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Oregon State Standards for Packaging and Labeling Cannabis Consumer Products

Oregon State Standards for Packaging and Labeling Cannabis Consumer Products

Posted by Custom Cones USA on Oct 24th 2022

Originally Published 10-9-2020, updated 10-24-22

Oregon legalized recreational cannabis in 2014 and quickly became a hub for those choosing to partake in all cannabis has to offer. As of 2018,  Portland, Oregon has nearly twice as many marijuana dispensaries than liquor stores! 

Distributing cannabis products in Oregon also requires that you know  and understand the different rules and regulations surrounding packaging and labeling of cannabis based products. Lucky for you, Custom Cones USA is your go-to guide to finding out the different packaging requirements for your respective state. 
Most states generally have similar rules for when it comes to labeling and packaging cannabis products, however, one still should take a look at their state’s specific guidelines as there are certain small details that change from state to state.

What guidelines does the OLCC have in place for cannabis packaging?

There are five basic rules to understand when it comes to cannabis packaging and labeling in Oregon and they are as follows:
-  Packaging should not be attractive to minors
-  Protect the cannabis product from contamination from outside sources
-  Meet the full and complete standards for child-resistance 
-  Labels should not mislead consumers as to what the product can do 
-  Labels should follow all the labeling rules (explained below)
These five rules create the basic foundation for most cannabis packaging requirements in nearly every state where recreational cannabis is legal, however it is still important to read further into the specific rules that each state sets. 
The Oregon Liquor and Control Commission (OLCC) board discusses two types of packaging options when it comes to child resistance, single-use and resealable. The OLCC states that pre-rolls fall under the usable marajuana category which means that pre-roll packaging in Oregon only requires single-use child-resistant at the bare minimum. The OLCC also requires that all packaging gets sent to a third-party to test and certify that they are in fact child-resistant. 

How to label cannabis packaging to OLCC standards?

If you’re starting or growing a pre-roll brand in Oregon, you might be wondering how to label tubes to OLCC guidelines. The OLCC provides a detailed breakdown of labeling requirements for all types of marijuana products sanctioned for sale in Oregon, from plants, to seeds, to topicals, and more right here.

The requirements for labeling flower and pre-rolls are basically the same under OLCC standards, with the addition that pre-roll packaging should specify the weight of usable cannabis in grams on the label. 

-Producer’s business / trade name

□ Producer’s OLCC license number

□ Business/trade name of business that packaged the product, if different than the producer

□ UID number

□ Harvest date

□ Strain name

□ Concentration of THC and CBD (%)

□ Name of lab that performed any test

□ All test analysis dates

□ Required Warnings: “For use only by adults 21 and older. Keep out of reach of children. Do not drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.”

□ Product Identity

□ Universal symbol

□ Net weight in grams and ounces

□ For prerolls only: weight of usable marijuana in grams 

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) maintains a list of approved packaging options that OLCC recognizes, but also offers a Pre-approval Process for ensuring a packaging type not on the list can be used. The fee for approval is $100 per package. Any package on the OLCC approved list may be used without any additional approval needed. Business owners can also opt to pair the sale of products with a Child Resistant Mylar bag at the Point of Sale to make an item CR.

For those who wish to obtain CR certification for packaging, the OLCC points to the CPSC’s maintained list of firms that conduct child-resistant testing. Business owners should note that CR certification testing can be a costly and time-consuming process, and that none of the firms listed are endorsed or certified by the CPSC. We highly recommend business owners interested in selling pre-rolls in Oregon state check out Custom Cones USA’s collection of certified Child Resistant packaging options. For any of our standard size joint tubes, Custom Cones USA can even apply OLCC-approved labels to the tubes for you, our automated labeling machine ensuring a perfect application every time!

OLCC Label Example

What does the OLCC not allow on cannabis packaging in Oregon

The OLCC prohibits business owners from packaging marijuana and hemp items in any manner that is attractive to minors.

For example, any of the following items would be prohibited by the OLCC:

(1) Cartoons;

(2) Designs, brands, or names that resemble a non-cannabis product that is typically marketed to minors;

(3) Symbols or celebrities that are commonly used to market products to minors would be considered “attractive to minors;”

(4) Images of minors; and

(5) Words that refer to products that are commonly associated with minors or marketed by minors.

A "cartoon” is defined in rule as any drawing or depiction of an object, person, animal, creature or any similar caricature that:

(1) Uses comically-exaggerated features;

(2) Attributes human characteristics to animals, plants or other objects; or

(3) Attributes unnatural or extra-human abilities, such as imperviousness to pain or injury, X-ray vision, tunneling at very high speeds, or transformation (i.e. Superheroes)

Additionally, cannabis packages cannot appear similar to any consumer product that would typically marketed toward children. The OLCC also restricts using the same types of symbols, designs, or motifs that are used to market products to minors.

In addition to the packaging design it is important to note the various regulations for what needs to be printed on the label that goes on the packaging itself. It is required by the OLCC that all labels are subject to approval upon the submission of a label application. 
Every state has a “universal symbol” which is typically a required image that needs to be printed on the label, Oregon is no different (pictured below). The free downloadable file for the oregon universal symbol can be found here. 
OLCC also requires that the font on the label be clear, legible, in english and should be at minimum 1/16th of an inch in height with the following information printed:
          -  Name of the product 
          -  Net weight of the product in metric units  
          -  Universal symbol
It is important to note that per OAR 845-025-7000 to 845-025-7190 there are additional requirements for labels based on the different cannabis product types (edibles, flower etc), these rules can be found here.
Custom Cones USA: Packaging Done Right
Staying up-to-date on the various label and packaging requirements for the state you are selling the product in is vital to the overall success of your cannabis venture. Here at Custom Cones USA we have a variety of different packaging options that meet these requirements, whether its opaque tubing, child resistant push packs or resealable packaging, Custom Cones USA does packaging the right way!