What Is On a Cannabis Label and How to Read It

Written By The Chapeau Noir Reserve Team

Cannabis Label Requirements

The Canadian government requires a lot of information on cannabis product labels, and some producers choose to include additional information (such as strain type). Here are the most common items that you’ll find listed on cannabis product labels:

  • Active compounds

  • Quantities of each active compound

  • Equivalency statements 

  • Product weight

  • Strain types

  • Packaging & expiry dates

  • Warning labels

  • Producer information

  • Recommended storage conditions

  • Lot number 

Let’s unpack this so you know how to interpret each piece of information. They’re not as straightforward as they may seem. 

Active Compounds: THC & CBD Defined

All legal cannabis packaging must list the active compounds that the product contains. The two primary compounds on the market today are THC and CBD. 

In Canada THC stands for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and is the primary compound responsible for cannabis intoxication. In short, the more THC the product contains, the more potent the effects will be. There are other strains of THC but they have yet to come to the Canadian market. (Stay tuned – we’ll share more about what’s to come and what’s available in a future blog.) 

CBD is the other piece of the puzzle. Short for cannabidiol, it’s a compound that tends to be considered non-intoxicating. Some people experience light effects in the brain (ie, calming, relaxed, focused or unfocused) and studies confirm there is an effect, but the impact is usually subtle and not  associated with being “high” as such.  

THC & CBD Quantities 

The amount of THC and CBD in any given product is listed differently on the label depending on the format of the product: 

  • Flower and softgels show THC and CBD quantities in milligrams per gram or mg/unit

  • Oils list the quantities of active compounds in milligrams per gram (mg/g)

  • Edibles and beverages show the quantities of THC and CBD in milligrams or mg/unit

 The numbers to look out for are those printed after “TOTAL THC” and “TOTAL CBD”, and don’t forget, higher the THC number, the more potent the product will be.

Equivalency statement

When looking at the label of an edible or beverage cannabis product you’ll see an equivalency amount. 

For regulatory purposes cannabis producers are required to provide an equivalency of dry flower for their products. The equation used for this conversion is generic, which can be misleading for you, the consumer. 

This is the public table for equivalency:  

(Source: Government of Canada site)

Here’s where it’s misleading. The regulations are static, so that no matter the amount of THC in a product (a beverage, for example) the label will indicate a predetermined equivalency to dried cannabis. A 375mL beverage, for example, will list a 5.35g equivalency whether the beverage holds 5mg of THC or 10mg of THC, because of the 375mL size. Let’s break it down. 

The above table posits that for a non-solid cannabis product (ie, a beverage) every seventy millilitres (which is the same as 70 grams) is equal to one gram of dried cannabis. 375 divided by seventy gives us the 5.35g that would be marked on the package. That’s what the label is going to say regardless of whether there is 2mg of THC or 10mg of THC in the beverage.

Being able to see the flower equivalent should help you understand your dosing and tolerance, empowering you to make an informed decision and consume responsibly. No doubt that’s what most consumers will assume the equivalency ratings is designed to do. But unfortunately, at this time, the equivalency statement doesn’t do that and is simply set up to address quantity limitations at the consumer purchasing stage. (We’ll explain this in the next section.) Ultimately, the best thing you can do when trying to assess how a product might affect you is to look at the Total THC on the label.

Product Weight

In Canada, consumers are permitted to purchase up to 30 grams of dried cannabis per visit to the dispensary. This is where the equivalency mentioned above comes into play, as a means for regulating the purchase of other (edible, drinkable) products. 

However, when you’re buying a dried cannabis product, as in flowers or pre-rolls, the weight of the product may not be exactly as it appears on the label. . If you were to place a flower product on a scale, there may be a discrepancy between your reading and the label’s information. This is because producers have an “over and under” window in regards to product weight. If the dried cannabis product is under two grams, 10 percent more or less than the gram weight listed on the package can be inside. If the amount is more than two grams, a five percent difference has been considered acceptable according to the guidelines. 

So in summary, 5 grams of dried flower could actually be between 4.5 to 5.5 grams.

Strain Types

Some products will not list the strain, but cannabis is classified into two distinct types: indica and sativa, the alternate being a hybrid (a mixture of the two). 

The specific qualities and properties of the strains have been debated for decades, but generally the differences are quite straight forward. Indica strains are often promoted as helping with sleep, relaxation and tranquility, while sativa strains are usually referred to as energizing. “Hybrid” classifications vary between parts of both, however these are yet to be scientifically defined.

Similar to many other things you can consume, cannabis plants feature unique terpenes and aromatic molecules that allow you to experience various effects. The effects are personal to you and can affect you differently for a variety of reasons.

Packaging and Expiry Dates

All labels show the date that the cannabis product was packaged and the date upon which it expires (if any)l. Cannabis can lose its potency over time, so these  dates will help you see when the potency is at its optimal consumption period. 

Warning Labels

Canadian regulations require cannabis producers to display warning labels on all products, similar to those required for tobacco products. These warning labels serve a public health purpose, whether the product is consumed by inhaling, eating, drinking, or another means. Producers are required to print at least one warning on their cannabis packaging. 

These labels  educate consumers on the potential negative effects of cannabis, and may highlight other things such as who may be at a higher risk for adverse effects of cannabis use. The suitability of these warning labels is a topic of debate, as some products will bear a warning label that is not entirely pertinent to the type of product being sold. But as per regulations, they will continue to be displayed.

Producer Information

The primary producer of the final cannabis product is listed on the label and is responsible for the product itself and its packaging. All legal producers hold licenses from the Canadian government that permit them to produce and market their products.  Should you have inquiries about a product, contact information can be found on the label and they should be able to answer or direct you accordingly.

Recommended Storage Conditions

Producers are not required by law to provide storage recommendations, but most include this information on their labels. Optimal storage conditions vary depending on the type of product. Heat and sunlight can degrade the active compounds in the cannabis plant, reducing the quality and potency of the product. For this reason, dried cannabis products should be kept in a dark, dry environment and are often packaged in opaque plastic containers. 

Beverages and edibles should be kept in a cool, dark place, and beverages in particular are often best to chill before consumption.   

Regardless of the type of product, it is best to store your cannabis out of reach or sight of any curious household members, and to always ensure that they’re out of reach of children.

Lot Number

Last but not least, a lot number is required on all cannabis products sold in Canada. It is unique to the producers’ manufacturing processes and is used to trace each product back to its production batch (for example, in the case of a recall). Each production batch is associated with a record of information including the ingredients , the entire production process (bottling, canning, rolling, etc.), packaging processes (related to sealing and child resistant closures), and the labeling process.

A fun fact about the lot number is that it also allows the producer to track products by  potency. For flower based products, cannabis is harvested every eight to twelve weeks and it is batch-tested. The CBD and THC content of that batch is noted for the packaging/labeling of the product. For products that use emulsification and extracts, batch testing is also done with every packaging event, whether it be bottling, canning, etc. These are also reflected in the THC and CBD content listed on the label. In both cases, potency can vary from batch to batch and is trackable through lot numbers. 

To wrap it up, a lot of information is presented on the label of legal cannabis products in Canada. Some pieces of information are more helpful than others for you, the consumer, but now you know why they are in place, how to interpret each of them, , and how you can consume wisely moving forward. 

The Chapeau Noir Reserve Team