Discover your next big idea at PACK EXPO Las Vegas this September
Experience a breakthrough in packaging & processing and transform your business with solutions from 2,300 suppliers spanning all industries.
REGISTER NOW & SAVE

Design firms step up cannabis compliance offerings

In the face of rapidly changing packaging regulations, some designers are becoming de-facto compliance experts. One firm recently brought on a compliance attorney to assist.

Cannabis packaging designers are increasingly becoming de-facto compliance experts.
Cannabis packaging designers are increasingly becoming de-facto compliance experts.

As Healthcare Packaging recently reported, cannabis product manufacturers are in a precarious spot. Packaging regulations are changing rapidly—including new rules that say packaging cannot resemble that used for foods—but regulators typically do not pre-approve designs, meaning manufacturers run the risk of getting product pulled from shelves due to packaging.

Because the laws are not always clear, an incorrect packaging or labeling choice can lead to significant product waste and redesign costs.

To help address this gap, San Diego-based Hippo Premium Packaging has hired an attorney to offer complimentary cannabis packaging compliance services to its clients. The services are not considered legal counsel but intended to help companies navigate the myriad of state and local regulations.

It’s a struggle for design and branding firms nationwide in states with legal medical or recreational marijuana programs. An Aug. 27 Forbes article, “Cannabis Marketers Try To Crack The Compliance Code,” highlighted the issue.

“We as a creative marketing agency end up feeling like we're operating more as a compliance agency at times,” said Dustin Iannotti, Co-founder and Creative Director of Artisans on Fire, a Las Vegas-based “cannabis-centric” marketing agency.

Looking to the future, some industry experts interviewed in theForbesarticle were optimistic that regulations will relax.

Marion Mariathasan, CEO of Simplifya, a cannabis compliance software firm headquartered in Denver, weighed in. “As support for legalization grows and laws continue to change around the country, marketing restrictions will likely loosen because more people will see them as patently unfair, especially when compared to similar adult products like alcohol.”

Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Discover which palletizing technology—robotic, conventional, or hybrid—will maximize your packaging line efficiency while minimizing long-term costs in this comprehensive analysis.
Read More
Is your palletizing solution leaving money on the floor?
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report
Discover the latest breakthrough packaging technologies shaping the pharmaceutical sector. This report dives into cutting-edge innovations, from smart containers that enhance patient safety to eco-friendly materials poised to transform the industry’s sustainability practices. All from PACK EXPO. Learn how forward-thinking strategies are driving efficiency and redefining what’s possible in pharma packaging.
Learn More
Pharmaceutical Innovations Report