Article updated on April 16, 2025, to reflect the Division of Medical Cannabis’ official email announcement about the new portal for medical cannabis patients and caregivers. Click here to view the latest update.
During a January 4, 2023, meeting with the Office of the Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Michael Morthland from IDPH shared that the state was working on a new portal for medical cannabis patients and caregivers. He explained that this initiative aims to streamline access and enhance the user experience for both groups.
On May 16, 2023, Metrc announced that Illinois planned to award the company a contract for its cannabis seed-to-sale tracking system. According to Metrc’s press release:
“This would mark Metrc’s 24th government contract to date, once finalized, and the fourth time the Company would take over a government contract from an incumbent vendor.”
Illinois has relied on BioTrack for seed-to-sale tracking for nearly a decade. The State of Illinois has stated that the proposed solution includes a 180-day transition period from BioTrack to Metrc once the contract is finalized. This marks a significant change in the state’s cannabis oversight system.
It has been some time since I’ve seen any updates on either of these initiatives, so I decided to reach out to the state of Illinois for a status update. Below you can see the response that I received from the state along with some information I found along the way.
- Message to the State
- State of Illinois Response
- What is the Point of This Article?
- What I’ve Found So Far
Message to the State
Below is a copy of the original email that I sent to the state.
Hello,
I hope you were able to enjoy some time off over the recent holiday.
Could you please provide an update on the status of Illinois’ transition from Biotrack to Metrc for seed-to-sale tracking? Specifically, where does this transition currently stand, and when does the state anticipate completing it?
Additionally, can you provide an update on the medical cannabis patient portal. Will there be any changes to the current system, or will registered patients continue to use the existing portal? I recall hearing that a new portal was expected, but I’d like to confirm the latest status.
Thank you for your time and assistance.
Best,
Cole
Email sent on December 3rd, 2024
State of Illinois Response
Below is the response that I received from the state of Illinois.
Good Morning Cole,
CROO is working on a press release that will answer all of your questions! Just be on the lookout for the announcement!
L.K.
Email received on January 22, 2025
What is the Point of This Article?
The last time Illinois transitioned its patient portal for the Medical Cannabis Program, the process was anything but smooth. Patients and physicians faced technical issues and delays, making it difficult to access their accounts or complete essential tasks. Now, with the state planning a new patient portal—and a transition to a new seed-to-sale tracking system—I can’t help but wonder how these changes will affect patients and customers in Illinois.
I drafted this article in an attempt to keep Illinois medical cannabis patients, caregivers, adult-use customers, and industry participants informed about these upcoming developments and their potential impact.
Stay tuned for updates from the state on these topics! I’ll share the latest information as soon as it becomes available.
What I’ve Found So Far
As I’ve explored the upcoming changes to Illinois’ Medical Cannabis Program and seed-to-sale tracking systems, I’ve uncovered details that offer a glimpse into what might lie ahead.
Entellitrak to Salesforce?
According to state documents found in the BidBuy announcement on the State of Illinois website, medical patient information may soon transition to Salesforce from Entellitrak (see page 2 in below document).
It is unclear if or how this change will impact patient, caregiver, and physician logins or the overall user experience.
How Will Metrc Shape the Future?
I’ve interviewed two individuals with firsthand experience using Metrc and BioTrack. You can view those interviews below. These interviews reveal the potential challenges as Illinois transitions from BioTrack to Metrc for seed-to-sale tracking. These include increased costs due to mandatory RFID tags, system downtime risks, and the need for extensive staff training—all factors that could ripple across the cannabis industry in Illinois.
For those of you who don’t want to listen to the interviews, here are some key takeaways based on insights shared by my guests, who have direct industry experience with both BioTrack and Metrc.
As someone without personal experience with these platforms, I found their expertise invaluable in highlighting the challenges ahead. According to my guests, the upcoming transition from BioTrack to Metrc for Illinois’ seed-to-sale tracking system could introduce significant new costs for businesses due to the mandatory use of RFID tags, which are both expensive and non-recyclable.
They also noted that Metrc has a track record of technical issues, including system downtime, which has caused serious operational disruptions in other states. These challenges, they explained, could lead to delays at dispensaries and require extensive staff training to ensure a smooth adjustment.
My guests emphasized that while consumers might not directly notice the effects of this transition, businesses may face notable operational hurdles. Loyalty programs and other dispensary integrations could face challenges, and staff members will need to familiarize themselves with the new system. They explained that Metrc’s reliance on external tags and additional training requirements represent logistical challenges that could ripple throughout Illinois’ cannabis industry. These insights from experienced professionals underscore the importance of proactive planning to minimize disruptions during the transition.
By sharing this information, I hope to raise awareness about the potential challenges Illinois may face as it transitions to Metrc and a new patient/physician/caregiver portal. It’s my hope that understanding these issues could help both the industry and consumers better prepare for the adjustment.
Update from 4/16/2025
On April 16, 2025, the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Division of Medical Cannabis sent out an email to all registered patients and caregivers announcing the launch of a new online registration portal for the Medical Cannabis Patient Program and the Opioid Alternative Patient Program. The new system will go live on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, and is designed to be more user-friendly and mobile compatible across both Apple and Android devices
Patients and caregivers are encouraged to create a new login and password now by visiting this link to access the setup instructions and how-to video.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page about the switch to the new system. They encourage patients and caregivers to read through the FAQ page.
If you have any additional questions, contact the Illinois Division of Medical Cannabis at DPH.MedicalCannabis@illinois.gov.
The full email can be viewed below.
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The Cole Memo 
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