Module 1: Child-Resistant Packaging Requirements

Understand Ohio's strict packaging requirements designed to protect children and ensure product safety.

Child-Resistant Standards

⚠️ Federal Standard Required

All cannabis packaging must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards for child-resistant packaging, specifically 16 CFR 1700.15 and 1700.20.

What Makes Packaging Child-Resistant?

  • Difficult for children under 5: 80% of children cannot open within 5 minutes
  • Adult-friendly: 90% of adults can open and properly reclose
  • Resealable: Remains child-resistant for multiple uses
  • Certified: Third-party tested and certified compliant

Package Types and Standards

🏼 Push-and-Turn Caps

  • Common for bottles/jars
  • Requires downward pressure
  • Must align arrows to open
  • Good for liquids/pills

🔒 Squeeze-and-Pull Bags

  • Popular for flower/edibles
  • Pinch mechanism required
  • Heat-sealed options
  • Single or multi-use

📦 Blister Packs

  • Individual dose packaging
  • Peel-push design
  • Tamper-evident
  • Good for edibles

Additional Packaging Requirements

Requirement Details Purpose
Tamper-Evident Seal or feature showing if opened Consumer protection
Light-Resistant Opaque or UV-protective Product preservation
Resealable Maintains child-resistance after opening Ongoing safety
Food-Grade Safe materials for product contact Health safety

Exit Packaging

🛒 Exit Bag Requirements

  • Opaque or non-transparent
  • Resealable design
  • Cannot display products
  • Must include facility info
  • Child-resistant not required for exit bags

Packaging Violations to Avoid

  • Non-compliant containers: Using packaging without CPSC certification
  • Damaged packaging: Selling products in compromised containers
  • Repackaging errors: Transferring to non-compliant containers
  • Missing features: No tamper-evidence or resealing capability
  • Attractive to children: Bright colors, cartoons, or candy-like appearance

✅ Best Practice: Packaging Inventory

Maintain approved packaging suppliers with:

  • Current CPSC certifications on file
  • Multiple size options in stock
  • Backup suppliers identified
  • Quality control procedures

Module 2: Required Label Content

Learn exactly what information must appear on every cannabis product label in Ohio.

Universal Label Requirements

Every cannabis product label must include:

🏷️ Business Information:

  • Dispensary name and license number
  • Cultivator/processor name and license number
  • Dispensary address
  • Dispensary phone number

📦 Product Information:

  • Product name/strain name
  • Net weight or volume
  • Date of harvest/manufacture
  • Expiration or "use by" date
  • Batch/lot number
  • METRC tag number

🧪 Testing Information:

  • Testing laboratory name
  • Test completion date
  • Cannabinoid profile (THC, CBD, etc.)
  • Statement: "Passed all required tests"

Cannabinoid Content Display

Product Type THC Display Format Required
Flower Percentage by weight "THC: XX.X%"
Edibles Milligrams per serving/package "10mg THC per piece, 100mg total"
Concentrates Percentage and total mg "THC: 75%, 750mg per package"
Topicals mg per container "Contains 250mg THC"

Font Size Requirements

🔤 Minimum Font Sizes:

  • Warning statements: No smaller than 6-point font
  • THC content: Bold, at least 8-point font
  • Business information: At least 6-point font
  • All text: Must be clearly legible
  • Contrast: Text must contrast with background

Medical vs. Adult-Use Labels

🅿️ Medical Cannabis Additional Requirements:

  • "For medical use only"
  • "For use only by the person named on the label"
  • Patient name (privacy compliant)
  • Recommending physician info
  • Patient registry number

🌿 Adult-Use Additional Requirements:

  • "For adult use only"
  • "21+ only" symbol
  • Tax stamp or indicator
  • No medical claims allowed

Prohibited Label Content

🚫 Never Include on Labels:

  • Health or medical claims
  • Images attractive to children
  • Cartoons or toys
  • False or misleading statements
  • Content mimicking non-cannabis brands
  • Celebrity endorsements

Label Placement

  • Primary Panel: Product name, THC content, net weight
  • Information Panel: Warnings, ingredients, business info
  • Anywhere Visible: Batch number, test results, dates
  • Not on Bottom: Critical warnings must be on sides/top

💡 Label Design Tip

Create a label template checklist to ensure all required elements are included before printing. Have labels reviewed by compliance staff before production runs.

