Staying Compliant with the New York Office of Cannabis Management OCM in 2025
All legal cannabis businesses in New York state must use an Inventory Tracking System that is able to transmit data to the OCM's BioTrack System.
New York's cannabis legalization journey reached a significant milestone with the passing of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) on March 31st, 2021, legalizing recreational marijuana, also known as "adult use" cannabis, in addition to the previously legalized medical marijuana under the Compassionate Care Act of 2014. The market is emerging with substantial growth potential, overseen by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). As part of the compliance requirements, New York mandates the use of BioTrack as its official seed-to-sale tracking system.
BioTrack New York is essential for monitoring cannabis products from cultivation to sale, helping prevent diversion and maintain the standards of the legal market. All licensed cannabis businesses must use BioTrack or a compatible third-party system like Distru for inventory management, compliance reporting, and product traceability. Integration with BioTrack is crucial for cultivators, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to stay compliant with state regulations. This system enables real-time tracking of cannabis plants and products, facilitates the creation of transport manifests, and allows for accurate reporting to regulatory bodies. Leveraging BioTrack allows cannabis businesses to streamline their operations while adhering to New York's cannabis laws.
BioTrack’s seed to sale platform allows New York’s Office of Cannabis Management to monitor the marijuana growth and distribution chain for issues. For standardization, all cannabis licensees in New York must use an Inventory Tracking System that can communicate data with BioTrack's system.
Examples of businesses required to use an Inventory Tracking System are:
If you are unfamiliar with BioTrack software, a phone number, web address and other helpful resources are provided below.
Track and trace platforms are built for the government to monitor product life cycle and ensure standardized compliance. While this might be great for them, using any track and trace platform directly is a burden for licensees. It often means constant double-handling of data, inevitably human error and a lot of frustration.
This isn’t commentary on BioTrack in particular, it’s the nature of this type of platform.
To avoid all of this, most cannabis businesses use a third party cannabis seed to sale software that integrates with BioTrack. By doing this, you get a cleaner interface, more streamlined workflow and the ability to integrate with your other processes. Less double-handling, less swearing and more time to focus on other important tasks. All while staying compliant with government regulations.
BioTrack is one of the major track-and-trace solutions in the cannabis industry. The system provides state regulators with a traceable history of every single cannabis-based product sold in their jurisdiction—from cultivation and production to transportation and the final retail sale.
Since it’s required as part of virtually everything you do in New York state, BioTrack will sit at the core of your daily operations. Staying compliant is a complex and critical part of operating a cannabis business in NY.
No, there are no BioTrack alternatives allowed in New York at all. Every cannabis business, recreational or medical, must use an Inventory Tracking System that can transmit data to BioTrack.
That said, they do allow third party applications to help you stay compliant and streamline your workflow. These platforms don’t replace BioTrack, they leverage automation and a more user-friendly interface to make those BioTrack tasks easier to manage.
In BioTrack New York, cannabis operators must comply with the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) regulations, ensuring that all inventory, sales, transfers, and adjustments are accurately recorded in the state's seed-to-sale tracking system. As New York's mandated compliance software, BioTrack requires businesses to report real-time data to maintain full traceability and prevent regulatory violations. Licensees must track product movements, conduct regular inventory audits, and ensure that all data entered into BioTrack aligns with physical inventory counts to avoid compliance risks.
Beyond inventory tracking, BioTrack New York requires cannabis businesses to comply with packaging, labeling, and transportation regulations. All product sales, waste disposal, and recalls must be properly documented within the system to meet OCM’s strict compliance standards. To streamline compliance, operators can integrate BioTrack New York with ERP solutions like Distru, which automates reporting, minimizes errors, and ensures seamless data synchronization. By leveraging the right technology, cannabis businesses can maintain compliance, reduce manual work, and stay ahead of New York’s evolving cannabis regulations.
Distru offers robust tools to manage your warehouse, production line and sales team. Get up to the second inventory, grow your revenue and plan for the future easier than ever.
Save hours a week, streamline your workflows and put more money in your pocket.
Looking for a licensed cannabis cultivator near you? Check out our directory, loaded with some of the best cultivators New York has to offer!
New York is using BioTrack as their official cannabis seed to sale platform. As with similar platforms (e.g. Metrc), BioTrack monitors cannabis products from the original seed through to final sale at a dispensary.
Additionally, BioTrack tracks all cannabis products, and assists with inventory and inspections.
Distru is currently serving New York cannabis operators, as well as operators all across the United States - with software being provided to 400+ companies. Distru has been operating for over 6 years offering cannabis licensees software to streamline supply chain and compliance.
Yes! Recreational cannabis is now available in New York. Licensed recreational cannabis dispensaries are open, and residents aged 21 and older will be able to purchase with a valid government-issued photo ID (e.g. driver’s license, passport, military ID card.)
All recreational cannabis licensing in the state of New York is overseen by the Office of Cannabis Management, and specifically by a five-member Cannabis Control Board.
When applying for your NY adult-use cannabis license, you'll be charged a non-refundable application fee. The amount will vary depending on your structure, but for a standard application, the cost will be $1,000.
Once approved, license fees will also be required. The cost of these fees will vary drastically depending on factors like business type and how many premises you'll be operating out of.
Check out our NY license application guide for a more detailed look at the licensing fees.
Yes. As per legal statute, all cannabis retailers in New York must keep precise records regarding almost all facets of their business.
To be compliant with these requirements, most facilities use a seed-to-sale tracking system. These systems track a user’s inventory as well as all transactions.
Yes, all New York residents who are 18 or older may buy medical cannabis in New York. Minors under 18 may also purchase medical cannabis if accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years of age or older. To purchase cannabis for medical purposes, all buyers must have Medical Cannabis Program ID cards.
Marijuana may be legally used to treat many conditions in the state of New York. Your health provider may prescribe marijuana for many maladies at their discretion.
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