New York Delays Cannabis Track-and-Trace to 2026

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September 11 2025

Overview

New York’s $1.5 billion cannabis market will not have seed-to-sale tracking until early 2026. This delay follows a surprise acquisition between BioTrack and Metrc, the top two providers of monitoring software.

Background

New York began legal cannabis sales in December 2022 without a track-and-trace system. This has led to issues with illegal products on licensed shelves and legal products in unlicensed markets. It’s the third delay for the state’s tracking system.

Latest Delay

Regulators planned a phased rollout starting August 1, 2025, with cultivators first, followed by distributors, manufacturers, and retailers. The plan paused after Metrc acquired BioTrack’s government operations on August 5, 2025. New York will now use Metrc’s software, with integration targeted for early 2026.

Industry Impact

Metrc now controls track-and-trace in 30 states. New York’s original $1.2 million BioTrack contract was far cheaper than Metrc’s $113 million California deal. Operators had faced unclear instructions and costly BioTrack ID tag requirements before the switch.