Hallo, ik ben Renz Verspaget, ik ben een betrouwbare administratief medewerker in de gezondheidszorg met 4,5 jaar ervaring met patiëntendossiers, medische facturering, werkschema's van ziekenhuizen en gezondheidszorgbeleid. Ziekenhuiskosten met 13% verlaagd door nieuwe factureringsmethoden te implementeren.
Ah, motherhood. It’s often a thankless job, but one that’s rewarding… I assume. As a childless thirty-something, I have no clue if it’s rewarding or endlessly frustrating, but my friends with kids tell me it’s “worth it.”
So, if you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to take a nap in the shower while eating lunch because your two-year-old nodded off for a few minutes — these mom-inspired cannabis gifts might be just what you’re searching for.
The Botanist Well-Being CBD Tincture
Every mom should have CBD in her medicine cabinet. If you’re reaching for the ibuprofen for every ache or pain, stop.
Many over-the-counter pain relievers cause serious harm to organs, especially the liver.
CBD tinctures absorb rapidly through the mucous membranes in the mouth for fast relief you can feel good about.
The Botanist’s blend pairs essential oils with fragrant terpenes and full-spectrum CBD that elevates well-being with every drop.
If you’d like to make a purchase that supports all moms, including Mother Earth, look for pre-rolls packaged in Columbia Care’s new compostable tubes.
New #ColumbiaCare Seed & Strain compostable pre-roll tubes have launched in 8 markets/42 stores across the US, preventing more than 250k single-use plastic tubes from entering landfills this year. #EarthDay$CCHW$CCHWFpic.twitter.com/mknShHwToE
That’s right, the special Star Wars holiday – not the Star Wars Holiday Special – (thankfully) is here once again. And with the recent addition of the Mandalorian canon, we have an excuse to celebrate Star Wars all month long; after all, “This is the May.”
What better way to spend a twelfth of the year than sitting back, roasting a few bowls in Star Wars-themed glassware, and dissecting the many plot holes and physical impossibilities present in the latest films of the franchise.
But remember to pace yourself; the Fourth may be with you, but a nasty hangover is the ultimate Revenge of the Fifth. Luckily, if you keep to the herb rather than indulging in some Corellian ale, you can largely avoid the effects associated with the Dark Side of the Force.
In the wise words of Master Yoda:
Here are some handpicked Star Wars-related cannabis memes, gear, and strains to kick off the season!
Products
If you didn’t think Darth Maul could be more menacing…
Image credit: glasspipes.org
Meet the Maul bowl piece and downstem.
“Aren’t you a little short to be a stormtrooper?” Minions of the Dark Side on their way to fill up Maul’s head. Image credit: Purkif.com
Just what every household needs: A see-through R2D2 to smoke your weed through.
This wookie pipe shows us what a Chewie-Jabba hybrid would like:
Image credit: Leafly.com
Strains
Apparently, there are plenty of growers who are Star Wars fans, as the number of strains that reference the franchise continues to grow faster than Disney’s expanded universe. Here are a few of the best strains guaranteed to transport you to a galaxy far, far away:
Back in 2012, I was part of a network of activists pushing for legal cannabis at the state level here in the United States. We were able to get adult-use cannabis legalization on the ballot in three states that year – Colorado, Washington, and Oregon.
Cannabis ≠ Tomatoes
The activists in Colorado had the best political messaging out of the three efforts, heavily relying on the ‘regulate cannabis like alcohol’ talking point.
It proved to be a tremendously successful way to frame legalization with voters. Much better than the ‘regulate cannabis like tomatoes’ talking point that many activists (not me) were promoting here in Oregon as part of what would prove to be a losing effort for us on Election Day in 2012.
Alcohol is common in society, and unlike tomatoes it induces intoxication.
Yet, people are able to consume it responsibly and governments are able to regulate it. Given that alcohol is exponentially more harmful than cannabis, the ‘regulate cannabis like alcohol’ message resonated with a wide voter base because it was a logical approach to implementing sensible public policy.
Numbers Don’t Lie
It’s a concept that has since expanded well beyond the borders of the State of Colorado, and it’s still something that resonates with voters, as proven by a recent poll conducted in Australia. Below is more information about the poll via an excerpt from Cannabiz:
The online survey of 1,086 adults aged 18-plus, conducted by polling company Essential Research from March 30 to April 2, found 50% of respondents support making cannabis use legal, double the number recorded in the 2013 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
And a majority — 55% — favour regulating and taxing cannabis sales like alcohol or tobacco.
