Aug. 04, 2025
Consumer Safety
One of the primary reasons for emphasizing the importance of packaging and labeling in the cannabis industry is to ensure consumer safety. Most states require allergen and ingredient information that protects consumers and the company from liabilities, much the same as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires this for wholesale food manufacturing (1). Proper packaging helps protect the product from contamination, damage, and degradation, while accurate labeling provides essential information to the consumer about the product's contents, potency, and usage instructions.
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Tamper-Evident and Child-Resistant Packaging
Tamper-evident packaging is essential for consumer confidence and safety. This type of packaging includes features that make it apparent if the product has been tampered with or opened prior to purchase. Tamper-evident packaging can help protect consumers from potential harm caused by contaminated or altered products. This requirement also exists in many wholesales food manufacturing as well and is not specific to the industry.
Child-resistant packaging is crucial in the cannabis industry to prevent accidental ingestion by children. This type of packaging is designed to be difficult for children to open, reducing the risk of accidental exposure to cannabis products. It is also important to use opaque or discreet packaging to avoid attracting the attention of children. There are different regulations regarding this in each state, so pay attention to the specific requirements when it comes to protecting children from THC cannabis products.
Brand Recognition and Product Differentiation
In a competitive market, effective packaging and labeling can play a significant role in helping cannabis businesses establish brand recognition and differentiate their products from competitors. With the increasing variety of cannabis products available—including flower, edibles, concentrates, and topicals—it is crucial for businesses to create packaging that is visually appealing, conveys their brand identity, and highlights the unique selling points of their products. The design and material selection for packaging should reflect the brand's values and appeal to the target audience. The use of high-quality materials and finishes can also create a sense of luxury and premium quality, which may appeal to certain customer segments.
Packaging and labeling present significant opportunities for cannabis businesses to differentiate themselves in a crowded market. Creative and eye-catching designs can help attract consumers and build brand recognition. However, it's important to strike a balance between appealing aesthetics and clear, informative labels. Companies should carefully consider their target audience when designing packaging and labels. For example, medical cannabis products should convey a sense of professionalism and trustworthiness, while recreational products can adopt a more playful and engaging approach. Regardless of the target market, consistency in branding across different product lines is crucial for building a cohesive brand identity.
Environmental Considerations
As the cannabis industry grows, so does its environmental impact. Many cannabis companies are opting for eco-friendly and sustainable packaging materials, such as recyclable or biodegradable materials, to align with environmentally conscious consumers. Sustainable packaging solutions can help mitigate this impact and appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Additionally, minimizing packaging waste by using efficient designs and reducing unnecessary packaging materials can contribute to a greener industry.
Innovative Packaging Solutions
Innovative packaging solutions can help businesses differentiate their products and create a memorable unboxing experience for consumers. Examples of innovative packaging in the cannabis industry include discreet, pocket-sized tins for edibles, pre-roll tubes with built-in humidity control, and customizable concentrate containers with removable compartments and dabbers attached.
Compliance with Regulations
I know that this seems obvious, but sometimes you just have to do things to stay compliant. Proper packaging and labeling are essential for complying with the various laws and regulations that govern the cannabis industry. These regulations often vary by jurisdiction and can include specific requirements for child-resistant packaging, tamper-evident features, and warning labels. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in significant fines, product recalls, or even the suspension of a business's license to operate. Not to mention the liability that comes with improper labeling if, for example, a consumer ingests something that wasn’t labeled (such as an allergen) or takes more THC than expected due to improper labeling, or if a child is hospitalized from ingesting cannabis.
Cannabis labeling requirements typically include specific information that must be displayed on the product label, such as the product's name, net weight, cannabinoid content, and batch number. Additionally, labels often need to include warning statements, such as "Keep out of reach of children" or "For use by adults 21 years and older." It is essential for cannabis businesses to stay informed about the labeling requirements in their jurisdiction and ensure their labels are up to date and compliant. Conducting regular label compliance reviews are essential to make sure your labels are up to date with current regulations, and it can save you money to have a review before sending anything off to the printers.
Universal Symbol
Almost all jurisdictions require cannabis products to display a universal symbol, which is a recognizable icon that indicates the presence of THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis. The universal symbol helps consumers quickly identify cannabis products and promotes safe consumption practices. Even ASTM International’s D37 global cannabis standards committee has developed a universal symbol that has been adopted by two states at this time (2). Having something easily recognizable on the label to let consumers know that they are intoxicating is important when thinking about your labeling.
Educating Consumers
Packaging and labeling can also serve as an educational tool for consumers. As the cannabis industry continues to evolve, many consumers are new to the various types of products and their uses. Providing clear, concise information on packaging and labels can help consumers make informed decisions about their purchases. Many first-time consumers may struggle to understand exactly what each product is and how it is used. Education is a great way to make new customers feel comfortable with your product and help budtenders in dispensaries be able to easily explain your product to customers when they come in.
