What Information to Look For on Cannabis Product Labels

If you are new to purchasing cannabis products or unfamiliar with the packaging, all the information on the label can be confusing or you may be unaware of what to look for. It is important to understand what should be on the label of a cannabis product as well as what it means. Licensed cannabis products are required to share a lot of information directly on their packaging, which means that it can become very busy and overwhelming too. 

Cannabis labels have many elements in common, so once you’re able to understand one label, you should be able to understand them all. 

What Should be on the Labels of Cannabis Products?

• Name: The common or usual name of the product. This should include the brand and targeted cannabis compounds such as CBD or THC. 
• License Information: Licensee name and contact information such as email address. This is important for providing consumers with a way to contact the manufacturer or distributer, especially if they are looking to get more information. 
• List of Ingredients: All products are required to provide a full declaration of all the ingredients in the product. This should include the cannabinoids, terpenes as well as residual solvents that have been left behind.
• Net Quantity of Contents: The products should state how much of what is in the product such as the amount of active cannabis compounds per serving as well as how much is in the whole product excluding the packaging and container. This should include the weight of the product as well as the percentage of cannabis compounds found in the products. The moisture content should also be stated if applicable to the product. 
• Allergens: The product should warn customers of any potential allergens in the product, especially if the product is edible. For example, if the edible is make in a location that also produces products with nuts, the customers need to know in case they are allergic to nuts, such as peanuts. 
• Nutritional Values: This refers to the overall amount and quality of the nutrients in the cannabis products. This may not always be applicable but would always be required in edible cannabis products. This should include a label that states the benefits of the products such as assisting in pain management or increasing appetite.  
• Testing Statements: Some producers, manufacturers or distributers may claim that the product has proven research results, however, the product will need to provide extra information on the testing in order to verify it. It is recommended that the products display the research, or how to access it, and the results should typically be linked to a facility that is not the product facility itself. Products with reliable and backed up testing statements are more reliable and trustworthy too. Such comprehensive testing statements help the consumers see that the product is safe for consumption.
• Warning Signs: These signs are especially important to warn consumers about any complications that may come from taking the product, especially for children and pregnant women. Consumers should also be warned that they may fail a drug test if they are consuming cannabis products. 
• Suggestions For Use: The products should advise consumers on the best and most effective manner of consumption specifically for the product. Some may recommend consumption at night through while others may recommend starting the stay off by consuming it. It is important to see how to use the product since it may require heating to activate the cannabis compounds if the manufacturer or producer haven’t done so already. 
• Storage Recommendations: Many cannabis products may come in a container that is already good for storying the product but there may be extra requirements such as storing it in the fridge or keeping the product in a cool and dry environment. This is important to know in order to avoid spoilage and wasting of the product. 
• Expiration Dates: Are required and should be stated if applicable. This may mostly be applicable to edibles but the consumers should still be made aware in order to avoid any unfortunate situations of consuming products that have gone off. 
• Harvest Lot Numbers: In order to track the quality of cannabis products, the products should state which lot of cannabis that was harvested and used in the product. This assists with quality control, which is important since cannabis can vary from lot to lot. 
• Disclaimers: Untruthful or misleading statements are prohibited. The FDA has already been sending out warning letters to companies who are advertising false claims for their products. 

All this information can tend to make the labels on cannabis products seem clustered, however, having all this information is crucial and vital for keeping the consumers safe and informed. Now that you know what to look for as well as what should be in the label, it will become easier for you to select reliable and effective products which also comply with the regulations regarding labeling. Products that comply with these labeling components are also more reliable and more likely to attract loyal consumers. If you have any further questions, don’t be shy to ask us in the comment section below, or you can ask your local dispensary employees.