Meanwhile, 58% want medicinal cannabis made more affordable and accessible by allowing people with prescriptions to grow their own, and 62% support scrapping current drug-driving laws.
All of the poll’s results are insightful. However, the 50% level of support for ‘making cannabis legal’ compared to the 55% level of support for ‘regulating and taxing cannabis sales like alcohol’ really stood out to me.
It demonstrates how many more people will support reform when there is a regulated industry component being proposed, and that it would be based on a similar regulatory structure as alcohol.
In years past, the concept of regulating cannabis like alcohol was just a theory.
Regulation Works
Now that a number of jurisdictions have implemented the practice, including Canada at a national level, places like Australia can see it working in real-time.
Legalization works. Regulation works. Hopefully lawmakers in Australia see these poll results and work to get their country on the right side of history sooner rather than later.
So, you want to know how to grow weed indoors, for the first time, on a budget. We have you covered.
*The grand total to grow 5 plants with a minimal setup is around $1000. However, this price can vary dramatically depending on the equipment used and size, and the natural advantages of the cultivation space chosen.
Step 1: Set Up Your Grow Room
The thought of setting up a grow room can be daunting, but keeping several questions in mind will make the process easier.
1. Does the space have adequate ventilation?
Makeshift grow rooms can yield high-quality plants with the right seeds, lights, grow medium, and ventilation. Photo credit: OlegMalyshev on iStock.
Plants require fresh air to fuel the process of photosynthesis. Without fresh air, your plants could starve to death. Before this happens, though, the stale air will give way to a humid and warm environment that will attract pathogens and pests that can decimate your crop.
During the flowering cycle, your plants will also give off a distinctive odor due to cannabis’ natural essential oils, or terpenes, so it’s important for the air to have an escape route.
There are several different ways to ventilate a cultivation space. You can use extractor fans, oscillating fans, exhaust systems, and carbon filters, the latter of which is used to mitigate the smell of terpenes.
However, for beginners, simply choosing a room with a window and setting up a few standard fans to cool the area and keep fresh air flowing is the best route. Keep in mind that exposed windows will leave the space susceptible to pests, so consider purchasing natural pesticides.
2. Is the space big enough to accommodate plants and equipment?
Fans and lights are bulky, and your plants will expand in width and height.
3. Do you have sufficient access to electrical outlets?
Growing even a small number of plants indoors requires a large amount of energy. Having access to multiple outlets on different circuits will help you avoid triggering a breaker switch, or worse, blowing a fuse.
4. Do you have easy access to a water source?
If you are growing in a room that requires stairs to access, hauling water back and forth can be time-consuming and exhausting.
After choosing the most suitable area for your grow room, it’s time to install the necessary equipment.
Lights
High-quality grow lights are essential to a successful harvest. There are many options on the market, so budget plays a large role in which lights are best for you, but for beginners, LED lights are generally recommended.
LED lights are a relative newcomer to the market, are cost-effective, and produce full-spectrum light. However, most don’t include UV or infrared, which will impact the yield come harvest time. The upside is that they don’t emit a lot of heat so you may not need to purchase heavy-duty cooling fans.
Using the watts per square foot method is the best way to determine how much light your grow room needs. This method says that you should give your canopy 40 to 50 watts per sq. ft. when you use LED grow lights.
The golden ratio for the yield of cannabis buds is 1 watt of energy = 1 gram. New growers may not be able to reach this due to the other variables involved, so think closer to 0.5 grams per watt.
Depending on the strain and time dedicated to letting a plant grow during its flowering cycle, an individual plant can produce around 30 grams of flowers.
There is a lot to know about the equipment involved in indoor growing including different types of lights, fans, etc, but your chance of successfully growing cannabis goes up significantly simply by choosing the right seeds.
Only female plants produce flowers (buds). Feminized seeds ensure every seed germinated will produce plants that yield buds. The better the strain, the better the trichrome count and a higher terpene profile. A bag of 5 high-quality feminized seeds will cost around $80 on average, which may seem high, but choosing the right seeds will make the cultivation process easier and more rewarding in the long run. Beginners may also want to consider choosing auto-flowering seeds, which change from the vegetative to flowering phase after a set period of time without the need for the grower to change the light cycle of the plants.
Top strains from reputable vendors also have a higher germination success rate and have been bred to resist fungal and bacterial infections.
If you are considering growing for the first time, the chances are you are not going to have a high yield due to space and equipment requirements. However, a low-yield harvest of high-quality flowers grown from the best seeds is always preferable to higher yields of a less viable product.
