California: cannabis packaging cannot resemble food products

A new set of resources from the California Department of Public Health helps cannabis manufacturers and other businesses evaluate compliance with packaging and labeling requirements.

Keren SookneDirector of Editorial Content Healthcare Packaging

Jul 12th, 2018

A new set of resources from the California Department of Public Health helps cannabis manufacturers and other businesses evaluate compliance with packaging and labeling requirements.

A new set of resources from the California Department of Public Health helps cannabis manufacturers and other businesses evaluate compliance with packaging and labeling requirements.

A new set of resources released by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) offers a checklist with the Dos and Don’ts of cannabis packaging in the state, along with labeling instructions.

Dos include:

Package manufactured cannabis products prior to transfer to a distributor as finished product. Cannabis flower may be packaged by a cultivator, manufacturer or distributor.
If a product has multiple layers of packaging, the packaging requirements can be fulfilled using any one of those layers.

Don’ts include:

Cannot imitate packaging used for non-cannabis food products or products typically marketed to children.

The four main criteria for a package to meet are tamper evidence, child-resistance, resealability (for products with multiple uses) and opaque packaging for edibles.

Only edibles must be packaged in “lifetime” child-resistant packaging (child-resistant after opening and reclosing), while other forms of products must be initially child-resistant, upon first opening.

Labeling resources

Additionally, a labeling checklist specifies what info can and cannot be included. The product’s county of origincannot appear anywhere on the label unless 100% of the cannabis in the product was grown there. Labels are also forbidden from making unproven health claims.

Packaging Checklist for Cannabis and Cannabis Products

Labeling Checklist for Cannabis Products

Labeling Checklist for Cannabis Products with Small Containers

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