New York’s legal cannabis industry has been hit with another unexpected setback. Cannabis growers and licensees revealed this week that the state’s long-awaited cannabis tracking system could be delayed by as much as a year. The system, often referred to as “seed to sale,” is designed to follow cannabis from cultivation through retail, ensuring transparency, consumer safety, and protection for licensed operators.
The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) announced it is pausing the rollout of the electronic Seed to Sale Cannabis Tracking System program after BioTrack, the company originally contracted to oversee the system, announced a surprise merger with competitor Metrc. The pause has left growers uncertain about when the cannabis tracking system will be fully operational.
Kaelan Castetter, a lobbyist with the Empire Cannabis Manufacturers’ Alliance, said integration could take anywhere from four months to a year. “My sources are telling me anywhere between four to six months, potentially, for integration,” Castetter explained, noting that the merger complicates the state’s plans.
Farmers argue that without a functioning cannabis tracking system, illicit products continue to flood the market. Estimates suggest 20% to 50% of cannabis in New York arrives from other states, undermining local businesses and depressing wholesale prices. “No track and trace equals no trust, and without trust, New York's legal cannabis market won’t survive,” said Joseph Calderone, President of the Cannabis Farmers Alliance.
Industry leaders stress the importance of transparency and accountability. Hudson Cannabis COO Lucas Seymour, who has worked with track-and-trace rollouts in California and Canada, warned that switching vendors midstream could mean significant delays.
OCM officials, however, maintain that a year-long delay is not certain. A spokesperson confirmed the office is evaluating Metrc’s role in taking over BioTrack’s $1.2 million contract, with updates expected soon. “The office is temporarily pausing the integration of the Seed-to-Sale cannabis tracking System while we work with Metrc to evaluate next steps,” OCM stated.
Still, many licensees are frustrated. They worry about whether they will have to repurchase tags when the cannabis tracking system resumes and how penalties will be enforced during the pause. Calderone emphasized that farmers should not be punished for compliance failures when the state’s own systems are on hold.
Despite the uncertainty, OCM insists it will work closely with Metrc to establish a clear timeline. For now, growers are urged to keep tagging plants so they are ready when the cannabis tracking system finally goes live. The future of New York’s legal market may depend on it.