Step 3: Germinate Your Seeds
Germination is the process in which a seed sprouts its first root. You can ensure germination by using damp (but not wet) paper towels to facilitate the process. Germinated seeds have a higher chance of taking root than seeds placed directly in soil.
Place 2-3 damp (but not wet) paper towels on a plate on top of one another to create a sheet.
Place seeds at least one inch apart on top of the paper towels
Place 2-3 more paper towels in a sheet on top of the seeds
Store the paper towels in a dark, dry place at room temperature.
Typically, germination takes place within 2-5 days.
*Other media such as rooting cubes can be used to germinate seeds, but throughout this guide, we will stick with the most inexpensive and convenient options for first-time growers.
Step 4: Plant Your Germinated Seeds
Once the seed has sprouted, it is ready to be transplanted into a pot. Photo credit: OlegMalyshev on iStock.
Whether you plant your germinated seeds into their final pots or transplant them to larger pots through the growing process is a matter of preference.
Some advantages to starting small is that young plants will grow faster initially and it is harder to overwater your seedlings. The growing medium also dries out much faster in a smaller container, which means your seedling roots are always getting access to lots of oxygen at all times.
Transplanting your seedlings will enable young plants to grow more quickly but it will put more strain on them. Image credit: Iuliia Bondar on iStock
Of course, transplanting requires having incrementally larger pots on hand, and the process can be stressful for the plants, which will potentially hinder their growth. Additionally, failing to transplant your seedlings early enough can result in the plant becoming root bound, meaning the roots have proliferated to the point they have nowhere to go and do not have enough nutrients in the medium to sustain them.
The main takeaway for any planting method is to watch your seedlings closely and make sure they have enough water without being oversaturated.
Step 5: Choose Your Soil
The main takeaway when thinking about your growing medium is this: As long as the roots of your plants can access water, nutrients, and oxygen, they will grow.
Having said this, pH fluctuations are typically less severe or problematic with soil, and less plant maintenance is required. Additionally, soil is the medium of choice for cultivators who want to grow naturally and organically.
Hydroponic and aeroponic growing methods have become popular in recent years but for your first cultivation, using a traditional growing medium is recommended.
Choosing soil that has plenty of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium will ensure an optimal balance of nutrients. Cannabis plants thrive in a medium that has a pH of 6-7. Having a pH meter on hand will help you maintain this balance. Many commercial soils contain enough nutrients for 3–4 weeks of growth, but there are soils on the market that contain enough nutrients from seed to harvest.
Pro tip: Soil enriched with high-quality compost can increase the potency and flavor of the final product, but can also reduce the size of the yield.
Now that you have your grow space set up and your seedlings are planted and shooting up toward the light, you can relax a little, letting your plants move comfortably into the vegetative phase. During this phase, the plants need about 18 hours of light and six hours of darkness. This light cycle mimics the spring and summer seasons when days are longer.
After a few weeks in this growth stage, lights should be adjusted to the right height. The recommended height for LEDs is 12-16 inches (30-40cm). If you hang it too close, you might burn your plants, and if too far away – you will lose efficiency.
Consider using an automatic timer for your lights so the light cycle will be consistent. Sleep in one day and your plants won’t know what time it is!
During this stage of growth, it’s possible your plants will become spindly and need the support of a trellis or pole to stay upright. If your plants are stretching beyond their natural growth rate, reduce the distance between the light and the plant. Pruning stems along the way will allow you to manage the shape and growth of the plant.
The vegetative stage can be held indefinitely (this does not apply to auto-flowering plants), but most growers don’t want to wait more than 15 weeks. It is not recommended to change the growth cycle to flowering before three weeks. Remember, the longer you keep your plants in the vegetative stage, the more robust and healthy they will be, resulting in a higher yield and better harvest overall.
Step 7: Induce the Flowering Stage
Photo credit: FatCamera on iStock
To induce the flowering stage, switch your light cycle to 12 hours of light, and 12 hours of darkness, known as a 12/12 cycle.
The flowering phase of cannabis lasts an average of 7-9 weeks. Depending on the cannabis strain you choose and environmental conditions, the time may vary.
Sativa strains have an extended flowering period of 10-12 weeks.
Meanwhile, indica strains have an average flowering period of 8 weeks. Some indica and sativa hybrids will inherit the fast-growing advantage of the indica strain, which has a flowering period that lasts only 6-10 weeks.
Around two weeks into the flowering stage, small white hairs will begin to sprout from between the leaves, followed by trichomes and resin glands.
