Top 10 Packaging Mistakes New Cannabis Brands Make

Most new cannabis brands spend months perfecting their product, but the packaging is rushed at the last minute. That one decision is responsible for recalls, lost sales, and damaged reputations before a single customer even tries the product. The rules around cannabis packaging are strict,  and there is very little flexibility for mistakes. If you are making a cannabis brand and want to avoid packaging mistakes, this guide covers everything you need to know. Scroll down to find out which of these Top 10 Packaging Mistakes New Cannabis Brands Make could be avoid by your brand right now.

Common Packaging Mistakes New Cannabis Brands Must Avoid 

New cannabis brands often focus heavily on design, branding, and market positioning, but important packaging mistakes are still made during the early stages of growth. In the highly regulated Canadian cannabis market, strict cannabis packaging regulations, consumer expectations, and product safety requirements must all be addressed before packaging decisions are finalized. The success of a product is not determined by shelf appeal alone. The quality, protection, and brand perception are all directly affected by packaging decisions made at the start. The following discussion highlights the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. 

1. Prioritizing Design Over Compliance

Compliance is always placed before visual appeal in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. Many new cannabis brands invest in premium packaging options like mylar bags or custom cannabis packaging, only to find out later that the design is not compliant with the legal requirements of the market where the product is sold. In Canada, strict regulations are in place. The requirements of the brand must be balanced with the legal rules of the market. Common compliance requirements include:

• Child-resistant Packaging: On all cannabis pouches and bags without exception.
• Tamper-Evident Seals: needed on custom cannabis bags and all flexible packaging.
• Warning Labels: printed at minimum font sizes on every single unit.
• Batch Numbers: including expiration dates, are printed on every package.

The reputation of the brand is decreased when compliance mistakes occur, a point repeatedly emphasized in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make.

2. Choosing the Wrong Packaging Material

Not every pouch or bag is suited for every cannabis product, and this is one of the most common top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. The selection of the wrong material leads to degraded quality of the product, shorter shelf life, and disappointed customers. For example, cannabis is best stored in gusset mylar bags or flat-bottom gusset bags because strong barrier protection is maintained through the multi‑layer film. For edible packaging, Custom Smell Proof Mylar Bags are preferred because their barrier construction achieves odour containment. This is the common mistake include in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make, but for oils and concentrates, custom spout pouches are widely used because safe dispensing is achieved through the spout design, and compatibility with oil‑based contents is maintained through food‑grade inner laminates.

• Gusset mylar bags and flat-bottom gusset bags: moisture‑resistant and light‑blocking material is required for freshness.
• Custom smell-proof bags: strong odour barriers and food‑safe inner layers are needed.
• Custom spout pouches: oil‑compatible laminates are required for the safety of the cannabis.

Selecting the right thickness is equally important when Mylar packaging is chosen for cannabis products. A proper understanding of durability, odour protection, and freshness retention is important for every product weight. For better packaging decisions, explore our Mylar Bag Thickness Comparison (3.5g, 7g, 14g, 28g). 

3. Ignoring the Freshness of the Product

Loss of freshness is highlighted in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. When the packaging of the product is not designed with freshness in mind, the quality of the product is reduced long before it reaches the customer. Custom smell proof bags and gusset mylar bags are popular because high‑barrier protection is maintained through their multi‑layer film. However, Kraft packaging with a window increases light exposure through the transparent panel. Flexible Retort Pouch Packaging is used for CBD products that require heat‑sealed preservation, and strong barrier performance is maintained through its laminated structure.

• UV coating: applied in mylar bags, holographic, and Custom Printed Gusseted Bags for protection.
• Airtight seals: applied on flat-bottom gusset bags and custom cannabis bags.
• High-barrier laminates: used in retort food packaging for long‑term freshness.
• Humidity control inserts: added inside flexible packaging to maintain product quality.

4. Weak Identity Of Brand 

A weak identity of the brand is repeatedly listed in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. Generic flexible packaging or plain custom cannabis bags reduce recognition of the brand. Options like Customized Stand Up Pouches, mylar bags, Printed Holographic Bags, and flat bottom gusset bags are widely used because large print surfaces are available. Hence, this is also include in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make.

• Logo and colour palette: consistently applied across every packaging format used.
• Typography and brand voice: reflected clearly on every pouch and bag design.
• Positioning of the Product: communicated through the overall layout and visual style.

Upgrade your packaging with our premium Custom Logo Mylar Bags. 

