Child-Resistant Cannabis Packaging Guide

Child-resistant cannabis packaging must be a priority for all cannabis manufacturers. Child-resistant packaging prevents the accidental consumption of cannabis products by small children and keeps your brand compliant with regulations.

When researching your options, prioritize safety, the pertinent regulations in your state, and your overall packaging design. Effective child-resistant containers put safety first while maintaining your products’ appeal for adults.

The Importance of Child-Proofing Cannabis Products

The growth of the cannabis business around the United States has led to a rise in accidental cannabis ingestion in children. There were more than 7000 reported exposures to cannabis in children under six from 2017 to 2021, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. 97.7% of these exposures happened in a residential setting. Kids are naturally curious. This can unfortunately lead them into potentially dangerous situations.

This problem gives cannabis manufacturers an opportunity to step up and take the necessary measures to protect children. Fortunately, this is possible while offering effective and stunning packaging. Working with cannabis packaging experts who offer products with built-in child-resistant mechanisms ensures you don't leave anything to chance.

Types of Child-Resistant Packaging

There are child-resistant packaging options that protect children from potentially harmful substances—whether your business manufactures concentrates, edibles, or cannabis flower. The following are some of the main child-resistant packaging types.

POP VAC Jars

POP VAC jars offer the perfect balance of child resistance and user-friendliness for adults. Store your cannabis concentrates for freshness in a POP VAC jar for peace of mind without jeopardizing accessibility for adults.

POP VAC child-resistant jars offer several advantages that make them a top choice for safe and effective concentrate and flower storage. Their features include:

• Child-resistant technology: A built-in child-resistant mechanism keeps little ones safe.
• Freshness: The vacuum seal "pops" when sealed or unsealed. This guarantees your concentrates stay fresh and retain their potency and unique terpene profile for as long as possible.
• Fully customizable: POP VAC jars come in a variety of jar colors and can be fully customized with wraparound stickers or donut-style lid labels. Premium customizations include metallic or hologram finishes or raised varnish.

Be sure to work with custom child-resistant packaging companies that understand the unique challenges and regulations associated with manufacturing and selling cannabis products. When planning your cannabis packaging, compliance and community safety can go hand in hand with stunning design to meet all your customers' needs.

Child-Resistant Mylar Bags

Mylar bags are a popular choice for edible packaging as they limit your products' exposure to excess moisture and oxygen that degrade your product over time. Mylar bags are durable and highly customizable. Child-resistant mylar bags are good options for infused candies and gummies. However, they’re not suitable for storing concentrates, and cannabis flower can easily get crushed. 

Child-Resistant Tubes

Child-resistant cartridge tubes are great options for storing vape cartridges. Pre-rolls and cannabis extracts like RSO and distillate can also be sold in child-resistant tubes. Look for tubes with child-resistant technology rather than simple flip-tops for security. Add custom labels for branding and to make your tubes aesthetically pleasing.

Child-Resistant Boxes

Child-resistant slider boxes can be used for both vape cartridges and pre-rolls. The CR slider box is a great example. Consumers simply press, push, and pull to open the tray and access their vape cartridges or pre-rolls. The system is simple enough that an adult can easily get the hang of opening the box while being complex enough to prevent young children from accessing the products inside. 

What Does the Law Say about Child-Resistant Packaging?

The states decide how and when to enact cannabis reform. Therefore, the states dictate their own frameworks for legalization. This includes everything from cultivation to packaging regulations.

In practice, this means that compliance laws differ from state to state. One constant, however, is the need for cautionary measures in the packaging of cannabis-based products. This ranges from tamper-evident packaging to the use of child-resistant technology.

Implications for Cannabis Businesses

Businesses in the cannabis industry must comply with the applicable state laws. Some states, including Oregon, New Mexico, and Michigan, have taken the move to require child-resistant packaging only for “activated” cannabis products rather than for all cannabis products, as concerns surrounding children accidentally getting high do not apply when products such as flower are ingested raw (without combustion).

The Poison Prevention Packaging Act (1970) states that some substances must be marketed in "special packaging" for extra safety. This act was originally passed to respond to cases of children ingesting household products. According to the PPPA, "special packaging" is: "packaging that is designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open or obtain a toxic or harmful amount of the substance contained therein within a reasonable time."

The purpose of special packaging is ultimately to prevent harm to children, so it’s essential here to differentiate between cannabis products that will cause harm from those that won’t cause harm if ingested directly out of the packet.

We support the position taken by the states mentioned above because we recognize that the purpose of requiring child-resistant packaging is to prevent accidental intoxication and not just to look good, as in cases like flower for which these technologies aren’t actually necessary. Manufacturers would do well to educate their policymakers on this distinction to ensure child-resistant technologies—which have a higher environmental and financial cost—are used only when truly necessary.

Does My Business Need Child Resistant Packaging?

Yes, your business should use CPSC-certified child-resistant packaging for products that require them. The obligation to use child-safe packaging is the most common regulation that states share. However, there are some differences in regulatory standards from state to state.

For example, you must use opaque packaging to sell your products in Florida while California requires all cannabis packaging to be tamper-evident and child-resistant (page 93 of the linked PDF). Working with expert child-resistant packaging manufacturers for cannabis products is the best way to ensure you stay compliant with ever-evolving state laws.

Combine Safety with Stunning Cannabis Packaging Design

Using child-resistant cannabis packaging for applicable products is not just a regulatory requirement; it's a fundamental responsibility of the industry. By prioritizing child safety and adhering to strict packaging standards, cannabis businesses can protect children while maintaining stunning designs.

Investing in high-quality, compliant packaging demonstrates a commitment to consumer safety and enhances brand reputation. Choose packaging experts with a proven record of staying informed about evolving regulations and packaging technologies to remain on the cutting edge of cannabis packaging design. Contact our sales team for child-resistant packaging solutions your customers will love!