Consumers can be reassured that the cannabis they are buying in a licensed dispensary is
high-quality, weighed correctly, and most importantly, safe.

All cannabis products sold legally through New York dispensaries have packaging and product labels that let a buyer know exactly what the product is, dosage amounts, quantity, potency, storage information, expiration dates, and warning labels. Also provided is a certificate of analysis (COA) attesting to detailed, third-party lab testing.

New York State’s cannabis packaging guidelines and standards were created in order to make
a positive social, environmental, and economic impact.If purchasing from a licensed New York dispensary,

Legal cannabis packaging will include:

• Name, address, license number, and contact information of the manufacturer/distributor
• Strain name
• Batch or lot number
• Expiration and Use By date
• Label as edible and nutritional information (if applicable)
• List of all ingredients, both active and inactive
• Total cannabinoid content by weight and volume
• Scannable bar or QR code linked to a downloadable certificate of analysis (COA)
• Information on post-consumer recycled content
• Proper storage conditions
• Any one of 3 universal cannabis symbols

Packaging will NOT include:

• Anything that may appeal to someone under the age of 21. Licensed New York cannabis brands won’t use cartoons/bubble-type font, or bright neon colors that make cannabis resemble food, candy, treats, or toys.

Packaging should also be child-resistant and contain no health claims.

Common packaging keywords

Heirloom: a strain that was taken from its native homeland and propagated elsewhere.

Kush: Plants from the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Kush strains are generally described as earthy and piney combined with citrus or sweet.

OG: Southern California’s Ocean-Grown Kush. Most OGs are variations of the original genetics or are also grown on the West Coast.

Landrace: A local variety of cannabis that has adapted to the environment of its geographic location.

Certificate of Analysis (COA): A verified document from an independent, 3rd-party tester that provides details about the testing lab, the brand and product. Also measures the potency of the ingredients and tests for pesticides, mold, and contaminants. Ensures that a product has been tested according to state regulations and is safe.

All of the information contained on cannabis product packaging can be overwhelming. But remember, legal product labels are intended to help you make informed purchases and bring the relief and joy you need.