More than two years after the launch of adult-use cannabis sales in New York, retailers are still unclear on the status of seed-to-sale tracking and integration with BioTrack, the state’s traceability system. We've heard dozens of questions from dispensary owners and operators about the Office of Cannabis Management’s timelines and expectations.
In response, we recently hosted an exclusive webinar with a panel of industry experts to offer clarity around what’s happening – and what New York retailers should be doing to prepare.
In this article, we’ve summarized the key insights and takeaways you need to know right now.
BioTrack Update: What Exactly Is Happening?
As we covered in this recent blog, New York’s Office of Cannabis Management is implementing BioTrack as its statewide traceability system. Once online, all inventory and sales actions will be reported directly into the state’s system via your point of sale (POS) system – meaning monthly reports will no longer be required.
As of this writing, the OCM has not offered a timeline for when the BioTrack integration will take effect.
How Will BioTrack Integration Impact Retail Cannabis Operations in New York?
From an operational standpoint, not much will change for your day-to-day business. Since your POS will integrate directly with BioTrack, all sales and inventory actions will be automatically reported to the state in real time.
The biggest difference between New York’s traceability framework and most other states is that there is no direct user interface with the BioTrack system. In other words, you will not be able to log in directly to BioTrack for reporting; rather, all your interactions with the state’s system will happen through your POS. This means you MUST have a point of sale system capable of integrating with BioTrack. Direct integration is a higher level requirement of POS systems, so it’s critical to pick the right one.
Which POS Systems Are Approved for Use in New York?
You can use any POS system that is capable of direct integration with BioTrack. Our recommendation is to choose a POS with a proven track record of compliant integration with state traceability systems; for instance, Cova’s software is already integrated with government reporting systems in 19 U.S. states, including the BioTrack system in New Mexico and Illinois.
Do New York Retailers Have to Use BioTrack POS?
No. While BioTrack does offer a point of sale system, New York retailers are not required to use it. You can use any point of sale system that integrates with BioTrack.
What’s Next for New York’s Cannabis Market?
To answer this question, Cova was honored to host CEO and executive consultant Ruben J. Lindo at our recent New York market webinar. Ruben is a serial entrepreneur and a visionary leader in the cannabis industry, having launched and led several successful cannabis brands including Phoenix Nutraceuticals and Blak Mar Farms, a multi-state operation specializing in craft cannabis products. As a leading figure in New York’s cannabis market since 2015, Ruben brings a wealth of insight and knowledge to the table – much of which he shared in the webinar. As testament to his expertise and impact, Ruben was recently awarded Most Outstanding Contribution to the State of New York by the Black Cannabis Industry Association.
In the webinar, Ruben offered valuable insights including:
- The current state of the New York cannabis market and where it’s heading in 2025
- Potential regulatory changes New York retailers should prepare for
- The most critical compliance issues facing New York dispensaries
- The timeline for a retail buildout once you’ve obtained a license in New York
- The biggest operational hurdles that are unique to the New York market
The webinar also featured key insights from our in-house cannabis technology and compliance experts, including common pitfalls New York retailers can avoid and how we’re preparing for compliance integration with BioTrack.
Watch the Webinar for More In-Depth Insights
To hear all of Ruben’s expert commentary and learn more details about the BioTrack rollout in New York, you can watch the full webinar recording by clicking here (it’s free!).