Weed packaging is essential for cannabis brands looking to stand out in today’s competitive market while meeting strict regulatory requirements. Here’s what you need to know about cannabis packaging options:
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Cannabis packaging serves two critical purposes: protecting your product and showcasing your brand. With packaging often weighing 4 to 30 times more than the product itself, choosing the right materials and designs is both a compliance necessity and a marketing opportunity.
Modern dispensary shelves are crowded with options, making distinctive packaging crucial for capturing consumer attention.
Whether you’re launching a new product line or refreshing existing packaging, your choices need to balance regulatory compliance, brand identity, and environmental responsibility. The right packaging partner can help steer these requirements while creating packaging that resonates with your target audience.
From opaque, child-resistant containers for edibles to terpene-preserving glass jars for premium flower, each product category has specific packaging needs that must be addressed to maintain product quality and meet legal standards.
The cannabis industry has evolved dramatically in recent years, and with it, so have packaging options. Today’s weed packaging solutions must balance regulatory compliance, product preservation, brand presentation, and increasingly, environmental responsibility.
When it comes to cannabis flower, preservation of freshness, aroma, and potency is paramount. The packaging you choose directly impacts how long your product maintains its quality.
Glass Jars: Premium brands often choose glass for its superior preservation qualities. Glass is non-reactive, meaning it won’t leach chemicals or affect the flavor profile of your product.
Glass jars typically feature:
Pop-Top Drams: These plastic containers have become industry standards for their convenience and compliance features. The “pop-top” mechanism satisfies child-resistance requirements while providing easy access for adult users. Many dispensaries appreciate their stackability and standardized sizes.
Pre-Roll Tubes: For pre-rolled products, specialized tubes offer protection and presentation value. The best options include:
Humidity Control: Many premium packaging solutions now integrate humidity control packs that maintain optimal moisture levels (typically 58-62% relative humidity). These packs ensure your flower doesn’t dry out or develop mold issues during storage and distribution.
Terpene Preservation: Advanced packaging solutions focus on preserving the aromatic terpenes that give cannabis its distinctive smell and contribute to its effects.
Edible cannabis products face some of the strictest packaging regulations in the industry, with most states requiring:
Opaque Pouches: Regulations typically require that edibles be packaged in opaque materials so the product isn’t visible to children. Mylar bags with custom printing have become the go-to solution, offering:
Resealable Zips: For multi-serving edibles, resealable packaging is often required by law.
Aluminum Cans: For cannabis beverages, modified aluminum cans with child-resistant features are becoming increasingly popular. These specialized cans include:
Dose Caps: For products like capsules or tablets, specialized bottles with child-resistant caps are essential. These typically include:
Heat-Sealed Films: Many edible manufacturers use heat-sealed films as an additional layer of protection and compliance. These films provide tamper evidence and help maintain product freshness.
Cannabis concentrates and vape products present unique packaging challenges due to their consistency, potency, and sometimes, liquid form.
Silicone-Lined Jars: For sticky concentrates like wax, budder, or shatter, silicone-lined containers prevent product waste and make access easier for consumers.
Blister Clamshells: For cartridges and disposable vapes, custom blister packaging offers protection during shipping and displays the product effectively at retail. These typically feature:
Anti-Leak Seals: For liquid concentrates and cartridges, preventing leakage is crucial. Advanced packaging includes specialized seals and closures designed specifically for cannabis oils and distillates.
Heat Resistance: Quality concentrate packaging must withstand temperature variations without degrading or affecting the product inside. This is especially important for products that may be exposed to heat during use or storage.
Metal Recyclability: As sustainability becomes more important, many brands are choosing metal containers for concentrates because of their recyclability. Aluminum and tin containers can be easily recycled in most municipal systems, unlike some plastic alternatives.
Cannabis packaging regulations vary significantly by state, creating challenges for brands operating across multiple markets. While this regulatory patchwork can seem overwhelming, understanding the common threads can simplify your approach.
Batch and lot numbers aren’t just regulatory checkboxes—they’re essential safety mechanisms.
When it comes to potency labeling, most states recognize the natural variations in cannabis testing by allowing a ±15% variance in listed THC/CBD content. Your labels must clearly communicate cannabinoid content, typically in milligrams or percentage by weight, helping consumers make informed decisions about dosage.
The fine print matters too—literally. Many states mandate minimum font sizes (typically 6-point font or 1/16 inch) for warning statements and product information. This seemingly minor detail can dramatically impact your label design and even determine minimum package sizes.
State-specific requirements add another layer of complexity. Colorado requires RFID tags on certain packages for inventory tracking, while California distinguishes between “primary” and “informational” panels. Florida requires opaque wrapping for all edible products, and Massachusetts mandates tamper-proof containers with specific warning language.
Almost all legal markets require the inclusion of a universal cannabis symbol. While the exact design varies by state, this symbol immediately identifies the package as containing cannabis—a crucial safety feature for households with children. For readers interested in the origins of modern safety closures, see the overview on child-resistant packaging.
Tamper-evident features have become standard across the industry. These features reassure consumers about product integrity.
Perhaps most importantly, weed packaging must be certified child-resistant according to the Poison Prevention Packaging Act standards. This means designing packaging that’s difficult for children under five to open while remaining accessible to adults—a challenging balance to strike.
Many forward-thinking brands now include QR codes linking to batch-specific lab results. This digital bridge improves transparency and builds consumer confidence by providing easy access to detailed product information.
While meeting compliance requirements and sustainability goals, effective weed packaging must also differentiate your products in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Strategic design choices can dramatically impact consumer perception and purchasing decisions.
Color psychology plays a powerful role in silent communication with consumers. Green tones naturally suggest plant-based, natural products, while purple often conveys premium, high-potency offerings. White and clean designs signal pharmaceutical-grade quality, and bold, vibrant colors help differentiate recreational products on crowded shelves.
Tactile Coatings in Printing: Enhancing the Print Experience Through Touch
Tactile coatings add a physical texture to printed materials, creating a more engaging sensory experience. Commonly used in packaging, labels, and secure documents, these coatings elevate brand perception and improve product functionality.
Types of Tactile Coatings
Benefits of Tactile Coatings
Common Applications
The feel of your packaging matters just as much as its appearance. Tactile coatings create a multisensory experience that lifts perceived value. These finishes create memorable moments when customers handle your products.
For more guidance on selecting the right labels for your cannabis products, explore our resource on How to Choose the Right Labels for Cannabis Packaging or learn about Custom Cannabis Labels: How to Make Your Product Stand Out.
Working with Whitlam Group as your single-source partner significantly benefits your packaging strategy. Our deep expertise in navigating complex regulatory requirements means you can focus on building your brand while we handle the compliance details. Our 65+ years in the industry and advanced printing capabilities help your products stand out on crowded dispensary shelves through distinctive visual branding that captures attention.
We ensure consistency across your entire product lineup and in multiple markets, creating a cohesive brand experience for your customers. Our streamlined production processes mean faster turnaround times and fewer headaches for you. Plus, you’ll have access to the latest sustainable materials and technologies as the industry increasingly moves toward environmental responsibility.
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.
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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.
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.