During the last two weeks, it’s also beneficial to flush your plants in anticipation of the harvest.
Yellow leaves during the end of the flowering phase signal that the plant is diverting all resources to the flowers.
Leaves will begin to turn yellow late into the flowering stage. This is a sign that all the resources are being re-directed to the flowers. Trichomes will also appear milky and the pistil will change from white to orange/red. Now is the time to begin harvesting.
First, cut the stalk from the root ball. Remove heavier branches, and cut the stems into a V-shape. (This will make it easier to hang the branches during the drying phase.)
Step 9: Drying
Cutting your stems into V-shapes will make hanging your buds easier. Image credit: GeorgePeters on iStock.
Necessary equipment includes a drying line or rack, a hygrometer (an instrument used to measure the amount of water vapor in air, in soil, or in confined spaces), and a fan. Using an air conditioner or humidifier is optional.
The hanging buds should be stored in a dark room with temperatures between 60 to 70°F and humidity between 55 to 65%.
Drying usually takes two to three days. A hygrometer can assist in choosing the right time to begin curing, but if one is not available, check if the buds are dry to the touch.
Step 10: Curing
Image credit: Add Weed on Unsplash.
Curing your buds increases potency and terpene profile, and prevents the growth of mold and bacteria. Properly cured flower will also have a longer shelf life.
The process takes at least two weeks, but taking the extra time to cure your flower will result in a superior final product.
Mason jars are the preferred storage devices among many growers due to the lack of excessive plastic closing mechanisms that can allow bacteria to compromise the purity of the buds.
Mason jars must be opened daily to let out moisture for the first month. Alternatives include humidity packs like those sold by Bodeva.
Step 11: Roll it Up
Image credit: Grav on Unsplash.
Your patience and attention to detail have paid off. You now have a harvest rivaling that of a top-tier dispensary for a quarter of the cost. Enjoy the fruits of your labor with your 420-friendly circle.
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Arugula is at its best during the cool fall months. Peppery and with a lovely crunch, a pesto made with this healthy green is full of antioxidants and packed with crazy good flavor. You may think pesto is always made with basil, but since trying this version I am sold on arugula. The spicy arugula is tempered by the mellow rustic walnuts, and the garlic brings it all together with your best olive oil.
This pesto is infused with canna-olive oil, but you can use any method of infusion that has your desired potency. I always suggest starting with a low dose, maybe 5-mg of THC per person. Less is more. Enjoy. #staysafe
Serves 4
What You’ll Need:
2 cups rinsed and dried arugula
1/2 cup shelled walnuts
6 garlic cloves, peeled
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/3 cup EVOO olive oil
4 teaspoons canna-olive oil
1 lb. pasta, your favorite type
Salt and coarse black pepper to taste
Parmesan for dusting
Directions:
1. In the bowl of a food processor or blender, add the arugula, walnuts, garlic and Parmesan. Process to a smooth paste.
2. With the machine running, drizzle in the two oils.
3. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain and add to your serving bowl. Add the pesto and salt and pepper and toss to distribute the sauce evenly. Plate and top with additional cheese.
Laurie Wolf is the author of such cannabis cookbooks as Marijuana Edibles, HERB, The Medical Marijuana Dispensary, and Cooking with Cannabis. Her recipes have been featured in High Times, Dope Magazine, Culture, and more. She is also the founder of Laurie + MaryJane, an edible company offering everything from almond truffle bites to vegan chocolate cookies. And remember, #Don’tFeartheEdible!
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For distributors and retailers, cannabis packaging can be a headache. There are myriad compliance issues to contend with including labeling and tracking, and logistical challenges such as shipping units from other countries during a time of COVID-related supply chain chaos.
Packaging must also be child-resistant yet easy enough for patients with physical ailments such as arthritis to open. Cannabis is a well-documented and efficacious anti-seizure medication, and patients experiencing seizures need to have immediate and easy access to their medication.
An industry secret that the average medical cannabis patient may not be aware of is that traditional packaging such as Mylar bags or plastic containers let oxygen and light into the product, resulting in a loss of flower and net weight. Retailers often have to insert additional flower into the package to meet the standards of compliance regulations and customers.
N2 to the Rescue
N2 Packaging Systems, LLC. is addressing some of these obstacles that retailers experience every day. N2 uses a proprietary technology that injects nitrogen into its packaging. This process preserves the balance of moisture and weight of the product while removing the ambient oxygen and moisture that is in the container.