5. Overcrowding the Label

One of the most visible entries in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make is the overcrowded label. Whether it is a custom spout pouch, a flexible pouch, or a custom printed stand up pouch, the front panel has limited space, and filling it with too much information creates confusion. The readability of the label is reduced when multiple fonts, colours, and messages compete. The visibility of the product is improved when a clean label design is used. But this is the common mistake and involved in top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make.

• Name of the product: listed clearly at the top of every label design.
• Potency and THC/CBD content: displayed in a readable size for easy reference.
• Key benefits or effects: kept brief and placed in a consistent label position.
• Compliance labeling: included in a designated area without cluttering the design.
• Visual hierarchy: maintained clearly so the reader knows where to look first.
  

6. Undervalued Child Resistance Feature

Child resistance is not optional, and overlooking it is part of the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. Many new cannabis brands choose low‑cost, flexible packaging or standard smell proof bags that have not been tested or certified. The result is a compliance failure that leads to fines, recalls, and damage to the reputation of the brand.

• Certified closures: Child Resistant Bags designed with resealable child-resistant zippers that are applied on all cannabis pouch formats.
• Adult usability: Easy‑open packaging is maintained alongside child‑resistant features.
• Regulatory compliance: FDA compliance standards are met in every market..

“My motto is strong packaging, clear addressing.” — Halldór Laxness

7. Overlooking Sustainability

Sustainability is expected now in the cannabis field, and ignoring it is included in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. Environmental responsibility is reflected through packaging choices. Many cannabis brands are now switching to sustainable packaging and Black Kraft Stand Up Pouches because recyclable materials are used and the environmental impact is reduced.

• Eco‑friendly packaging: made from recyclable materials or post‑consumer recycled content.
• Kraft stand-up pouches: used for a natural and low‑impact product presentation.
• Reduced plastic use: achieved through minimal secondary packaging across all formats.

“Recycling, packaging, businesses are changing all of those things because that’s what consumers want.” — Jerry Greenfield

8. Forgetting the Customer Experience

Customer experience is often overlooked, a mistake highlighted in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. Cannabis brands that focus only on compliance and design often overlook user experience. Furthermore, Customized Spout Pouches are widely used for cannabis oils because easy‑open packaging is achieved through the spout format. The child-proof pouches with resealable closures are preferred because repeated use is simple without compromising safety. Custom smell-proof bags with airtight closures are valued because freshness is maintained after every use.

• Easy opening: packaging is opened without tools or excessive effort.
• Reseal closure: A resealable closure is maintained after every single use.
• Storage convenience: compact design is maintained for easy home and travel storage.
• Shelf identification: clear labelling is applied so the product is found quickly.

These include in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make, so avoid this mistake also.

9. Choosing Cost Over Quality

Cost‑driven decisions are repeatedly listed in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. When low‑cost Flexible Beverage Pouch or unbranded custom cannabis bags are selected over premium packaging options like retort food packaging or flat-bottom gusset bags, the consequences are felt quickly. The quality of the product is compromised when inferior materials are used. Seals are broken during shipping, odour containment is lost, and the presentation of the product is weakened.

• Customer complaints: negative reviews are received when the packaging fails.
• Reputation damage: long‑term damage to the reputation of the brand is very costly.

10. Skipping Testing

Failure to test packaging in real conditions is consistently mentioned in the top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. A custom-printed stand-up pouch may look flawless but fail when exposed to heat or humidity. The seal strength of retort food packaging is confirmed only through proper testing. Label adhesion on kraft stand-up pouches with a window is tested across different humidity and temperature levels before the packaging goes to market.

• Shipping durability: Drop resistance is tested across all pouch and bag formats used.
• Leak prevention: Seal integrity is tested in custom spout and flexible pouches.
• Shelf appearance: Visual presentation of flat-bottom Gusset Bag Packaging is checked before launch.
• Consumer usability: Child-proof pouches and smell-proof bags are tested by real users.

The issues revealed through field testing are ones that prototypes never show. But including in top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make. Investing in proper testing before launch saves the brand from far more expensive problems after launch. So, if you are a startup and want to avoid these mistakes, then contact Universal Packaging, that produces any packaging suitable for your cannabis brand. Ready to upgrade your packaging? Contact universalpackaging today.

Contact Now

Conclusion

The top 10 packaging mistakes new cannabis brands make have been covered in detail, from compliance failures and wrong material choices to weak identity of the brand and skipped real-world testing. Each mistake has been connected to the real packaging formats used in the cannabis industry, including when using custom printed stand up pouches, gusset mylar bags, child proof pouches, Eco Friendly Packaging Pouches, retort food packaging, and more options for cannabis. When the right format is selected, the right material is used, and the right testing is done, the foundation of the brand is strong from day one.