Module 3: Required Warning Statements

Master the specific warning language required on all Ohio cannabis products to ensure consumer safety and compliance.

Universal Warning Statements

The following warnings must appear on ALL cannabis products:

🚨 Primary Warnings (EXACT wording required):

  • "Warning: This product may cause impairment and may be habit-forming."
  • "Keep out of reach of children."
  • "Do not drive or operate machinery."

Product-Specific Warnings

Product Type Additional Required Warning
Edibles "Caution: When eaten or swallowed, the effects and impairment may be delayed by 2 hours or more."
Medical Products "For medical use only" AND "For use only by the person named on the label"
Smoking Products "Smoking is hazardous to your health."
Vaporizer Products "This product has not been evaluated by the FDA."

Warning Format Requirements

📏 Formatting Standards:

  • Box/Border: Warnings must be in a box with clear borders
  • Background: Contrasting color (white background preferred)
  • Font: Bold, minimum 6-point, sans-serif
  • Language: English required, Spanish optional
  • Location: Principal display panel or information panel

Symbol Requirements

⚠️ Universal Symbol

  • Red octagon with "THC" in white
  • Minimum 0.5 inch diameter
  • Must be on principal panel
  • Cannot be modified or stylized

🔞 Age Restriction Symbol

  • "21+" in clear, bold text
  • Minimum 0.25 inch height
  • Near THC content display
  • High contrast required

Medical Cannabis Additional Warnings

🅿️ Medical-Specific Requirements:

  • "This product is for medical use pursuant to a recommendation by an Ohio physician."
  • "May cause drowsiness. Use caution when operating a vehicle or machinery."
  • "Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding unless specifically recommended by your physician."

Common Warning Violations

❌ Frequent Mistakes:

  • Paraphrasing: Changing the exact wording of warnings
  • Font too small: Using less than 6-point font
  • Poor contrast: Gray text on white background
  • Missing warnings: Forgetting product-specific warnings
  • Placement errors: Warnings on peel-away portions

✅ Best Practice: Warning Checklist

Create product-specific checklists:

  1. List all required warnings for product type
  2. Verify exact wording matches regulations
  3. Check font size with ruler/gauge
  4. Test contrast and readability
  5. Have non-compliance staff review for clarity

Multi-Language Considerations

🌐 Language Requirements

  • English warnings are mandatory
  • Spanish translations are optional but must be accurate
  • If including Spanish, all warnings must be translated
  • Same formatting requirements apply to all languages

Module 4: Product-Specific Packaging & Labeling Rules

Understand the unique requirements for different cannabis product categories to ensure full compliance.

Flower Products

🌿 Flower-Specific Requirements:

  • Moisture content: May include moisture percentage
  • Harvest date: Required (not just package date)
  • Strain name: As registered with state
  • Terpene profile: Optional but increasingly common
Packaging Considerations:
  • Glass jars with child-resistant lids
  • Mylar bags with zip-lock CR closure
  • Humidity packs allowed inside
  • No loose flower in clear bags

Edible Products

🍪 Edible-Specific Requirements:

Requirement Details
Serving Size Clearly marked, max 10mg THC per serving
Total Servings Number of servings per package
Ingredients List All ingredients in descending order by weight
Allergen Statement Major allergens clearly identified
Nutritional Facts Standard nutrition panel if making claims
Homogeneity Statement "Distributed throughout" for multi-serving
🚫 Edibles Restrictions:
  • No shapes appealing to children
  • No cartoon characters
  • No imitation of non-cannabis candy
  • No "candy" in product name

Concentrate Products

💧 Concentrate-Specific Requirements:

