Welcome to the Illinois partner page! This page provides essential information regarding Illinois’ transition to Metrc as the track-and-trace system of record. The implementation plan and timeline outline the transition by license type. For additional details about this transition, please see the full implementation plan and FAQ below.
We will onboard licensees into Metrc, the new seed-to-sale state-mandated system, in phases. First, Testing Labs and Transporters will access the system on April 1st to ensure product movement through the supply chain. We will contact these licensee types for training and onboarding.
For the second phase, we will hold in-person roadshows from April 21-24 (for all license types), followed by opening credentialing on April 25th, allowing all licensees to access the system. Cultivation centers, Craft Growers, and Infusers should get credentialed as soon as possible after this date, followed by Dispensaries (recommended to move over in May).
For more information, always check the following websites.
- Metrc Illinois partner page: https://www.metrc.com/partner/illinois
- CROO website: https://cannabis.illinois.gov/
Here you can find a full transition plan with what each licensee is expected to do in the first 30-45 days of accessing Metrc.
The transition will follow a phased approach, with virtual and in-person training opportunities available before each license type needs to be credentialed and access the Metrc system.
- April 1: Transporters and Testing Laboratories can begin the credentialing process and access the Metrc system, with onboarding continuing in the following weeks.
- Illinois New Business Training is now available: Access here.
- April 25: All other license types can begin the credentialing process and access the Metrc system.
- May 1: Recommended start date for Dispensaries to begin the credentialing process and gain access to the Metrc system.
For updates, it is recommended that you visit https://www.metrc.com/partner/illinois.
Product with existing testing results should not be moved over into Metrc. You should sell through your inventory in BioTrack.
Metrc plant and package tags will be available to order starting April 28th. You will not be responsible for printing your own tags.
Cultivation Centers, Craft Growers, and Infusers should start ordering tags as soon as possible upon gaining access to the Metrc system and setting up your business.
Upon receiving those tags, your business should then start tagging plants (plant tags) and inventory (package tags) that does not have a test result in BioTrack.
No. Costs for RFID plant and package tracking will largely be covered by the State. Metrc will provide the tags once ordered through the system. Details of the tag ordering process will be communicated to each licensee over the next few weeks.
Yes, Metrc will host three in-person introductory and training sessions April 21-24, 2025. Additional details are below.
Metrc also provides comprehensive training through our on-demand platform, Metrc Learn. Metrc Learn offers over 300 courses for licensees. This includes a new business overview and role-based guided journeys from beginner to expert levels for various license types.
Metrc in-person roadshow details:
In-person events will be held in three regions of Illinois, including Springfield, Chicago, and Mt. Vernon/Carbondale, to provide introductory content on Metrc and its system. These events will also cover details about the transition plan to ensure a smooth implementation.
Exact locations, dates, and times for the week of April 21st will be announced soon.
Metrc has a few resources for support, training, and more company information. For new states, such as Illinois, several of these resources will become available once system access has been granted. We are working towards this timeline with the state.
- Metrc.com: Additional information and resources to supplement your needs are available on Metrc.com
- Access: Metrc.com
- Available: 24/7, 365 days a year.
- What to know: Metrc.com offers additional resources including case studies, blogs, guides, and more! Also, for state specific information, navigate to your state partner page to access bulletin documentation (which can also be found in the support portal).
- For states: Metrc partner states will have a dedicated landing page with state specific information. Illinois page, here.
- Support: Our dedicated support team is available through phone and online portal access.
- Phone: 877-566-6506
- Online: Support.metrc.com
- Available: M-F, 7 a.m. CT – 9 p.m. CT
- What to know: Our team is here to help in your journey with cannabis compliance. We not only have a dedicated team for answering specific questions, but a library of self-help materials for navigating the system.
- Training: On-demand training platform with over 300+ courses right at your fingertips.
- Access: Learn.metrc.com or through mobile app: Go Learn on Apple/IOS or Android
- Available: 24/7, 365 days a year.
- What to know: Metrc Learn, our on-demand training portal allows for users to create persona-based learning journeys, access over 300 courses and more! Select trainings also include interactive pieces allowing you to practice new skills out of the production environment.
- Metrc Expert: Once users have access, self-help support documentation is available through a convenient widget directly in the Metrc system.
- Access: Available when you log in to your Metrc instance.
- Available: 24/7, 365 days a year.
- What to know: Metrc Expert is our AI-powered chat tool that allows you to ask questions in the Metrc system as you work in real time without having to spend time sifting through documentation.
No. Costs for the Metrc system will be covered by the State.
Additional information about how to submit track-and-trace data into the new system will be shared both by the licensing agency and during Metrc training in the coming month
No. Tax returns and payment will still be conducted with the Illinois Department of Revenue.
No. Licensing, product registrations, and agent registrations will still be conducted through the systems at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) for dispensaries and the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) for cultivation centers, craft growers, infusers, and transporters.
Yes, once the system is implemented. The timing and impact of those changes on shipments, manifests, and product acceptance will be communicated by the licensing agencies, posted on both Illinois’ website and Metrc’s partner page, and through Metrc training available to licensees in Metrc Learn.
For more information, continue to visit:
- Metrc Illinois partner page: https://www.metrc.com/partner/illinois
- CROO website: https://cannabis.illinois.gov/
- IDFPR: https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/adultusecan.html
- IDOA: https://cannabis.illinois.gov/agencies/cannabis-idoa.html
No. The Medical Cannabis Patient Registry will continue to be operated by the Illinois Department of Public Health (https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/prevention-wellness/medical-cannabis.html) and the State’s seed-to-sale system will continue to record medical patient allotments and sales.
Metrc is the leading provider of cannabis regulatory technology systems in the United States. Our solution combines advanced software, radio-frequency identification (RFID), a dedicated customer support team, and a secure database to track cannabis from growth, harvest, and processing to testing, transport, and sale. Metrc is currently engaged in 29 government contracts and serves more than 500,000 users, including growers, testing facilities, dispensaries, and state regulators.