Including detailed product descriptions and usage instructions on packaging can help consumers understand the purpose and proper use of a cannabis product. For example, labels on cannabis-infused edibles should clearly indicate the recommended serving size and provide guidance on consumption, such as waiting a certain amount of time before consuming more to avoid overconsumption.
Cannabinoid and Terpene Profiles
Not every state requires the same thing when it comes to disclosing cannabinoid and terpene profiles, so this is definitely a company preference. Labels that include information about a product's cannabinoid and terpene profiles can help consumers make informed decisions about the cannabis products they purchase. Cannabis is much like wine in the sense that everyone’s palate and preference is different. The more information you have about this on the label, the better a customer can discern which one of your products they will enjoy the most. This information can be particularly important for medical cannabis patients who may be seeking specific cannabinoid ratios or terpene profiles to address their health needs.
Challenges in Cannabis Packaging and Labeling
Despite its importance, achieving optimal packaging and labeling in the cannabis industry can be challenging. Regulations and requirements often differ between jurisdictions, making it difficult for manufacturers to create packaging that satisfies all relevant laws. Moreover, the rapidly evolving nature of the industry means that businesses must stay up to date. This can be a taxing endeavor especially in states that are constantly changing their regulations or to multi-state operators (MSOs) having to keep up with changes in multiple states. Many companies are turning to consulting firms that conduct label reviews to double check their compliance when entering a new state or when regulations are updated. I recommend being on your state regulatory office mailing list to get updates regularly regarding packaging, and having a good relationship with your regulators so you can reach out and ask questions regarding labeling when they arise.
Conclusion
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, the importance of packaging and proper labeling cannot be overstated. Prioritizing consumer safety, brand recognition, regulatory compliance, and consumer education will help businesses succeed in this competitive market. By investing in high-quality, innovative packaging and ensuring labels provide accurate, up-to-date information, cannabis businesses can build trust with their customers and promote responsible consumption practices.
References
If you're a manufacturer of cannabis products, a starting cannabusiness, or even a marketer tasked to help develop a marijuana brand line, you are confronted with an enormous task in deciding on the most suitable cannabis packaging.
The challenges lie in the face of heavy restrictions, ever-changing laws, and state-specific rules around cannabis products. Glass jars, plastic, cardboard, silicone, and acrylic are just a few of the options available, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Aside from distinguishing itself from the competition, each must be suited for the product, preserve its freshness, satisfy legal compliance standards, and be cost-effective.
After putting so much time and effort into growing, harvesting, and processing your cannabis product, you may now be wondering what it takes to pick the right type of packaging.
What’s the best packaging for cannabis? Continue reading to discover the best cannabis packaging to match your product, budget, and brand.
One of the recurring issues that cannabrands of all sizes confront is obtaining distinctive branded packaging while maintaining profit margins.
There are four crucial considerations to make before diving into specialized packaging options.
First and foremost, determine who your target market is. Are you targeting budget-conscious shoppers, seasoned smokers searching for top-of-the-line products, or a demographic in the middle?
Once you've identified your target market, please do your best to see things from their perspective. Visualizing the complete process from when they first encounter your product on the shelf to when they use it is a beneficial exercise.
Think of where they will take the product after purchase, consume it, and the features that will thrill them the most. All of this will help you find the ideal packaging option for your product and type of cannabis product format.
The next thing is to consider the look and feel that complements your brand's image. Setting aside the time to contemplate this will help you choose the right packaging material and design.
If you are going for a high-end look and feel, you may want to use glass instead of plastic tubs. But if you are targeting a budget-conscious consumer, you may want to go for a cost-effective alternative such as mylar bags.
Since cannabis is an agricultural crop with no natural "branding," it's essential to produce and market your own. Details such as unique styles of lids, colored containers, and customized graphics may help your product stand out from the crowd.
While many people have either a favorable or unfavorable opinion about cannabis, we can't forget that it is still a drug in the truest meaning of the word and should be treated as such.
Its advantages are many, but you must exercise precautionary measures to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands as with any other medical product.
In some states, child-resistant packaging is a requirement. However, experts recommend including it as a standard even if the laws don't apply in your area. Because the rules appear to be changing all the time, including child-resistant features in your bags from the start might save you money in the long run.
Also, medical-grade cannabis edibles must be packaged in a well-sanitized room or a facility that satisfies GMP standards. Still, a regular chocolate bar may only require food-grade packaging. This is not to argue that one is less valuable than the other, but packaging requirements may differ based on the consumer and application.
While recreational users and patients may be more concerned with how effectively cannabis packaging preserves the product's potency, freshness, and aroma, startup cannabrands and businesses must ensure that their packaging is both protective and complies with federal standards.
For both the flower and edibles, a tamper-evident reclosable cannabis storage bag will be your best choice.
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The legal cannabis edibles market has evolved, as have packaging options for both retail and pharmaceutical products. When manufacturing cannabis edibles, using packaging that regulates humidity is vital since sweating may lead to mold and condensation.
Manufacturers of cannabis edibles must also ensure that their packaging is tamper-proof, child-resistant, and compliant with local regulations.
