Illinois Moves to Metrc: What Cannabis Operators Need to Know and How StashStock Simplifies the Transition
The Illinois cannabis industry is making a major move toward stronger compliance and transparency through a new contract with Metrc, the nation’s leading cannabis track-and-trace platform. On February 4, Illinois announced that Metrc will oversee tracking for both the medical and adult-use cannabis markets, replacing BioTrack. This transition marks the fourth time Metrc has replaced an existing state vendor, signaling a significant shift for operators across the country.
For Illinois cannabis businesses, the move also brings an opportunity to modernize operations with help from trusted compliance partners like StashStock—offering tools that simplify the transition and streamline Metrc compliance.
What You Need To Know About Illinois’ Transition to Metrc
Metrc’s integration into the Illinois cannabis market brings fresh opportunities for transparency and efficiency—but also requires operators to adapt to new systems and protocols.
Metrc’s track-and-trace system uses
RFID tags and a secure software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform to monitor cannabis products. This ensures real-time visibility throughout the cannabis lifecycle, delivering critical data to businesses and regulators.
Illinois operators will also benefit from Metrc's newly launched
Retail ID, which generates unique QR codes for products—improving supply chain visibility, strengthening brand trust, and optimizing workflows to streamline product verification and compliance.
To support Illinois' social equity efforts, Metrc is also partnering with organizations like the
Minority Cannabis Business Association and
Minorities for Medical Marijuana to deliver educational workshops and create patient resources promoting safe and informed cannabis consumption.
Key Metrc Transition Details for Illinois Operators
Metrc is taking a phased approach to onboarding Illinois licensees, with training sessions available throughout the transition. These events cover key topics like system access, business setup, and best practices for staying compliant. All cannabis businesses will need to be fully transitioned to Metrc by June 17, 2025 so time is of the essence!
Important Transition Dates:
- April 1: Transporters and Testing Laboratories can begin the credentialing process and gain access to Metrc
- April 25: All other license types can begin credentialing and system access
- May 1: Dispensaries are encouraged to start their credentialing process by this date
BioTrack will stay active until Metrc is fully implemented. Metrc tags will be available to order starting April 28, with Cultivation Centers, Craft Growers, and Infusers advised to begin tagging plants and inventory without BioTrack test results as soon as they gain access.
More information about Metrc’s implementation in Illinois can be found
here.
Simplifying Illinois Metrc Compliance with StashStock
Adapting to a new track-and-trace system can feel overwhelming—but StashStock is here to make it easier.
As Illinois transitions to Metrc, StashStock offers cannabis operators user-friendly compliance tools that integrate seamlessly with Metrc, helping you stay focused on growth—not tracking and reporting.
By partnering with StashStock, you can:
- Ensure Compliance: Automate reporting and simplify plant tracking
- Optimize Inventory Management: Access real-time insights into your stock and product movement
- Enhance Operational Efficiency: Minimize manual data entry and reduce costly errors
- Simplify Tag Management with RFID: Use StashStock’s RFID scanner to quickly manage plant and package tags, speeding up data capture and reducing manual work
Preparing early and setting up the right systems is key to a successful transition—and StashStock is ready to help every step of the way.
Want to learn how we can support your business through Illinois’ Metrc transition? Visit our
website or schedule a
demo today.
