What Are the Go-To Packaging Choices for Cannabis Products?

Choosing the right cannabis packaging is overwhelming. Pick the wrong one and you risk spoilage, compliance failure¹, or a poor brand impression. Discover the industry-standard options to make the perfect choice.

The most common cannabis packaging includes resealable Mylar bags² and glass jars³ for flower, child-resistant tubes⁴ for pre-rolls, and certified pouches⁵ and tins for edibles⁶. These options are chosen for their ability to meet strict compliance rules while balancing product preservation⁷, branding potential⁸, and cost.

Selecting a package isn't just a creative decision; it's a strategic one that impacts your entire business. I’ve seen beautiful product concepts fail simply because the chosen packaging didn't preserve the product or meet child-resistance standards. For a professional designer like Jacky, the package is the bridge between the product and the consumer. It has to perform multiple jobs at once: protect the contents, comply with the law, communicate the brand, and provide a good user experience⁹. The industry has settled on a few go-to solutions for each product type for very good reasons. Let's break them down.

How Should You Package Cannabis Flower?

Your premium flower needs to stay fresh and potent, but standard options can crush buds and destroy aromas. You need a solution that protects quality and offers a great shelf presence.

Glass jars and multi-layer flexible bags¹⁰ (Mylar bags) are the top choices. Jars offer a premium, reusable experience and excellent preservation, while high-barrier bags¹¹ provide superior branding real estate and are more cost-effective for transport and storage.

This is the classic packaging dilemma I discuss with nearly every flower brand. There's no single right answer; the choice depends on your brand positioning and budget. Glass jars immediately signal a premium product¹². Consumers can see the buds, and the rigid structure offers maximum physical protection. They are heavy and more expensive, but the perceived value is unmatched. On the other hand, flexible bags have become incredibly popular due to their versatility. They offer a huge, flat canvas for stunning graphics, are lightweight, and can be made with advanced barrier films to control oxygen and moisture. Most importantly, both can be fitted with certified child-resistant closures, making them compliant.

Jars vs. Bags: A Head-to-Head Comparison

What's the Best Way to Package Pre-Rolls?

Your perfectly crafted pre-rolls are fragile and need to be protected from being crushed or drying out. A simple box won't do the job, and you need a compliant, portable solution.

The industry standard for pre-rolls is the child-resistant "doob tube¹³." For multi-packs, these tubes are often bundled inside a secondary container¹⁴ like a slider box or a hinged-lid tin, which also provides more space for branding.

The first priority for pre-rolls is structural protection¹⁵. No one wants to buy a product that's bent or broken before they even open it. This is why the rigid tube is king. Typically made from plastic, these tubes are cost-effective, durable, and come in certified child-resistant "pop-top" or screw-top formats. They effectively seal the pre-roll, preserving its freshness. For single pre-rolls, the tube itself is the final package. For selling packs of 3, 5, or more, brands use these tubes as primary containers and then design a more elaborate secondary package. This multi-pack approach is where designers like Jacky can really shine, using beautifully printed tins or paperboard boxes to create a strong brand statement on the shelf.

Single vs. Multi-Pack Strategy

How Do You Package Edibles and Concentrates?

Your edibles and concentrates have strict potency rules and are often the most attractive to children. You need packaging that is absolutely secure, compliant, and maintains product integrity.

Child-resistant resealable pouches and tins are the universal solution for edibles and concentrates. Pouches are perfect for gummies and small items, while small glass or silicone jars inside CR boxes are standard for high-end concentrates like waxes and resins.

When it comes to edibles and concentrates, compliance is everything. Regulators are laser-focused on preventing accidental ingestion by minors. This is why you see a heavy reliance on packaging that has passed rigorous child-resistance certification¹⁶ tests (16 CFR § 1700.20). Opaque, resealable pouches with CR zippers are the workhorse for gummies, mints, and other small edibles. For chocolate bars, we often use a flow-wrap for freshness inside a certified CR paperboard box. For concentrates, the goal is preservation and safety. We start with a tiny, inert primary container like a glass or silicone jar to hold the product, and then place that inside a secondary package—like a tin or box—that has the certified CR feature. This two-part system ensures both product quality and legal compliance.

Formats for Edibles and Concentrates

Conclusion

The right cannabis package protects your product, meets legal standards, and builds your brand. By choosing from these industry-proven options—jars, bags, tubes, and tins—you create a foundation for a successful and compliant product launch.