“You are sealing hermetically, the native moisture that exists in that product that sits in the can,” said N2 CEO Thom Brodeur. “So, one of the biggest challenges for the cannabis industry is once you open, once you’ve packaged it, if there’s any presence of oxygen at all, it begins to degrade the product.”
N2 CEO Thom Brodeur has been at the helm since July 2021.
N2 also uses pull tabs and child-resistant, senior-friendly lid apparatuses that combine compliance with accessibility. Most of the 13 patents N2 holds in the U.S., Canada, and 11 other countries center around the locking and connecting mechanisms for the actual lid adherence to the can.
“What we are responsible for is building the better mousetrap,” said Brodeur. “For us, making it difficult for small hands, or young hands, or unsophisticated hands to be able to put pressure points on the lids in the right places and the twists and alignment moments that are needed has been core to the technology that makes our packaging a safer, one of the safest options.”
“But what we’ve also been mindful of is that pressure for adult or senior hands when it comes to pressure points and clicking and locking mechanisms also has to be fluid. And so, we’ve created, sort of, rim systems inside of the cans that allow for easier slides for folks who understand how to use child-resistant lids to make it easier for them to access them.”
Green is in N2’s DNA
Many industries have had to play catch up when it comes to sustainability. The cannabis industry, however, has largely been a leader in the field.
Cannabis companies like N2 are making commitments to organizations like the Sustainable Cannabis Coalition, Sustainable Packaging Technology Group, the ASTM, which decides standards on packaging across a variety of industries.
“We are engaged with those groups because we really do think it’s important that the more voices there are to help shape the policy and the guidelines going forward, A, the regulations don’t become so onerous that we can’t move and do the things we need to do commercially,” said Brodeur. “But B, that there’s some unification and some standardization ultimately in the way that packaging is treated, since it is both a first impression for the consumer and their first experience with a product.”
Brodeur explained that N2 was founded with sustainability in mind from the beginning. Each 2Can with N2 nitro inside is made from recycled aluminum and tin alloys. All raw materials are sourced from recycled or recyclable materials. Anything that has to be manufactured from scratch comes through a composite process.
“One of the biggest things for us is reducing the use of single-use or even multi-use plastics,” Brodeur said.
Big Problems Require Big Solutions
The COVID-19-related supply chain crisis hit the world hard over the past few years. The slow boat from China became infinitely slower, and companies had to adapt or die. N2 chose the former option, moving more than half its manufacturing facilities to the U.S., a decision that has allowed the company to continue thriving in the harshest of economic ecosystems. And if you think reorienting a massive part of a company’s operations to another country is a challenge, you would be right.
“I will tell you it wasn’t easy, and it certainly sounds a lot easier on paper until you get started,” Brodeur said.
One of the most unexpected challenges was managing branding and consumer perception. Nuances in color on the cans from Chinese to American manufacturers are recognized by customers, so a small issue like color-matching can take up more time than anticipated – something we can all relate to.
The benefits have ultimately outweighed the logistical issues, though, as customers never have to worry about running out of supply or whether or not it’s close and can get to them quickly.
“The good news is we have retained 100% of our customers in this turnaround, and we’ve grown the business by 47% since last July when I joined it,” Brodeur said.
What’s Next
In the next 45-60 days, N2 will roll out its “value line” which will not have yet the nitrogen-infused component like the cans do, but will give the company a broader wingspan of offerings for customers.
“We want to also have a broader option for those of our customers who have what I would describe as multiple lines and multiple brand personas they want to put forward,” Brodeur said.
The next generation after that will focus on developing equipment that will allow for nitrogen infusion with Mylar bags and glass jars.
“Even with your commodity packaging solution, you will have a nitrogen-infused option, like you would with our recyclable, repurposable cans,” Brodeur said.
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Are child-safety features locking out patients as well?
Bill McCall had never tried cannabis until his home state of Ohio legalized medical marijuana in 2016. McCall, 62, suffers from chronic pain and a seizure disorder but has neither mobility issues nor arthritis in his hands. However, he could not open mylar bags containing his medical cannabis. The child-safety closure keeping the baggie airtight wasn’t user-friendly, either.
“The biggest problem I have was with the capsules in blister packs and foil you had to peel the backs off of. I couldn’t do it. My wife had to. There was no way to cut those out without damaging the product,” said McCall. His ultimate solution? He changed brands to one with more accessible packaging.
McCall isn’t alone in complaining about the challenges associated with opening cannabis packaging. In a recent Facebook post, Elizabeth Simpson of Elyria, Ohio, writes, “I have difficulty opening most edible packaging, including the Incredibles.” According to Simpson, 29, that brand was “waaaaaay easier” to open in Colorado than it is in Ohio.
