When you buy cannabis in Canada, every legal product must come with a label that tells you key info — and here’s how to read it.
What the Label Shows
- Standard cannabis symbol: a red, stop-sign style icon that signals the product contains THC.
- Product brand & excise stamp: tells you who made it and shows it's from an authorized, licensed producer.
- THC & CBD content: shows both the amount “as purchased” and the “total” amount (after activation/heat), so you know actual potency.
- Product class & form: whether it’s dried flower, edibles, oils, topicals, seeds, etc.
- Net weight/number of units: e.g. grams of flower, number of gummies or capsules, helps you know exactly what you’re getting.
- Dried-cannabis equivalent: handy if you mix formats, to track legal public-possession limits (e.g. 1 g dried = 5 g fresh / 15 g solid edibles / 70 g cannabis beverages / 0.25 g concentrates / 1 seed)
- Health warning & “Keep out of reach of children” — a mandatory caution box that reminds users of potential risks.
- Lot number, packaging date & contact info — useful for traceability, recalls, or contacting the producer with concerns.
- Ingredients/nutrition facts (for edibles/extracts/topicals) — lets you check for allergens (gluten, sulphites, etc.) and see what you're consuming.
Some optional extras might appear, for example, cannabis strain name, expiry date, or recommended storage instructions. Strain names help with branding, but they don’t carry scientific meaning.
Why This Info Matters
Potency clarity: The “THC / Total THC / CBD / Total CBD” breakdown helps you understand how strong the product really is before using it.
Legal compliance & safety: Dried-cannabis equivalents let you stay within legal possession limits. Labels show origin and batch info, which helps with recalls or quality issues.
Informed choices: Ingredients and nutrition facts help you avoid unwanted additives or allergens when using edibles or topicals.
Responsible use: Clear warnings remind users to store safely and stay aware of health risks.
Source: Health Canada — How to read and understand a cannabis product label
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/personal-use/how-read-understand-cannabis-product-label.html
