Marijuana Packaging: HOW TO STAY COMPLIANT

State marijuana regulators devote much of their time and effort to one goal: to curb the passage of marijuana products into the smaller, black market. Compliance with the labeling and packaging of the drug plays an important role in completing this treatment.

Although the purpose of protecting young children from marijuana use may seem simple, regulators need to consider a complex legal dimension. Each state has its own laws, and most states are constantly updating, changing, and constantly changing their rules.

This is most evident when it comes to packaging and labeling. California, for example, introduced new packaging rules for the marijuana industry in January 2020, giving manufacturers almost no time for new legislation, and was the only state

Marijuana manufacturers who want to do business in multiple states must maintain compliance by multiple regulators in parallel. It can quickly become impossible if two or more states change their laws at the same time.

Why Marijuana Packaging Matters

The majority of the first Marijuana Packaging legislation treated cannabis in the same way as any other prescription substance was treated. Many medical marijuana businesses continue to use the generic cylindrical pill bottles that pharmacies prefer, often with a distinctive green tint instead of the pharmacy-standard orange.

The 1970 Poison Prevention Packaging Act gave birth to these pill bottles, which were successful in lowering the number of children who were injured in drug-related accidents. However, because these bottles are transparent, they don't work as well for avoiding cannabis intake as they do for prescription medicines.

As a response, numerous states have passed laws mandating shops to package cannabis purchases in opaque, child-resistant pouches or bags. 

This has resulted in a new problem: customers are removing their cannabis purchases from the child-resistant dispensary pouch and storing them in a more convenient area at home.

As a result, some manufacturers are reconsidering their Marijuana Packaging compliance strategy. They are re-aligning their packaging processes to offer safe, attractive product containers that fulfill severe regulatory standards, rather than treating regulation as an unwelcome burden.

This decision is influenced by both compliance and marketing. In a field where successful marketing is notoriously difficult, customized packaging allows cannabis product makers to provide themselves with branding space.

Aesthetics, Functionality, and Compliance

Cannabis producers must realize that product packaging can be both child-resistant and appealing to the eye. The design element is crucial since it allows for branding opportunities and helps to assure consumer compliance, which prevents regulators from enacting more tighter laws in the future.

Instead of repurposing cumbersome boxes, glass jars, and pharmaceutical containers, today's cannabis firms are inventing one-of-a-kind packaging solutions that accomplish numerous purposes at once. If it accomplishes its goals in the following areas, well-designed Marijuana Packaging can play a crucial role in the success of a whole business:

Compliance. Cannabis producers will always be concerned about regulatory compliance. No company may bring a product to market unless it complies with – or, better yet, exceeds – state regulations.

Efficiency. When it comes to packaging cannabis products, manufacturers have a variety of financial incentives to decrease waste. If effectively executed, the use of readily available, highly reusable materials can result in a long-term net gain.

Cost-Reduction.While some cannabis products may benefit from luxury branding to attract higher-end buyers, the majority of manufacturers prefer to find compliant, efficient, and low-cost marijuana packaging options.

Sustainability in the environment. By employing hemp to wrap cannabis products, several Marijuana Packaging companies are generating sustainable, common-sense alternatives. Paper and recovered plastic can also reduce a company's environmental footprint while simultaneously providing lucrative branding opportunities.

Aesthetics. Cannabis users consider themselves to be part of a distinct culture. At the dispensary cash register, aesthetically beautiful packaging that maintains this cultural identity might lead to a product surpassing equally valuable alternatives.

Examples of Packaging for Specific Product Types

Taking a thorough look at the legislation of the states you want to operate in can help you choose the best solution for your cannabis company's packaging needs. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, but the examples below should help manufacturers identify one that is right for their situation and aims.

Packaging for cannabis flowers. Customized odor-proof containers can have a significant impact on cannabis flower's marketing success. To set themselves apart from the competitors, some growers use child-resistant containers made of customized wood, glass, or even metal. To extend the shelf life of the product, these containers must provide appropriate moisture and lighting conditions.

