Canada’s Cannabis Act includes a number of cannabis branding laws that the majority of licensed producers are not overly happy about.

The country is on the brink of cannabis legalization and amidst all of the excitement, cannabis producers are voicing their concerns for the branding and advertising side of things.

According to critics and industry experts, laws presented in the Cannabis Act may have a negative impact on recreational cannabis consumers and medical cannabis patients.

Canadian Ministry of Health introduces strict cannabis branding laws

Without advertising, companies in the cannabis space would have trouble competing for consumer attention. However, advertising has not necessarily been a concern for growing companies, until now.

Licensed cannabis producers are likely to endure a lot as a result of the branding and advertising regulations. 

Canada’s cannabis branding laws are some of the strictest facets of the looming legalization. 

The regulations were developed by the Canadian Ministry of Health, with the goal of prohibiting producers from adopting any of the forbidden cannabis advertising strategies. The Ministry aims to enlighten the public about the plant, all the while preventing minors below the minimum age requirement of 18 from obtaining cannabis.

Under the proposed rules, packages must feature cautionary risks associated with cannabis use, including the dangers of consuming cannabis whilst pregnant, the hazards of misusing the drug and the consequences of driving under the influence.

Cannabis must be regulated by the government in advertisement-free packaging, of which should not be contained in clear plastic dime bags.

Canada’s cannabis branding laws disallow celebrity endorsements

Canada’s proposed branding laws will forbid licensed cannabis producers from collaborating with celebrities for company and/or product endorsements.

This means that producers will be restricted from promoting their brand with clothing and associated merchandise.

The new cannabis branding laws are similar to Canada’s tobacco laws and in order to comply with them, producers must clearly display their company logo, health warnings, and strain information, e.g. genetics and CBD:THC ratio.

Professionals and consumers criticize Canada’s cannabis branding laws

The proposed laws included in Canada’s Cannabis Act have been met with plenty of criticism from cannabis consumers and virtuosos alike. With these laws in place, companies would struggle to compete in the saturated market.

After all, the laws would put shackles on ganjapreneurs, whose freedom to expand and engage their target market would be restrained. Licensed cannabis producers are also concerned about how the laws would make it difficult for consumers to distinguish one brand from another. 

Regardless, only time will tell what the end result of cannabis branding and packaging will be.