What to Look for on a Cannabis Label Before You Buy

Author: Ingrid

Jun. 30, 2025

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What to Look for on a Cannabis Label Before You Buy

Cannabis labels contain critical information that helps consumers make informed purchasing decisions. Understanding how to read these labels ensures you select products that meet your needs for potency, safety, and quality. This guide breaks down the essential elements to check before making your next cannabis purchase.

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Understanding Cannabis Label Requirements

Cannabis product labels must comply with state-specific regulations that dictate what information manufacturers must include. While requirements vary by jurisdiction, most states mandate certain core elements. These typically include cannabinoid content, harvest or production dates, batch numbers, and warning statements.

According to cannabis labeling guidelines, consumers should familiarize themselves with their state's specific requirements to better understand what information should appear on products in their area.

Essential Potency Information

Cannabinoid Percentages

The most prominent information on any cannabis label is typically the cannabinoid content. For flower and most products, this includes:

  • THC percentage (total and active)
  • CBD percentage
  • Minor cannabinoid content (when applicable)

For edibles and beverages, potency is usually listed in milligrams per serving and per package. Understanding these numbers helps you gauge the potential effects and appropriate dosing.

Terpene Profile

More comprehensive labels include terpene information, which indicates the aromatic compounds that contribute to a strain's unique effects and flavor profile. While not always required by law, this information helps consumers track what products work best for their specific needs.

Highlight: Always check both THC and CBD percentages to understand the potential intensity and balance of effects before purchasing any cannabis product.

Batch Information and Traceability

Batch numbers and harvest dates are crucial for product traceability and freshness assessment. Fresh cannabis typically provides better flavor and more accurate potency. Look for:

  • Harvest date (for flower)
  • Manufacturing date (for processed products)
  • Batch or lot number
  • Packaging date

These details help you determine product freshness and allow for verification if there are ever recalls or safety concerns. Many producers use child-resistant packaging with specialized tamper-evident caps and lids that maintain product integrity while providing safety information directly on the closure.

Safety Testing and Certifications

Reputable products undergo laboratory testing for contaminants and potency verification. Labels should indicate that the product has been tested for:

  • Pesticides
  • Heavy metals
  • Residual solvents (for concentrates)
  • Microbial contaminants

Many labels include a QR code or batch number that allows consumers to look up the complete Certificate of Analysis (COA) online. This transparency is a hallmark of quality products and brands that prioritize consumer safety.

Product-Specific Details to Verify

Flower Labels

When purchasing flower, check for strain name, type (indica, sativa, hybrid), and growing method. As noted in this guide on comparing flower quality, visual indicators on packaging can help set expectations for appearance and quality.

Edible Labels

For edibles, verify ingredient lists, allergen information, and activation time. Serving size information is particularly important for dosing accuracy. Check for artificial ingredients or additives if those are concerns for you.

Concentrate Labels

Concentrate labels should specify the extraction method used and whether the product is full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate. This information helps you understand what compounds are present beyond just THC or CBD.

Making Informed Cannabis Purchasing Decisions

Beyond the label itself, consider asking your budtender additional questions about products you're considering. Effective questions for budtenders can help fill in any gaps not covered on the label.

Price considerations are also important. While determining fair pricing for cannabis can be challenging, labels that provide comprehensive information often indicate products worth their premium. For new users, shopping tips specifically for beginners can help navigate the sometimes overwhelming amount of information on labels.

By becoming label-literate, you can make more confident cannabis purchases that align with your preferences, needs, and safety standards. A thorough label review should become a standard part of your cannabis shopping routine.

How to read a cannabis package - Ottawa Public Health

Last revised: August 17,

Before you use cannabis, read the package carefully. Here are 10 things to look for on the package:

  1. The standardized cannabis symbol
  2. The brand name
  3. THC and CBD content
  4. Health warning 
  5. Other brand element
  6. Other required information
  7. Non-required information
  8. Nutrition facts table
  9. List of ingredients
  10. Bar code

Source: Government of Canada

The standardized cannabis symbol

 All cannabis products are packaged in child-resistant, tamper-proof packaging. Any product that has 10 micrograms (µg) or more of THC, must be labelled with the standardized cannabis symbol. The symbol warns people that the product has THC in it.

The brand name and brand element

Cannabis packages must include the company’s brand name. One other brand element, like a slogan or logo, can be on the label too.

THC and CBD content

The most common cannabinoids in cannabis are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC and CBD content must be displayed on every cannabis product. Cannabis needs to be heated to at least 150 degrees Celsius to activate the cannabinoids. Cannabis is either heated by the producer during processing or when you heat the product.

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The cannabinoid content will appear in two ways:

1. THC and CBD is the amount of THC and CBD that is active in the product without heating it

2. Total THC or Total CBD is how much THC and CBD there will be after it is heated

Sometimes the amount of THC and Total THC or CBD and Total CBD will be the same. This happens when dried cannabis is heated to activate the cannabinoids to make products such as oils, capsules, and edibles. The measure of THC and CBD may appear differently depending on the cannabis product.

Here are examples based on types of products:

Type of productMeasurementExample Dried or fresh cannabis Percentage (%) or milligrams (mg) per weight of product

THC 0.7% or 7 mg/gram

Total THC 14% or 140 mg/gram

Edibles Per unit or per package 

A package with 2 cookies may be labeled as:

THC 5 mg per unit, Total THC 5 mg per unit

THC 10 mg, Total THC 10 mg per package

Other products (pre-rolls, oils or capsules)

Milligrams (mg) per single unit

Milliliter (ml) per dose

THC 2.5 mg/unit, Total THC 2.5 mg/unit

THC 10.5 mg/ml, Total THC 10.5 mg/ml

When choosing a cannabis product, look at the Total THC and Total CBD. Choose products with low Total THC and an equal or higher amount of Total CBD. If you are smoking or vaping, start with 1 or 2 puffs of 10% (100mg/g) THC or less. Edible products can have up to 10 mg THC per package. Start with 2.5 mg THC or less.

Learn more about how to use the label to identify the THC content of a product.

Health warning

All cannabis products have a health warning in a yellow box. Health Canada provides the health warnings that are rotated on products. Topical cannabis products all have the same health warning.

Other required information

Cannabis products are labelled with specific information about the product. Some important information to look for is the type of strain, expiry date, packaged date, product weight, recommended storage, and intended use. You can learn about all the requirements.

All cannabis products include the licensed producer’s information and a lot number. If you have concerns about a product, contact the producer and tell them the lot number.

Other non-required information

Licensed producers can include more information on how to use the cannabis product. This could include directions for use, product form, or other warnings or precautions.

Nutrition facts table

A nutrition facts table is on all edible cannabis products. Learn more about how to read a nutrition facts table for edible cannabis.

List of ingredients

Cannabis extracts, topicals and edibles must have a list of ingredients. Any food allergens, gluten or added sulphites will be listed.

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