Extract packaging and vaporizer. Packaging options for e-cigarettes and extracts provide substantially more branding and design flexibility. Experiential packaging is becoming an increasingly important component of the vape consumer's journey, providing marketers with new methods to engage with customers, frequently via the perspective of luxury packaging and quality.

Packaging for edibles. When it comes to childproof packaging, the food business is one of the most significant. Children can be incredibly resourceful when it comes to obtaining what they believe is chocolate or candy, and companies like CREATIVE are developing methods to reduce the risk of accidental intake.

Packaging for Concentrates. Many concentrate packaging companies are emulating the cosmetics sector in terms of design. When packaging products like hash, wax, crumble and shatter, which are difficult to manage in regular pharmaceutical containers or bags, custom-molded, childproof containers are a requirement.

Overview of Packaging and Labeling Laws by State

The rules governing the packaging of flower, vape, edible, and concentrate products range greatly from state to state. The following list of packaging and labeling requirements highlights some of the variances in marijuana packaging laws between states in the United States:

Alaska

Alaska requires all cannabis products to be packaged in an opaque and child-resistant container with a label disclosing the amount of THC present.

• Flowers must be packaged in resealable containers. It must calculate the total quantity of THC in the product per gram and indicate the package's net weight of the flower.
• Only resealable vaporizer extract packaging is required if the product is meant for repeated applications.
• The amount of THC in a single dose and the overall amount included in edible packaging must be reported (up to 50 milligrams). It is not necessary to specify the product's ingredients, but it must have an expiration date.
• Packaging for concentrates must be opaque, resealable, and child-proof. The logo and license number must be used to identify the dispensary and producer.

Colorado

The universal sign for THC-containing products must be prominently displayed on all packaging in Colorado.

• Flowers must be packaged in a way that is both opaque and child-resistant.
• The vaporizer extract should be opaque and child-proof.
• Edible packaging cannot be appealing to children or imitate existing food products. Nutritional information, as well as the expiration date, must be given.
• The quantity of THC in each serving must be specified on concentrate packaging, which must also be childproof.

Maine

In Maine, marijuana products must list the cultivation facility that grew and harvested the marijuana used to make the product, as well as the product's net weight and volume.

Flowers must be packaged in a child-resistant manner, with no figures, designs, or imagery that would appeal to children.

The package for vaporizer extracts must be child-resistant and include a list of any potential allergies in the product.

Edible packaging cannot look like commercially available food and must have all nutritional information, including any allergens, in a legible font.

The quantity of THC in each serving must be specified on concentrate packaging, which must also be childproof.

Maryland

Manufacturers of cannabis in Maryland must package their goods in plain, opaque, child-resistant containers that include the following warnings:

Flower packaging must display the name, strength, and weight of the dried cannabis bud it contains.

Vaporizer extract packaging must include the name of the strain used and the strength of the dosage, as well as directions for safe usage.

Edible packaging must not look like any commercially available food products and must contain comprehensive dosage information.

Concentrate packaging must display all cannabinoid and terpene ingredients and their relative concentrations.

Massachusetts

Flower packaging should be child-resistant and resealable. These packages may not be brightly colored or feature any marketing images potentially attractive to minors.

Vaporizer extract packaging must specify the amount of THC in a single serving, which must be less than five milligrams.

Edible packaging may not imitate commercial food products and must specify the serving size, number of servings, and dosage of each portion.

Concentrate packaging must specify dosage information and warn customers that it contains multiple servings.

Opportunities for Collaboration and Branding

One of the most crucial things for cannabis producers to understand is that they are not alone in this. Marijuana Packaging firms are collaborating with product developers, cannabis industry designers, and compliance consultants to build solutions that enhance their products' viability beyond state borders.

Customizable packaging and flexible delivery options will be required for manufacturers who are serious about expanding their businesses across different states. Third-party providers are frequently the most cost-effective means of attaining these results in a scalable and risk-free manner.

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