The first time you wander into a marijuana dispensary, you may be overwhelmed by the colors, shapes, and designs on hundreds of different cannabis products. Looking at any one of these cannabis labels comes with its own form of information overload, as you see stats about weight, batch number, cultivator, and other words you can\u2019t even pronounce. At this point, you may be thinking, \u201cI just wanted some weed!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Well, while there will be a bit of a learning curve, it\u2019s important for marijuana consumers to know how to read cannabis labels, and that goes double for medical marijuana patients. Understanding what\u2019s being conveyed on a marijuana label will help you decide which flower suits you best. Let\u2019s review some of the most commonly seen items on a cannabis packaging label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name of the flower you\u2019re buying, the strain name, is always front and center on a marijuana label. The product name sometimes gives an indication of the flower\u2019s flavor (especially for fruity and sweet strains), but other times the name is just a fun little catchphrase!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this likely won\u2019t mean much to new and infrequent consumers, most cannabis veterans will start to build up a list of favorite products that they come back to time and time again. There\u2019s also a certain level of brand loyalty that you may develop after enjoying the same products over and over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It isn\u2019t always apparent what a cannabis product is at a glance. Try to scan the label to identify whether the product is a flower, concentrate, edible, tincture, or another type of product entirely. Each type has different consumption methods and effects. With an ever-growing selection of unique ways to get high, make sure you know exactly what you\u2019re buying to determine whether or not you\u2019re familiar with that type of product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are three main types of cannabis flower: indica, sativa, and hybrid. For those of you who are unfamiliar, these types, sometimes called a lineage, are more than fancy labels to describe the flavor. The condensed explanation is that indica strains are more calming, while sativa strains are more stimulating and energizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, these are completely different effects, so when you\u2019re reading a cannabis label, ask yourself, \u201cDo I want to relax or increase my focus?\u201d Beyond indica and sativa is the hybrid flower, which is a combination of the two. Depending on which is more dominant in your hybrid strain, you may find that more energizing or more calming. If you\u2019re unsure about which is best for you, be sure to learn more about indica, sativa, and hybrid weed effects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on your desired effect from smoking weed, it\u2019s important to decide whether you\u2019re in the market for THC products or CBD products<\/a>. THC is more likely to get you \u201chigh,\u201d while CBD products are better suited for individuals who need help getting relaxed without the psychoactive feeling. Cannabis product labels will indicate which is active in the flower and will show the exact THC\/CBD contents and ratios. Keep in mind that higher THC doesn\u2019t make you higher every time, as there are a number of other factors in play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Terpenes<\/a> are aromatic compounds that contribute to flavor and may influence effects. Common terpenes include myrcene, limonene, and pinene. A detailed terpene profile can help you choose a product that matches your preferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t always apparent how much weed you\u2019ll be getting when looking at a flower container. That\u2019s why cannabis labels are required to disclose the exact amount of product in each container. The marijuana packaging label will usually disclose the amount in grams or ounces, depending on how much is in the container.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cannabis packaging labels have a legal requirement to include dosage on all marijuana products. This will explicitly describe the intended amount of product for a single dose. This is especially important for edibles and concentrates, which can have more potent effects than just smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The grower is the name of the company that grew the cannabis (simple enough). Keep in mind that the cultivator is not the same as the brand, as a single grower may distribute to multiple cannabis brands. Once you find a grower that consistently delivers high-quality flower, you may want to check out cannabis labels and packaging for other products to see if they\u2019re from the same place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure you\u2019re shopping for the freshest flower by checking the dates on the cannabis label. The harvest date represents when the flower was removed from the plant, the package date represents when the flower was packed, and the use-by date represents the estimated time that the weed will expire<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes labeled as \u201cTotal Active Cannabinoids\u201d (TAC), your marijuana packaging label will include a section that breaks down the percentage of cannabinoids that a product contains. This label will show the exact amounts of THC and CBD. Some labels also provide information about minor cannabinoids like CBG<\/a> and THCa<\/a>. These cannabinoids can have unique effects on your high and will often contribute to the overall experience. This section is important for newcomers, as you\u2019ll be able to evaluate the strength of the product before making a purchase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A cannabis label can appear confusing at first, but once you understand what it means, you can use the labels to your advantage. Paying attention to these details on a cannabis label can help you make more informed choices based on your preferences and needs. Many of these items are even cannabis labeling requirements by U.S. law, so you should expect them on every product you buy from a trusted source. Once you know how to read a cannabis label, you\u2019ll be able to find the exact marijuana flower you\u2019re looking for in a matter of minutes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you ever been confused about cannabis labels? Hit me up<\/a> on social media, and let\u2019s spark up a conversation about it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first time you wander into a marijuana dispensary, you may be overwhelmed by the colors, shapes, and designs on hundreds of different cannabis products. Looking at any one of these cannabis labels comes with its own form of information overload, as you see stats about weight, batch number, cultivator, and other words you can\u2019t… Continue reading How to Read Cannabis Labels<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1954,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1952"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1952"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1952\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2574,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1952\/revisions\/2574"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1952"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1952"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/earthmed.com\/seven10\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1952"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}THC or CBD Product<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Terpene Profile<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Cannabis Flower Weight<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Recommended Dosage<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Grower or Cultivator<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Cannabis Flower Harvest Date, Package Date & Use-By Date<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Marijuana Potency<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n