It’s finally, slowly happening: Long after the state’s first legal adult use cannabis sale in December 2022, New York is implementing its official seed-to-sale traceability system. According to the state’s Office of Cannabis Management, licensed retailers are required to secure an electronic inventory tracking system that is capable of integrating with New York’s official tracking system, BioTrack.
What Does This Mean?
Seed-to-sale tracking follows the lifecycle of every legally grown cannabis plant from the time it is planted all the way through harvest, processing, packaging, lab testing, and sale to a consumer. For licensed New York cannabis retailers, it means you must secure an electronic inventory tracking system that can integrate with the state’s system to remain compliant.
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 integrated 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 York, 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 Traceability System, such as Cova’s BioTrack POS for New York
What Do New York Cannabis Retailers Need to Do?
The most important thing to do is to evaluate your point of sale (POS) system. If your current provider is not prepared to integrate with New York’s seed-to-sale system (BioTrack), you will need to secure one that is to remain compliant with state regulations.
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. You can watch the full webinar recording at no cost.
Compliance-Focused POS for Cannabis Retailers
Cova offers a reliable, proven cannabis POS system specifically built to keep adult-use retailers and dispensaries compliant while delighting customers. Our software integrates directly with BioTrack and other government-contracted reporting systems in 19 U.S. states, and our open APIs allow you to connect to existing software you want to keep in your ecosystem. Cova’s customizable dashboards generate detailed sales reports, and you can view them on mobile devices to easily stay up to date no matter where you are.
We’ve also designed Cova POS for speed and efficiency so you and your staff can provide unparalleled customer service. Our dispensary software includes ID scanning for checking in customers, auto-apply taxes and discounts, and an offline mode that keeps your checkout lines moving in the event of spotty Wi-Fi or an internet outage. We’re also proud to be the cannabis industry’s most reliable POS platform, with virtually zero downtime or interruptions. In fact, our clients have experienced 100% uptime on 4/20 for seven years running!
We’d love to show you all the ways Cova can help elevate your customers’ experience while keeping you compliant – click here to book a free demo and let’s connect!
For Cova Customers
If you’re already using Cova for your dispensary technology and point-of-sale needs, you’re all set. Your compliance is our number-one priority, and you can expect a seamless transition as we work to complete the BioTrack integration quickly and efficiently. We’ve worked closely with BioTrack for nearly a decade, having integrated with them for seed-to-sale reporting in various states including New Mexico and Illinois.