  • Extraction method: Solvent used (CO2, butane, etc.)
  • Activation status: "Activated" or "Not activated"
  • Recommended use: "For vaporization" or "For oral use"
  • Storage instructions: Temperature requirements
Common Packaging:
  • Glass containers with CR lids
  • Silicone containers in CR packaging
  • Syringes in blister packs
  • Cartridges in sealed boxes

Topical Products

🧺 Topical-Specific Requirements:

  • Application instructions: How to use
  • Active ingredients: All cannabinoids listed
  • Inactive ingredients: Complete list required
  • External use only: Clear statement required
  • No therapeutic claims: Cannot claim to treat conditions

Pre-Roll Products

🚬 Pre-Roll Specific Requirements:

  • Individual labeling: Each pre-roll if sold separately
  • Multi-pack rules: Total THC for entire package
  • Filter/tip notation: If contains non-cannabis materials
  • Infusion disclosure: If enhanced with concentrates

Sample Labeling

🆓 Free Sample Additional Requirements:

  • "SAMPLE - NOT FOR RESALE" in red letters
  • Minimum 12-point font for sample designation
  • All standard labeling still required
  • Dispensary providing sample must be listed

💡 Product Development Tip

Before launching new products:

  1. Review product-specific regulations
  2. Design compliant packaging early
  3. Get label pre-approval if offered
  4. Test child-resistance with certification
  5. Maintain packaging compliance files

Module 5: Packaging & Labeling Quality Control

Implement quality control procedures to ensure consistent compliance and avoid costly violations.

Pre-Production Checklist

📋 Before Printing Labels or Ordering Packaging:

  • Review current regulations for any updates
  • Verify all required elements are included
  • Check spelling and grammar thoroughly
  • Confirm THC calculations are accurate
  • Measure font sizes with precision ruler
  • Test color contrast for readability
  • Verify CPSC certification for packaging
  • Get compliance officer approval
  • Order small test batch first

Receiving Inspection

Check Point What to Verify Action if Failed
Packaging Integrity Child-resistance functions properly Reject entire shipment
Label Accuracy Matches approved proof exactly Quarantine for review
Print Quality Clear, legible, proper colors Document and monitor
Adhesion Labels stick properly, don't peel Test alternative adhesive

Production Line QC

🏭 In-Process Quality Checks:

  • First Article Inspection: Verify first packaged item completely
  • Hourly Spot Checks: Random samples throughout shift
  • Label Placement: Ensure consistent positioning
  • Seal Integrity: Test tamper-evidence features
  • Weight Verification: Match label claims

Common QC Failures

📉 Label Failures:

  • Smudged or blurry text
  • Incorrect THC content
  • Missing required warnings
  • Wrong product information
  • Outdated label version

📦 Package Failures:

  • Child-resistance malfunction
  • Seal doesn't hold
  • Material degradation
  • Size doesn't fit product
  • Missing certification marks

Documentation & Record Keeping

📁 Required QC Records:

  • Label Approvals: Signed off versions with dates
  • Packaging Certifications: CPSC test results
  • Inspection Logs: Daily QC check records
  • Deviation Reports: Any non-conformances found
  • Corrective Actions: How issues were resolved
  • Training Records: Staff competency verification

Continuous Improvement

📊 Monthly Review Process:

  1. Analyze all QC failures and patterns
  2. Review customer complaints about packaging
  3. Check for regulatory updates
  4. Evaluate supplier performance
  5. Update SOPs as needed
  6. Retrain staff on problem areas

✅ Best Practice: Mock Recalls

Quarterly mock recall exercises:

  • Select random batch numbers
  • Trace through entire distribution
  • Identify all affected products
  • Document retrieval process
  • Calculate recall effectiveness

🎓 Course Complete!

Congratulations on mastering Ohio's packaging and labeling requirements! Remember:

  • Compliance starts at the design phase
  • Quality control prevents costly mistakes
  • Documentation proves your diligence
  • Stay updated on regulatory changes
  • When in doubt, err on the side of caution