By Yasha Shamayeli, Director of Marketing, LeafyPack
Table of Contents
If there’s one word that dominates the cannabis packaging sector, it’s “compliance.” Cannabis brands are legally required to wrap their products in packaging that is child-resistant, tamper-evident, resealable (if it includes more than one serving), and opaque (if it holds an edible cannabis product). This is to ensure the safety of the consumer and those around them. For example, a child could easily mistake a THC-infused gummy for a regular fruit snack, and without proper packaging, they might accidentally consume cannabis.
If cannabis operators fail to comply with these regulations (even due to sheer human error,) they could face a cease-and-desist, fines of up to $1M, license suspension or revocation, criminal charges, and other legal action—not to mention the irrevocable reputational damage all the above would generate.
Which is why there needs to be a surefire way to meet cannabis packaging compliance requirements. Automated packaging technologies are at the forefront of this ideology and are helping operators consistently and efficiently meet compliance requirements. I’ll get into how later in this article. But first, let’s dissect the most common packaging compliance challenges cannabis operators deal with today.
Packaging Compliance Challenges
Manual Packaging Processes
While cannabis operators face a myriad of packaging compliance challenges, the main issue is manual labor. Manual packaging processes increase the likelihood of errors, leading to flaws like misprinted labels or improper sealing. Should we blame the humans? Of course not, it’s in every human’s DNA to make mistakes—we’re not robots, after all.
Varying Compliance Standards from State-to-State
Compliance standards vary significantly from state to state. Multi-state operators, in particular, face difficulties when trying to create consistent packaging designs across state lines. For example, some states mandate specific material thickness or prohibit certain imagery, like strawberries or other appealing graphics, to prevent attracting children. Yet, other states allow the depiction of a cannabis leaf. Keeping up with all the regulations is a challenge in and of itself.
FDA Food-Grade Compliance Packaging
Cannabis is meant to be consumed, whether it’s eaten, smoked, or vaped. So it’s no surprise that cannabis packaging must meet FDA food-grade standards. Failure to comply can lead to contaminated cannabis products and product recalls, costing thousands of dollars in fees and product loss.
Design Restrictions
Some states impose “plain packaging” rules on cannabis products that severely limit the use of colors, imagery, and branding elements on cannabis packaging. In cannabis packaging, even something as seemingly harmless as a specific shade of red might even be prohibited. This level of restriction presents a challenge: how can cannabis brands showcase its product and passion while navigating such strict and often subjective regulations?
Overcoming Compliance Issues with Automation
It’s no secret that automated packaging systems mitigate the risk of noncompliance in cannabis. The question is, how exactly do they do it? Automation offers precise, repeatable processes such as automated labeling, filling, and sealing that leave zero room for error.
Take, for example, an automated packaging system that uses vision-based quality control to verify proper label placement and readability in real-time. This system measures exact product counts, ensuring weight and unit requirements are met. This level of precision not only safeguards compliance but also enhances operational efficiency, allowing producers to avoid costly recalls or fines. It’s a win-win.
But with constantly shifting compliance standards, how can automated packaging systems adapt?
Automated Packaging Systems Adapt to the Shifting Compliance Landscape
Most automated packaging systems are designed with adaptability in mind, leveraging innovations such as servo-driven changeovers. These allow machines to respond quickly to changing compliance requirements, whether that means adapting to different bag sizes and dimensions, or being upgraded with new features like enhanced sealing mechanisms for tamper evidence or adaptable closures for child-resistance. Plus, modular machines can be upgraded with new features to accommodate changing regulatory requirements without requiring a full replacement.
Certain software updates can also ensure automated packaging technology aligns with the latest regulatory standards. For example, updates regarding labeling can ensure compliance to new regulations, making certain each bag is labeled with essential information such as batch dates, sell-by dates, metric codes, and even QR codes.
Automation is Shaping the Future of Cannabis Packaging
As compliance standards grow stricter, automation will play an even more critical role in cannabis packaging. Think about it. The smarter and more integrated automated systems can be using artificial intelligence or IoT technologies, the better they can perform real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and automated compliance reporting. These cannabis packaging advancements will not only enable operators to meet compliance standards, but will also set a new benchmark for packaging efficiency and product safety.
About Yasha Shamayeli, Director of Marketing, LeafyPack
Yasha Shamayeli is the Director of Marketing at LeafyPack, a pioneering supplier of cannabis packaging automation renowned for its industry leadership. A graduate of the Mihaylo School of Business in Southern California, Yasha specialized in Finance and Investments. He commenced his career as an analytical researcher at a local private equity advisory firm, gaining valuable experience in valuing companies and identifying the strengths and opportunities across various industries.
Embodying a true entrepreneurial spirit, Yasha relocated to Silicon Valley to launch his own venture. He co-founded a software company focused on detecting artificial videos, AI generated ‘Deepfakes’, successfully securing funding from Social Capital and other venture capitalists. This endeavor not only honed his skills in leadership, management, growth, and strategy but also prepared him for future entrepreneurial successes.
Following his exit from the tech startup, Yasha joined LeafyPack as one of its early team members. His transition into the rapidly evolving cannabis industry was seamless, bringing a wealth of knowledge from the tech world. At LeafyPack, he has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth from its nascent stages to becoming a leader in the market. His expertise has significantly shaped LeafyPack’s vision, branding, and strategic marketing initiatives.
For more information on LeafyPack, please visit leafypack.com.
