Legal cannabis packaging packs a lot of technical information into a small space. If you’ve ever wondered what “Total THC 180 mg/g” means, or why there’s a packaging date but no harvest date, this guide goes through a label section by section, following Health Canada’s own categories.
Every legal cannabis label follows the same federal rules, whatever the brand or product type, and all of it has to appear in both English and French.
1. The standardized cannabis symbol
The red octagon with a cannabis leaf and “THC” is the standardized cannabis symbol. It has to appear on products containing more than 10 micrograms of THC per gram (counting THCA that can convert to THC). If you see it, the product contains THC.
2. Brand name
The label has to show the product’s brand name. It can also carry a small brand element, such as a logo. Federal rules limit branding, which is why legal packaging looks plain.
3. The excise stamp
The excise stamp shows that the product came from a Health Canada licence holder and that federal excise duty was paid. Each province and territory has its own stamp colour, and in B.C. it’s green. The Province of B.C. says it plainly: if there’s no stamp, the product isn’t legal. Certain very low-THC products and prescription cannabis drugs are exempt.
The stamp usually also seals the package. If it’s been broken before you open it, bring it back to the store and ask.
4. THC and CBD amounts
The front of the label must show Total THC and Total CBD. “Total” means the number includes THCA and CBDA (the acid forms in raw cannabis) as if they had fully converted. That’s why you’ll see “Total THC” instead of separate THC and THCA figures as the headline number.
How the amount is shown depends on the product:
- By weight, for dried flower and many extracts: “Total THC 180 mg/g” means each gram contains 180 mg of THC. A 3.5 g package at 180 mg/g contains 630 mg in total. Some packages show the same thing as a percentage, so 180 mg/g is the same as 18%.
- Per unit, for edibles and capsules: “Total THC per unit 2.5 mg” on a four-piece pack means 10 mg in the whole package.
- Total amount: “Total THC 10 mg” on an edible means 10 mg in the entire package.
- Per activation, for sprays: “Total THC per activation 8 mg” is the amount in each spray.
Federal THC limits by product type
- Edible cannabis: maximum 10 mg Total THC per package, and every piece in a multi-piece package must contain the same amount.
- Cannabis extracts (oils, vapes, concentrates): maximum 1,000 mg Total THC per package. Each discrete unit meant to be swallowed, such as a capsule, is capped at 10 mg.
These caps are product rules, not dosing advice. Health Canada’s general guidance for anyone who chooses to use cannabis is to start with a low amount and wait before taking more, especially with edibles.
5. The health warning message
Every legal product has a health warning in a yellow box on the front of the label. These messages rotate across packages, so two packages of the same product may carry different warnings. Health Canada updated the set of messages in early 2025 based on newer research and public testing. They’re worth reading. They’re the government’s summary of risks, not marketing.
6. Other required information
Class of cannabis
Every label states which legal class the product belongs to:
- dried cannabis (flower, pre-rolls)
- fresh cannabis
- cannabis plants
- cannabis plant seeds
- edible cannabis (foods and beverages)
- cannabis extracts (oils, vape liquids, hash, rosin, resin, shatter and infused pre-rolls)
- cannabis topicals (creams, lotions)
Infused pre-rolls are classed as extracts, not dried cannabis, because of the concentrate added to them. That affects how they count toward the possession limit.
Net weight and number of units
You’ll see the net weight or volume of the package and, where it applies, the number of pieces (for example, 10 capsules) and the weight or volume per piece.
Recommended storage conditions
Producers have to say how to store the product, for example “store in a cool, dry place away from light.” Following it helps keep the product as the producer intended.
“KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN”
This warning is mandatory in both languages. Keep cannabis in its child-resistant packaging, stored somewhere children and pets can’t get to.
Lot number and packaging date
The lot number (marked “Lot,” “Lot no.” or “(L)”) identifies the production batch. The packaging date is when the product was packaged. The rules allow the printed date to be up to seven days either side of the actual date.
Two common points of confusion:
- Packaging date isn’t harvest date. Canadian rules don’t require a harvest date. Some producers print one voluntarily, but most labels show only the packaging date.
- Expiry dates are optional for most products. Edibles may instead carry a durable-life (“best before”) date where food rules call for one.
Producer contact information
The label lists the licensed producer’s name, phone number and email. You can use them to report a quality problem or an unwanted side effect. Have the lot number and packaging date ready. You can also report directly to Health Canada.
Intended use
Some products state how they’re meant to be used, such as inhalation, ingestion or application to skin.
7. Ingredients, allergens and nutrition facts
Extracts, topicals and edibles must list their ingredients in descending order by weight. Edibles must also identify food allergens, gluten and added sulphites, and extracts must list food allergens. Edibles carry a Nutrition Facts table, like other packaged food.
8. Optional information
Producers may add extra information that Health Canada doesn’t require:
- strain name
- terpene information, which some producers list voluntarily
- additional warnings or precautions
- an expiry date
So similar products can show very different levels of detail.
Quick checklist before you buy
- Is there a green B.C. excise stamp, and is it intact?
- Check the Total THC and Total CBD, and whether they’re per gram, per unit or per package.
- Look at the packaging date and lot number.
- Read the class and net weight (useful for your possession limit).
- Read the yellow health warning.
- For edibles, check allergens and ingredients.
Ask us to walk you through it
Labels are easier to understand with a package in front of you. Our staff at Victoria Drive, Knight Street and Lonsdale can go through any label with you. If you’re shopping from home, our delivery page has the details. For the rules on limits and where you can consume, read BC Cannabis Laws 101. All customers must be 19+ with valid government-issued photo ID.
Sources
- Health Canada: How to read and understand a cannabis product label (canada.ca)
- Cannabis Regulations (SOR/2018-144), s. 123 and related sections (laws-lois.justice.gc.ca)
- Health Canada: Guide on composition requirements for cannabis products
- Province of B.C.: Buy legal cannabis (gov.bc.ca)
