The Canadian government had intended for recreational marijuana use to be legalized by July 1, 2018. To support implementation of the proposed Cannabis Act, regulations would need to be enacted in a range of areas, such as cannabis product standards and packaging & labelling requirements, to ensure that the risks and harms of cannabis are appropriately addressed under the legal framework.

The cannabis packaging market in North America has undergone significant growth, and various companies have recently launched recyclable packaging solutions such as compostable cellophane bags, metal cans, and compostable pouches. Technavio’s analysts forecast that the cannabis packaging market in North America will grow at a CAGR of 10.40% during the period 2017-2021.

Product marketing through packaging is a focus area for packaging companies, but meeting local and federal laws is critical for success. According to a report released by Health Canada in March 2018, regulations would require packaging for cannabis products to have a single, uniform color with a standardized font style.

Producers will be allowed to use their brand name and logo on the carton, but those will be subject to size limitations and can only be used once on the principal display. Other graphics, images or alterations to the packaging (such as special coatings, florescent or metallic colors, embossing or cut-outs) will be prohibited, though the size, shape and material used in the folding box will not be standardized. All packaging must be child resistant, as well as opaque or translucent. The federal government is also banning inserts inside the marijuana boxes themselves — a rule meant to prevent producers and processors from getting around the limits on branding and marketing.

The attached image is an example of the suggested packaging proposed by Health Canada, including the warning label, dosage information and the standardized cannabis symbol. (Photo Source: Health Canada)
Contact us (pack@supremex.com) for assistance in designing your folding cartons and labels for legal Cannabis boxes and labels.