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Seed to Sale Tracking

April 10, 2025

Ordering Metrc Tag Information:

Cannabis business establishments must order Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tags from Metrc to place on all cannabis plants and packages for entering the item into Illinois’ required inventory seed-to-sale track and trace system.  Illinois will directly pay Metrc for RFID Tags to reduce the financial burden on cannabis businesses, within certain reasonable limits to ensure the ordering process is in good faith and reflects business needs.  Businesses may also purchase tags independently from Metrc at their own expense.

There are two types of RFID Tags:  Plant and Package Tags.  Plant Tags track the plant from immature growth phase through harvest.  Package Tags track any amount of harvested cannabis, intermediary products, or any cannabis-infused product that may be sold, processed, or transferred.  Plant Tags are larger and more expensive than Package Tags.

Below is the abbreviated process for ordering new Tags.  The detailed steps are in this PDF sent to licensees.

1)     Business chooses which kind and how many Tags to order.

2)     Business places an order through their Metrc account on IL.Metrc.com.

3)     If the business has hit the tag on hand limit and believes they need more tags, they can:

    a.      Request the State cover an increased Tag order by emailing CROO and using a State form. 

    b.      Order Tags from Metrc and pay directly for the independent order, including shipping and taxes.

    c. --> Note that tags on hand mean each licensee’s total number of Tags shipped, received, and still un-activated Tags.

4)     Receive the Tags and place them on plants or packages and then activate.

Additional materials will be available soon from Metrc to explain activation and use of Tags.  Questions or concerns can be sent to CROO.

RFID Ordering Process

March 25, 2025

Below is the planned implementation timeline for licensed cannabis businesses to transition Illinois' seed-to-sale track-and-trace data system vendor from BioTrack to Metrc. This data system is required for inventory tracking to ensure compliance with State laws and regulations. 

The transition implementation begins with transporter licenses and registered testing laboratories getting set up in the system, followed by cultivation centers, craft growers, and infusers adding plants and products, and completed with dispensaries transitioning last to conduct sales. 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
  • Phase 2: April 25-May 25: Cultivation Centers, Craft Growers, and Infusers
  • Phase 3: April 25-June 17: Dispensaries

By the end of Phase 2 and Phase 3, those licensees should have inventory tagged and recorded in Metrc. Metrc has additional information and support available online (https://www.metrc.com/partner/illinois/).

To move items into Metrc, plants and packages will need Metrc RFID Tags. Additional information will be shared with licensees 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.

Key deadlines:

  • May 25: Testing Laboratories report lab test results in Metrc only.
  • June 2: All product transfers in Metrc only.
  • June 17: All cannabis licensees should be transitioned into Metrc.
  • July 1: Metrc becomes the official cannabis inventory tracking system for Illinois.

Resources and links:

Webinars, trainings, and licensee support will be shared with the cannabis businesses during the transition timeline. Consumers, both medical patients and adult use buyers, should not be impacted during the change.

February 4, 2025

Metrc Announced as New Seed-to-Sale Vendor