It’s July 1st: Are You Ready?
On July 1, 2018, California’s new regulations governing the packaging and licensing of cannabis begins.
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| CBPH Issued Universal Cannabis Symbol |
Although we’re not regulatory experts, we can help with compliance to the packaging and labeling requirements coming to California. And recently, we’ve had a lot of questions from our customers on these issues. Let me tell you more about the requirements as we understand them; and how we can help.
First; Child Resistant Packaging is required for all cannabis packaging. If you need a child resistant package, we offer the MPACK; the first new pharmacy vial since the 50’s.
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| 18 and 30 Dram MPACK’s |
Plus, we have them available in two sizes; 18 dram (3.125” tall x.92” wide) and 30 dram (4” tall x .92” wide).
And most importantly, these packages are certified child resistant:
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| MPACK Child Resistant Certification |
Second to Child Resistant, packaging must be tamper evident. With the MPACK, we recommend labeling over the top/bottom sections where the packaging separates.
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| Labeled MPACKS |
With the addition of a perforation, separation of the label between the top and bottom is easy to do.
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| Tamper Evident Paper Label |
For other types of packages, we have paper labels with a durable adhesive that acts as a tamper evident seal. Once the adhesive is set, the paper can’t be removed (on most surfaces) without shredding. If interested, we can send you matte paper labels to test on your packaging.
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| MPACK’s In Color |
Third, packages for edibles must be opaque. As seen in the above picture, we have the MPACKS in a variety of colors, with the option of a monochrome image on the package itself.
Fourth, packages must be resealable; the child resistant “Snaps” on the sides make the MPACK resealable.
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| Resealable MPACK |
Even with the side snaps, the MPACKS are so easy to open they qualify as Senior Friendly!
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| MPACK Senior Certification |
In addition to the packaging requirements, California has new labeling requirements; both on the “Primary Panel” label and the “Informational Panel” label. On the Primary panel, the label must:
- Identify the product
- Provide the THC/CBD content
- Contain the CBPH Issued Universal Cannabis Symbol
- Include net weight or volume.
On the Information panel, the label must contain:
- Manufacturer’s name/contact information (website/phone number)
- Manufacture date
- Government warning statement
- Ingredient list
- Instructions for use
- Expiration date
- Unique ID/Batch number
(FYI: I found this page helpful. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/MCSB/Pages/PackagingandLabelingFAQs.aspx )
As for the warning statement, I found this paragraph:
“GOVERNMENT WARNING: THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS CANNABIS, A SCHEDULE I CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN AND ANIMALS. CANNABIS PRODUCTS MAY ONLY BE POSSESSED OR CONSUMED BY PERSONS 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER UNLESS THE PERSON IS A QUALIFIED PATIENT. THE INTOXICATING EFFECTS OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS MAY BE DELAYED UP TO TWO HOURS. CANNABIS USE WHILE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING MAY BE HARMFUL. CONSUMPTION OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS IMPAIRS YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE AND OPERATE MACHINERY. PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION.”
For edible products, the label must contain any allergen information, list of artificial food colors, and nutritional information.
If you decide that your labels need to meet Prop 65 requirements, please see this earlier post: http://colorlabelsondemand.blogspot.com/2017/09/new-ca-prop-65-requirements.html
To print the Unique ID, Batch Number, Expiration date, THC content, CBD content, and all other variable data, we recommend BarTender; the leading label design and printing software. With this software, it’s easy to add information to an established label template at print time or integrate with a database as simple as Excel to pull variable data onto a printed label.
If interested in BarTender, here is the link for a free 30-day trial download.
https://www.seagullscientific.com/downloads/label-software/barcode-label-printing-software-download/
And to start, I suggest you watch these three short videos:
https://support.seagullscientific.com/hc/en-us/articles/204791538-Getting-started-with-BarTender-Video-7-43- Getting Started
https://support.seagullscientific.com/hc/en-us/articles/214448067-Data-entry-forms-Designing-a-data-entry-form-Video-5-51- Data Entry Forms
https://support.seagullscientific.com/hc/en-us/articles/204770598-Getting-started-with-database-connections-Video-5-20- Database Connections
Purchase BarTender and software maintenance here: https://colorlabelsolutions.com/product-category/label-software/
Overall, we have a child-resistant package, tamper evident labels and software to make printing variable data easy to do. Plus, we’ll help you design and print the labels you want to use on-demand and in color. Contact us if we can help you with your new California labels.
Guy Mikel
855-962-7670