The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) and the Division of Cannabis Regulation announced today an official Metrc implementation timeline for licensed cannabis businesses transitioning from BioTrack to Metrc as Illinois’ track-and-trace data system.

The implementation will start with transporter licenses and registered testing laboratories, followed by cultivation centers, craft growers, and infusers, and with dispensaries transitioning last. According to the press release, the phased approach ensures a smooth and efficient migration across the supply chain and minimal disruption to cannabis medical patients and consumers.

The important upcoming dates are:

Phase 1: April 1-18: Transporters and Testing Laboratories

o Gain access to Metrc,

o Prepare staff and (for labs) Lab Information Management systems,

o Review processes and procedures,

o Ready for transporting or testing items from other licensees in Metrc.

Phase 2: April 25-May 25: Cultivation Centers, Craft Growers, and Infusers

o Gain access to Metrc,

o Prepare staff and inventory management systems,

o Review processes and procedures,

o Transition and tag inventory into Metrc system.

Phase 3: April 25-June 17: Dispensaries

o Gain access to Metrc,

o Prepare staff and point of sale / inventory systems,

o Review processes and procedures,

o Receive Metrc deliveries and packages,

o Transition and tag inventory into Metrc system.

By the end of Phase 2 and Phase 3, those licensees should have inventory tagged and recorded in Metrc. For production facilities (Phase 2), that means starting new plants in Metrc early will minimize the need for moving intermediary or final products from BioTrack to Metrc. For dispensaries (Phase 3), that means reducing excess inventory with BioTrack tracking barcodes will minimize retagging of products before June 17. Metrc has additional information and support available online here.

To move items into Metrc, plants and packages will need Metrc RFID Tags. Additional information will be available soon about the ordering process for those Tags. Through State funding, cannabis business establishments will not be charged for Metrc’s RFID tags, subject to certain restrictions.

For questions related to this Informational Bulletin, please contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Division of Cannabis Regulation at AGR.adultuse@illinois.gov

For more Illinois cannabis industry news, subscribe to Illinois News Joint’s newsletter here.

To find cannabis-friendly events in Illinois, visit here.

For Illinois News Joint reviews, visit here.

For more information on News Joint Bar Service, visit here.

For News Joint Printing services, click here.