Cannabis Packaging: A Complete Guide to Using Boxes—From Compliance to Branding

What Makes You Pick Up a Product?

Whether it’s granola bars, household essentials, or even adult beverages, the packaging speaks before the product does.

For CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) brands, packaging is integral to brand identity and consumer appeal. The same goes for cannabis brands, but packaging is often a compromise—a balancing act between strict regulatory compliance, cost, and limited design options.

It’s hard enough to create something that both stands out and complies with regulatory needs, but many cannabis operators are also faced with a complex supply chain.

This forces them to juggle multiple vendors just to source the packaging components needed for a single product launch—a move that can lead to inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and even compliance risks.

Packaging for cannabis should not just be about keeping a product child resistant (CR) or meeting legal standards. It should also create an experience that resonates with consumers and builds loyalty.

As the industry evolves, the need for packaging that not only protects and complies, but also differentiates a brand grows even more critical.

The Types of Cannabis Packaging Boxes: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary

When it comes to cannabis packaging, the different layers play distinct roles in not just protecting the product, but also in complying with regulations and boosting brand presence. Here’s how primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging each contribute to the consumer experience while ensuring legal compliance.

See our full guide on Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Types of Packaging

Primary Packaging: Child-Resistant Boxes

Primary packaging is your first point of interaction with consumers and the first line of defense for compliance. For cannabis, that means adhering to child-resistant standards which require containers that are tamper-evident and safe against unintended access by children.

These regulations are strict and evolving, with constant legislative updates across the United States highlighting the urgency for safe, compliant packaging solutions.
Compliance doesn’t have to mean plain though. Child-resistant packaging can still convey brand personality and it can still be fun.

For example, picking CR slider boxes to house vape cartridges, pre-rolls, or edibles and using finishes like embossing, foil stamping, or holographic effects to convey helpful information about that product.

These visual enhancements allow your product to meet legal standards while catching the eye.

Secondary Packaging: Custom Boxes for Jars, Bottles, and More

Secondary packaging is the outer shell that envelops the primary container, providing additional branding real estate and a tactile experience for consumers. This is where brands can get truly creative.

Whether it’s a box holding a concentrate jar, tincture bottle, or a sleeve around a vape cartridge box, secondary packaging offers countless options to make an impact. 

Most cannabis secondary box packaging follows functional designs, but adding features like soft-touch finishes, gloss effects, or die-cut windows for product visibility can turn a simple box into an engaging experience.

These design elements aren’t just about aesthetics; they help reinforce brand loyalty by differentiating from everything else on crowded dispensary shelves.

Tertiary Packaging: Display Packs and Corrugated Shippers

The outermost layer—tertiary packaging—ensures the safe transport of products and supports a cohesive brand look from storage to display. Tertiary solutions include bulk display packs and corrugated shippers that protect products in transit and can even serve as display-ready units in stores.

Branding your shippers with logos and messaging keeps your brand visible from warehouse to dispensary.

Think of tertiary packaging as the foundation for a branded display at retail. With custom display packs and branded shippers, your product can maintain a consistent look in bulk, maximizing presence up to the point of sale.

Getting aesthetics and regulations correct is tough. Vert’s hybrid, on-demand supply chain is built to support packaging needs of any type.

The Importance of Compliance and Flexibility in Packaging

The cannabis industry is in constant flux, with new regulations popping up regularly that force brands to adjust their practices quickly. Staying compliant and maintaining brand integrity is a balancing act, but it’s an essential one.

Digital printing has revolutionized the flexibility brands have in cannabis packaging. You don’t need to commit to huge production runs just to turnaround and be forced to make compliance tweaks.

Digital printing lets brands adapt their packaging without overproducing inventory, saving both time and money.

This approach is especially important for smaller brands or those launching and testing new products in a market that’s still evolving.

At Vert, we get the need for small-batch production to accommodate regulatory changes or product launches. Our digital printing network is designed to allow cannabis brands to be more agile so they’re not risking overstock or waste.

Whether it’s tweaking labels or redesigning entire boxes, our solutions are designed to grow with you.

Customization and Brand Integrity Across All Packaging Levels

Brand consistency is key, especially in a competitive market where you are competing for eyeballs and attention.

Whether it’s primary, secondary, or tertiary packaging, maintaining a cohesive look across all layers strengthens brand identity and builds consumer trust.

When a customer picks up a product, they should feel the same experience at every packaging touchpoint, from the child-resistant box to the shipper it arrived in.

This is where customization plays a significant role. Take 1904 Provisions as an example.

This cannabis brand prioritizes consistency across its entire product line. From the primary packaging of concentrate grams to the tertiary boxes used for bulk dispensary orders, they maintain a unified design that reinforces their brand at every interaction.

Vert helps brands achieve this level of consistency with custom solutions tailored to their needs, ensuring they make an impact with every piece of packaging.

Missing cohesive branding on every layer of your packaging? Vert orchestrates all your packaging so it all looks seamlessly on brand. Get started here

Differentiation Through Display and Shipper Boxes

Cannabis dispensaries are overcrowded with products, making it difficult to stand out.

Customized display boxes offer an elegant solution—elevating products to eye level and giving them the attention they deserve.

Beyond aesthetics, display boxes serve a dual function as both shippers and retail tools. These boxes help your brand maintain its identity throughout the entire packaging process, from warehouse to store.

Corrugated shippers can also be branded, ensuring that your product’s visual appeal doesn’t stop at the packaging level.

Think displays require high MOQs? Think again. Get in touch with us and see how you can have best of breed packaging at a reasonable commitment.

Vert’s Global and Flexible Production Network

The final layer to successful packaging is having the right production network in place. Vert's production capabilities span the globe—from U.S.-based factories to Mexico and overseas facilities. This flexibility allows us to help brands lower unit costs, iterate quickly, and scale as needed.

At Vert, the process is everything. Our global network enables us to meet brands where they are, offering American-made options for those who prioritize local sourcing, while also providing more cost-effective solutions overseas for brands ready to scale. This approach elevates your brand, reduces the complexities of your supply chain, and positions your business for scalable growth.

Investing in the right packaging solution isn’t just about compliance or building a brand identity that resonates with both budtenders and consumers —it’s about creating a partnership that acts as an extension of your team.

With Vert’s customizable options and global production network, cannabis brands can streamline their packaging needs from primary to tertiary solutions and beyond.