New Jersey’s Cannabis Packaging and Labeling Laws and Requirements

Since the cannabis industry is heavily regulated, it is of utmost importance to follow the state-wise laws of packaging and labeling of Cannabis and its derived products, be it oil, tinctures, concentrate, creams, or even dried strains etc.

The laws of packaging and labeling determine the fate of the product when it is sitting in the grocery store among so many similar products waiting for their potential buyers. The laws of packaging and labeling enable a buyer to quickly identify the product, get essential information available on the label, and decide whether it should be added to the cart or not. The more the laws are innovative, the more convenience and information is provided to the potential buyer. As a result, this makes the shopping experience more stress-free.

The booming cannabis industry has taken full advantage of the policies of packing and labeling of Cannabis products. These laws focus on conveying essential information to the customer by printing it on the label of each derived Cannabis product.

Every state has its autonomous Cannabis laws and regulations, from harvesting to selling Cannabis-based products and even transporting the Cannabis products across the state lines. With that said, an important factor cannot be missed, i.e., the knowledge of the universal Cannabis packaging and labeling laws.

Yes, it’s true! The slightest negligence or non-compliance to Cannabis packaging Laws and labeling requirements can land the seller into great trouble. And in this particular case, trouble means license cancellation, a hefty fine, or even jail.

Are the cannabis products in my state following all the packaging regulations?

 The Cannabis packaging and labeling laws are important for both buyers and sellers. For a seller, it is important to follow the state-wise Cannabis packaging and labeling laws in order to avoid any legal punishments upon non-compliance. Whereas, for a buyer, it is important that they know the product in hand is coming from an authentic seller who is well aware of the repercussions of not following the regulations. This maintains the legitimacy of the product.

In fact, in New Jersey, only a registered dispensary is allowed to package and sell marijuana in an envelope or a container mentioning “intended for sale.” The label on all the packaged marijuana is a must.

The label shall also mention the necessary information like strain type and weight in ounce or units.

Highlighting the strain type on the package is also a very smart law as it gives a quick overview of the chemical profile of Cannabis.

Unfortunately, Cannabis is still illegal federally. So unless you live in a state where Cannabis programs are legal, growing Cannabis and selling the derived products could mean jail. This interprets that Cannabis selling is still a critical matter because it contains psychoactive components, and this is why each state has made its own laws regarding Cannabis products.

Although there are some universal regulations related to Cannabis and its derived products that each state follows, we will shed some light on both the unique and common state-wise Cannabis packaging and labeling laws. However, the main purpose of this article is to educate people about New Jersey’s Cannabis Packaging and Labeling Laws and Requirements.

These are the following crucial factors around which State-by-state guidelines on cannabis and cannabis products mainly revolves and may vary:

• The minimum amount or net weight of the package
• The license, batch, serial number of the cultivation facility
• Chemical info (THC, CBD potency)
• Strain info (Indica, Sativa or Hybrid)
• Dates (cultivation, testing, expiry, etc.)
• Necessary Warnings
• Child-proof packaging
• Tamper-proof packaging
• Re-sealable packaging
• Mandatory Universal logo/symbol
• Optional “Not Safe for Kids” logo
• Dimensions and color of the logo
• Other additive or contaminants info on the label

New Jersey Cannabis packaging Laws and labeling requirements.

The New Jersey state follows strict compliance to the state laws and regulations for the dispensing of marijuana and derived products. The New Jersey state’s caregivers and dispensaries also ensure that the product is being dispensed to a qualifying patient only. In fact, not only patients but New Jersey caregivers are also liable to display a qualifying entitlement to buy cannabis products.

Universal Symbol

If we talk about package identification, the icon or logo is the first indicator to separate a Cannabis packed package from the regular ones. To indicate that a consignment holds marijuana, it is better that all the sellers paste universal symbols to label the packages or containers. 

As per law, the container may not have any depiction of the product, cartoon characters, or images – except the establishment’s logo.

The universal symbol is mandatory to slap on each Cannabis parcel. It features a red triangle crowned over a black-colored text that says ‘Contains THC,’ stamped with a black Marijuana leaf in the center. The other symbol is optional though equally important that says “Not Safe for Kids” and is enclosed in a red octagon.

The color and size of the symbol are very important to avoid confusion and reflect that full compliance is followed in labeling. When used on the marketing layer, both the universal and optional symbols/ icons must be reproduced in black and red.

It is not acceptable in Marijuana Legalization Act to use a logo that is recreated, distorted, pixelated, and stretched. In order to follow full compliance, you are also required not to change the color of the icon or use it on a dark background.

New Jersey’s Cannabis labeling and packaging guidelines

As per New Jersey’s Cannabis packaging and labeling laws following are the requirements to follow:

• The ATC–plant cultivation shall place a legible, firmly affixed label containing the information specified below on each package of medical marijuana it dispenses to an ATC–dispensary and shall not dispense medical marijuana if the package does not bear the label.
• The label required pursuant to the above shall contain the following:
  • The name and address of the alternative treatment center–plant cultivation that produced the medical marijuana;
  • The quantity of the medical marijuana contained within the package;
  • The date that the ATC–plant cultivation packaged the content;
  • A sequential serial number, lot number, and bar code to identify lot associated with manufacturing and processing;
  • The cannabinoid profile of the medical marijuana contained within the package, including THC level not to exceed 10 percent;
  • Whether the medical marijuana is of the low, medium, or high strength strain;
  • A statement that the product is for medical use by a qualifying patient and not for resale; and
  • A list of any other ingredients besides medical marijuana contained within the package.
• Labeling shall be clear and truthful in all respects and shall not be false or misleading in any particular.
  • A label containing any statements about the product other than those specified in this chapter shall contain the following statement prominently displayed and in boldface type: “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”