The 2025 announcement involving BioTrack and Metrc brings more than just a software change or brand update. For dispensary owners, this move shows just how critical compliance with state-level traceability systems will become in the years ahead.
If your cannabis dispensary POS system isn’t ready to adapt to the changes, you could find yourself scrambling to keep up. Or worse, facing audit flags that hold you back while the market heats up.
As a quick reminder: BioTrack and Metrc are both state-mandated track-and-trace (seed-to-sale) systems. Your dispensary will ultimately be required to use whichever platform your state mandates.
This new arrangement means Metrc will be taking over many of BioTrack’s state-level traceability contracts, including markets like New York and Illinois. On the BioTrack side, dispensaries that once operated under BioTrack barcode-based state systems are beginning to adapt to Metrc’s tag and package ID requirements.
This shift may seem small, but it will likely touch almost every part of your operations, and play a big role in compliance. Existing workflows that manage how you receive shipments and how sales are reported to regulators will need to be updated, and your POS must be ready to adapt quickly.
The BioTRACK-METRC transition involves how your POS communicates with a state database. If your POS isn’t ready to adapt to the changes, you could see a cascade of issues:
It’s likely that state regulators will continue to raise the pressure on dispensaries that aren’t set up to comply with new system integrations. Now is the time to make sure your POS is designed to operate with the future.
To make sure your cannabis dispensary POS system is set up to keep you in line with compliance, you’ll want to check that a few key processes are in place:
Relying on batch uploads to be processed at the end of the day leaves too much room for error. You need your POS to have real-time sync features that keep records aligned with the state system throughout every shift.
Your dispensary POS should be pulling incoming manifests directly from Metrc so that you receive inventory at a click rather than having to juggle various systems.
When mismatches or issues arise, would you rather proactively catch it and make the fix, or wait for regulators to notify you of an audit? If your physical count doesn’t match up with digital records, you need to know instantly rather than at inspection.
Manually entering product testing percentages creates risk, especially when limits, allotments, or purchase restrictions depend on accurate potency calculations. Your POS should automatically pull the latest lab results and potency percentages from the state track-and-trace system (e.g., Metrc), apply them to each SKU/batch, and use that data to calculate accurate allotments and compliant sales limits at checkout.
The reality is that most generic POS platforms aren’t designed with Metrc integration or built to suit cannabis compliance. They can be adapted, but it often requires you to shift your operations to fit the POS rather than the other way around.
Plus, you don’t want to pay a premium for new subscriptions or have to retrain your entire staff every time something changes.
A better investment may be to upgrade your cannabis dispensary POS system to a platform built for the cannabis industry (and any changes that may come down the road).
Systems such as Toke come with live Metrc integration that reduces sync lag and helps minimize compliance issues caused by delayed reporting. Plus, an operator-first design means faster training and fewer add-on costs.
The BioTrack-Metrc transition is a big one for the year ahead, but it shouldn’t catch your dispensary off guard.
To make sure you’re ready for the year ahead, take a close look at your current setup:
If your POS isn’t set up for success, now is the time to explore new options. Check out cannabis dispensary POS systems such as Toke, which are designed for where the industry is headed.
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