Cannabis Packaging: How to Pick a Supplier You Can Trust
Cannabis brands carry enough stress already. The last thing you need is a supplier who misses a ship date or delivers packaging that doesn’t match the sample.
Here’s what to look for before you trust anyone with your cannabis packaging.
By PLC Print
Cannabis Packaging, Side by Side
| Flower | Pre-Rolls | Edibles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common formats | Jars, mylar bags | Tubes, boxes, multi-packs | Pouches, tins, boxes |
| What goes wrong | Lids that don’t close tight, smell gets out | Tubes that don’t fit the cone or crack in transit | Artwork that looks too much like candy |
| What to ask | Is this exact closure certified child-resistant? | Can I get samples in my cone sizes? | Could anything in the artwork appeal to kids? |
Cannabis Flower Packaging
Flower has to stay fresh and stay sealed. Jars and mylar bags are the usual choices.
Before you order thousands, put your own product in a sample and leave it for a week. Open it, close it, smell it.
What to check
- How the lid closes
- Whether smell gets out
- The child-resistant certificate for that exact closure
Red flag
- A supplier who can’t provide the child-resistant certificate
Pre Roll Packaging
Tubes, boxes and multi-packs. The most common problem is fit. A tube that’s a few millimeters off means loose cones, or cones that won’t go in at all.
Ask for samples in your exact sizes and test them on your line.
What to check
- Fit
- How the cap feels
- How it looks on the shelf
Red flag
- Photos only, no physical samples
Child Resistant Cannabis Packaging
California law requires all cannabis goods to be sold in child-resistant packaging, and the licensee that packages the product is the one responsible for making sure it qualifies.
Some packaging is only child-resistant until it’s opened. That kind has to carry a label saying so. A good supplier knows which type you’re buying and provides the certificates without being asked.
What to check
- The certificate matches the exact closure you’re buying
Keep in mind
- Compliance sits with your license. Your supplier’s job is to give you the proof.
Example: the FARM2LAB Line
Paper tube for 3.5 grams, with the California cannabis symbol printed on it.
Frosted glass jar with a matching green lid.
Frosted glass tube with the same green cap.
Small frosted glass jar with the logo on the lid.
Every piece carries the same green and the same logo. When COVID-19 disrupted supply, we ran emergency production that kept FARM2LAB on store shelves, and the work turned into a long-term partnership. Read the full story.
A simple rule: if a supplier can’t show you samples and certificates before you order, don’t order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for when comparing cannabis packaging companies?
Samples in your real sizes, child-resistant certificates for the exact closures, clear lead times, and someone who picks up the phone when something goes wrong.
Does all cannabis packaging in California need to be child-resistant?
Yes. State law requires cannabis goods to be sold in child-resistant packaging. The Department of Cannabis Control lists what qualifies.
Can PLC Print handle flower, pre roll packaging and edibles together?
Yes. Our custom packaging takes care of all three, start to finish.
Where is PLC Print based?
Berkeley, CA.
Final Thoughts
Good cannabis packaging keeps your product fresh and your license safe. Pick a supplier who shows proof, hits dates and answers the phone. PLC Print in Berkeley, CA handles flower, pre-roll and edible packaging start to finish, so you can get back to running your brand.
Planning a New Cannabis Line?
Tell us what you’re packaging.