Trudeau’s government proposals include restrictions on the colour of packaging and the portrayal of branding, requirements for mandatory warning labels and a ban on packaging that could be appealing to younger people.
These regulations say cannabis packaging can’t show florescent or metallic colours, and the colours that are used must contrast with those of the official cannabis symbol — meant to warn the consumer about the presence of marijuana’s active components — and the yellow background with Health Canada warnings.
The proposed restrictions also stipulate that only one additional branding element – aside from the brand name itself – can be displayed on the tamper-proof and child-proof packaging. I f that additional element is a slogan, the lettering can’t be bigger than the font of the health warning, while any logo must be the same size as, or smaller than, the standardized cannabis symbol.
The federal government is banning inserts inside the cannabis packages — a rule meant to prevent producers and processors from getting around the limits on branding and marketing.
The proposed regulations — which could still change as the Cannabis Act works its way though Parliament — require producers to include one of 14 mandatory health warnings on each package. Producers and cultivators will be required to make sure all messages appear on their products by rotating the various warnings.
The Health Canada labels include warnings about the risks regarding pregnancy, addiction, mental health, youth, and operating machinery or driving while under the influence of cannabis.