries should aim to reduce old BioTrack inventory by June 17 to minimize re-tagging.
What Makes Illinois Metrc Unique?
- Items Require Photos
- Illinois will require item images in Metrc.
- Processing Jobs
- Illinois operators will need to use Metrc’s processing job workflows for converting raw materials into finished goods.
How Canix Is Supporting the Transition
- Full Metrc Support
- As soon as Metrc launches in Illinois, Canix will offer fully compatible workflows—including item management with photos, processing jobs, and more. Canix already supports Metrc in other states and is well-versed in its functionality.
- BioTrack Inventory Conversion Tool
- Canix is building a conversion tool to submit all existing BioTrack inventory into Metrc. This tool will handle necessary mappings and help streamline the re-tagging process.
- Training & Guidance
- We’ll provide step-by-step instructions on re-tagging and re-testing. Our support team will be available to answer questions about managing Metrc items, packaging workflows, and compliance reporting.
- Best Practices for Tested Inventory
- We’ll offer ongoing recommendations for handling tested inventory, including when to sell through existing product to avoid duplicative testing costs or delays.
Next Steps
If you’re an Illinois cannabis operator, you should already be planning for Metrc adoption based on the phases outlined above. Keep an eye on important dates for training, webinars, and final deadlines. By July 1, all operations and inventory must be tracked in Metrc.
Have questions or concerns? Feel free to reach out to us at Canix. Our team is here to help make this transition as seamless as possible for all Illinois cannabis operators.
Contact us at Canix.com or email support@canix.com to get started on the path to a smooth Metrc transition.
%20(43).png)
.png)
%20(7).png)