Understanding the standards and requirements for the necessary packaging is critical. Since these regulations are continually changing and there are no universal national laws, companies must keep up with the ongoing regulatory adjustments to be compliant and protect the general public's welfare.
At Pouch Me, you can count on us to help you create the correct and current regulatory compliance verbiage for controlled substances in their respective states. Use our (more than) a decade of experience and vast knowledge to help you get professional packaging for your products.
Allow us to take this opportunity to share a few comparisons to explain why flexible packaging can make an equally or more effective option for cannabis packaging.
Here are some of the arguments people make when comparing traditional packaging methods to flexible child-proof bags.
Some people argue that glass is the safer and more effective material since it is non-porous and gives your cannabis products a longer shelf-life.
While we share the view that the conventional small plastic bag is inadequate for extending the shelf life of cannabis, flexible packaging has several advantages over rigid containers. These include easier transit, more product that can fit on dispensary shelves, and more "retail space" for cannabrands to showcase their distinct designs, graphics, and logos, as well as legal dosage specifications and labels.
Glass jars are prone to shattering, making them a risky packaging option for consumers. Cracked glass also enables hazardous external pollutants to come into touch with cannabis. Furthermore, since glass is heavy, it necessitates extra fuel and CO2 emissions during shipping the product inside the package.
On the other hand, flexible child-resistant bags aid in preserving and extending shelf life, with the added benefit of allowing excess air to escape the package each time it is reclosed.
Consumers, particularly those using medicinal cannabis for arm, wrist, or joint discomfort, will appreciate the zip closure at the top. Glass jar lids, let's admit, are a hassle to open. Zip closures are easier to open and reclose, and the childproof zipper is particularly designed to prevent little children from accessing the packaging.
When it comes to selecting the best strain, without a clear picture of the product, the buyer is left with no choice but to trust their instinct.
Cannabis packaging is required to be opaque in several states, and it is great if you don't need to worry about keeping your packaging opaque where you currently sell and operate. However, regulations constantly change, and opaque cannabis packaging seems to be the most favored direction, so consider this, and the trouble of needing to scrap your current packaging should this rule take hold where you are.
However, brands may enhance transparency by printing their labels and product information on the exterior of their tamper-proof reclosable cannabis bag. Because jars are cylindrical, you can only add printed information about the product on the label or the lid. There is more "retail space" to add transparency on a flexible pouch compared to a jar.
While the United States' recycling rate has risen over time, more rubbish is being produced than ever before. As a result, glass jars are just as likely as any other sort of packaging to wind up in landfills.
On the other hand, flexible pouches are more environmentally friendly, and end consumers can recycle them with R7-coded materials.
If you want to preserve a product's freshness, we don't advocate utilizing biodegradable packaging materials. Because it's designed to break down when exposed to light, UV rays, and other factors, it might degrade the quality of the substance within.
Using biodegradable materials puts both your packaging and your product at risk. You risk damaging the quality and potency of your quality cannabis product unless you choose robust packaging that blocks out light, oxygen, moisture, and germs.
Proper packaging allows for product accessibility, visibility, and freshness preservation. Nothing is more aggravating than buying two grams of oil and being unable to scrape 20% of it off the plastic package.
However, if accessibility concerns you, flexible pouches with a childproof zipper are the best option. Adults can get the complete product out by using a convenient zip-lock function that has been thoroughly tested to keep children out.
Rather than being made of paper, these bags have laminate on them to prevent products from sticking to them. Many buyers choose pouches because they allow them to squeeze out every last drop of product, increasing total value.
We entirely agree that labeling is critical for informing customers about cannabis concentrates and ensuring that your business adheres to strict rules.
The advantage of flexible packaging is that it can be entirely personalized, allowing you to print all of your branding information directly on the child-resistant pouches rather than wasting precious time adhering paper labels to each bag.
Choosing the right packaging shouldn't be guesswork, nor should it be a dreaded chore with stressful implications. We can help you get started with professional, protective, flexible packaging that creates a memorable brand.
Flexible packaging, in general, is quickly becoming a market leader for all consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Because it's still new to the US market, brands that use this sort of packaging will stand out when compared to conventional jars, cartons, traditional plastic baggies, and so on.
Custom printing on these pouches allows you to differentiate yourself from the competition by utilizing your logo, images, color schemes, fonts, and so on.
Exit bags that are flexible and child-resistant may be made in various sizes and designs, allowing for consistent branding and ensuring that each cannabrand follows the serving size and dosage guidelines.
If you need help determining the best type of flexible packaging for your cannabis edibles or flowers, reach out to us today and our packaging experts will consult for free.
What kind of bags do dispensaries use?
Most dispensaries use mylar exit bags with childproof zippers.
How long do smell-proof bags last?
The bags are reusable and may be revived if required, reusing them to make the most out of each flexible packaging pouch.
Are dispensary bags smell-proof?
Dispensary bags are typically made of quality heat-sealed mylar to help keep out odors and light.
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