June 29, 2023: Cannabis Packaging for Michiganders
What to Keep in Mind When Designing Your Package for the Michigan Market
Did you know Michigan was the first state in the midwest to legalize recreational cannabis, and 10th in the union? With medical use on the books since 2008 and recreational since 2019, residents of the Great Lakes State have been enjoying their green.
Like other legal states, Michigan has its own unique set of regulations for packaging and sale of cannabis. In this blog, we unpack what’s required to make it to “provisioning centers” (what Michigan calls dispensaries) in the northern state.
Regulated by the Michigan Marijuana Regulatory Agency, licensees must complete an application process similar to other states’ policies. Licenses are effective for a year, and municipalities have the ability to limit licensees in a given area or choose between applications.
(An interesting sidebar: Michigan spells marijuana with an h in official documents, spelled marihuana.)
Michigan mandates compliance with a checklist of packaging regulations for all cannabis, THC/CBD-infused products, or edibles before they are transported or sold to adult consumers. There are a few unique rules to the Wolverine State’s policy. Like in other states, non-compliant packaging can result in a fine or the suspension of an operator’s license.
All cannabis products in Michigan must have the following information on the label:
Name of strain, if applicable.
Name of producer and state license number.
Name of packager and state license number.
Unique identification number of package or harvest.
Date of harvest, if available.
Net weight in both U.S. and metric units.
Michigan’s universal symbol for a marijuana product, viewable here.
THC and CBD concentrations as reported by lab testing.
Activation time expressed in words or through a pictogram.
Information about lab testing, including the test analysis date.
In addition, the label must contain the following warnings:
"It is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana."
“National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.”
“For use by individuals 21 years of age or older or registered qualifying patients only. Keep out of reach of children.”
In clearly legible type and surrounded by a continuous heavy line: “WARNING: USE BY PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING WOMEN, OR BY WOMEN PLANNING TO BECOME PREGNANT, MAY RESULT IN FETAL INJURY, PRETERM BIRTH, LOW BIRTH WEIGHT,OR DEVELOPMENTAL PROBLEMS FOR THE CHILD.”
For edible or infused cannabis products, packaging must also comply with the following standards:
Appealing to Minors: The content of the package (the cannabis product) can not be shaped like toys, cartoons, animals, or fictional characters.
Packaging cannot resemble or be easily confused with a commercially available food product; the use of the word candy or candies in the packaging is prohibited.
Edible cannabis must be packaged in opaque, child-resistant packages or containers that meet the effectiveness specifications in the Federal Poison Prevention Packaging Standards.
Ingredient Information: The label lists an expiration date and all non-cannabis ingredients, including allergen information aligned with FDA protocol.
Health Claims: Products are prohibited from including any statement that would mislead a consumer, such as nutritional or health-related statements that are not in accordance with Michigan law.
Packing compliance is key to a successful product and there’s more than enough to wade into in Michigan. You can check out Michigan’s full requirements for cannabis here to learn more. We’ll be back soon with another U.S. state’s take on cannabis policy!
*This blog is not intended to be prescriptive legal advice for what you should or should not include on your packaging. Like many things in our industry, packaging requirements change frequently. Please contact your legal team to confirm your packaging label requirements.