Why is it more challenging to open cannabis packaging in one state than in another? Why isn’t there consistency in packaging? Is cannabis packaging discriminatory (unintentionally or not) against other-abled users or those not as agile as others?
Photo courtesy of DIZPOT
“There is no standard for the packaging of cannabis in the United States,” said John Hartsell, co-founder and CEO of DIZPOT, a supplier of cannabis and hemp brands nationwide and a rheumatoid arthritis sufferer himself.
According to Chris Driessen, CEO of SLANG Worldwide, an industry leader in branded cannabis packaged products for consumers, “packaging is one of the banes of our existence. Not one of the 15 markets (where his products are sold) has a standard of what should be on a package. Regulations help make packaging extremely user-unfriendly,” he said.
SLANG Worldwide CEO Chris Driessen. Photo courtesy of SLANG Worldwide
While child-safety protocols on cannabis packaging vary state-to-state, there are often overlaps. For example, the package must not be able to be opened by a young child while still being accessible to elderly users.
“There are a whole lot of ways to get to this point, but they add cost and unnecessary complexity,” said Driessen.
That scenario irks him.
“A lot of users started off as patients or are patients and we’re making it more complicated for them,” he said, noting how additional materials used to manufacture child-resistant packaging adds to its cost. He laments the lack of a uniform standard across the industry relating to packaging.
Sir Hemp Co. CEO Alfredo Cernuda. Photo courtesy of Sir Hemp Co.
He blames that on the lack of regulation, primarily at the federal level. According to Alfredo Cernuda, President of Sir Hemp Co., which manufactures hemp CBD oil tinctures, marijuana packaging “is not discriminatory in nature but rises as a need to temper ergonomic design versus liability issues.”
Complicating matters is that since cannabis is not legal on the federal level, uniform rules for packaging cannot be implemented in the United States.
That means each of the 37 states where medical and/or recreational cannabis is legal promulgate their own set of rules and legalities governing all matters pertaining to it.
Those laws, said Cernuda, “lead companies to make [opening packaging] overly complex.”
Wick & Mortar co-founder and CEO Jared Mirsky. Photo courtesy of Jared Mirsky
In Jared Mirsky’s mind, child-resistant packaging isn’t even necessary for cannabis flower. If a child (or anyone) eats cannabis flower, nothing will happen to them. “Weed doesn’t cannibalize in the human body unless it is heated up,” said Mirsky, a global cannabis branding and marketing expert and founder and CEO of Wick & Mortar. He notes concentrates don’t taste good, either.
Driessen agrees governmental regulations on cannabis packaging have gone too far. “The Nanny Government is telling us what we need and don’t need. We are so overly sensitive to cannabis in our communities and the research doesn’t support that,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mirsky isn’t entirely against child-safety protections on certain cannabis products. “While I agree with certain levels of packaging, it should only be on edibles,” he said.
He also notes the extra plastics and additional materials used for child-safety measures are a “huge waste you don’t need. They are not user-friendly.”
His company creates custom packaging for dispensaries in both the recreational and medical marijuana markets.
DIZPOT CEO John Hartsell
Inconsistencies in child-resistant packaging laws in the 37 jurisdictions where cannabis is legal in some form present a “big challenge” to brands in multiple states, said Hartsell.
“You want to buy packaging for all products in a cost-efficient manner, but different compliance rules in different states dictate buying packaging” for each individual market where a company sells its products. That’s expensive.
He notes, for example, that cases with small buttons requiring manual dexterity are challenging to open for many in the cannabis-using community. That’s why DIZPOT’s primary considerations when designing packaging is that a user can open it within a “reasonable amount of time,” said Hartsell.
The lack of printable space on the packaging also leads to a loss of information for patients and users, a dilemma faced by Tabitha Fritz, CEO of Fritz’s Cannabis Co., a Canadian-based manufacturer of legal edibles.
When Fritz’s products hit the Legacy market in 2016, she invested more than $40,000 U.S. on packaging, only to learn it did not comply with Canadian regulations. She was then forced to buy stickers to correct the problem.
Despite the challenges, Fritz said she is in business to stay. “I’ll be sure to comply with regulations but don’t have deep pockets to add educational information to the packaging. I can’t afford to push the envelope that is meant to help consumers,” she said.
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#EarthDay $CCHW $CCHWF pic.twitter.com/mknShHwToE
