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All Posts By

Sandra Freeman

Oct 03
1

The Importance of
Child Resistant Packaging

By | Uncategorized

Keep Kids Safe

Child resistant packaging isn’t new, it’s been around for decades. And it hasn’t really changed since its introduction in 1970 when the Poison Prevention Packaging Act was introduced. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) administers the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (PPPA), 15 U.S.C. §§ 1471-1476. The PPPA requires special (child-resistant and adult-friendly) packaging of a wide range of hazardous household products including most oral prescription drugs.

You know the pill bottles with the screw on cap that requires you to press down while turning or the blister packs that protect each individual dose? Thanks to this law, it became nearly impossible for children to open medicine bottles and other household containers. Adults even struggled with it!

Enter the new age of legal marijuana, and the topic of child resistant packaging comes back into focus. Not only is it the focus, it’s being reinvented. As legal marijuana sales have boomed, the packaging laws have been swiftly addressed along the way.

Although state laws vary, here are the “General Requirements” of packaging legal cannabis for sale:
Cannabis packaging must not resemble any existing packaging that would be attractive to children (no cartoons) and cannot have any references to “candy” i.e. Gummy Bears, Tootsie Rolls, etc.
Cannabis packaging in more and more states must also be Tamper Evident.
Every cannabis package must be in Child Resistant (CR) Packaging, either one-time CR packaging for single serve or continuous CR packaging for multi-doses.
Cannabis packages must be opaque (for infused products).
Cannabis products with multiple servings must be re-sealable and remain child resistant.
No making untrue or misleading health claims on cannabis packaging.

While each one of these packaging rules could be expounded upon, the main idea is to keep children safely away from cannabis. Number four repeats the law introduced in 1970. Every cannabis package must be in Child Resistant (CR)

Packaging. This law means your cannabis package must be legally compliant in order to keep kids from getting into your package of 100 mg THC cookies. These laws are in place to keep children safe. Remember the pill bottle? Well now, we’re talking about marijuana. Whether medical or recreational, cannabis must be kept from children.

Child resistant packaging regulations for cannabis vary from state to state, and they continue to change seemingly as the wind blows. However, the gist of CR packaging regulations remains the same: Keep kids safe.

Cannabusinesses must comply with packaging laws. When in doubt, it’s better for a company to over-comply. Cannabis companies ought to be adding extra measures of safety to ensure their packages meet safety criteria. And it shouldn’t be too difficult. There are many compliant packaging choices available, and the selection is sure to expand.

Let’s take bags for example. Bags for marijuana aren’t just plastic baggies like people used to use. Cannabis bags are legit now. They have evolved into thicker, opaque, high odor barrier, minimal oxygen exchange, puncture-resistant, creatively designed storage options. Bags, often called pouches, can stand up on their own and can include a child resistant zipper closure. Child resistant exit bags offer the perfect solution for convenience and compliance. The sturdy plastic and tight zipper seal lock in the product’s aroma, freshness, and shape while serving as a perfect storage option. Did you know Proctor & Gamble introduced the first child resistant plastic packaging bags with CR zippers for their detergent pods? They’re easy for adults to use, and they include child-proofing features.

Beware though. Watch out for cannabis packaging predators. That’s right, there are some companies selling packaging, touting it to be certified, compliant, and child-resistant, etc., but what they’re offering is a cheap knock-off. It’s important to check certifications and manufacturers. Child resistant packages must be tested by a certified, third party testing facility. Be wary of packages sold overseas that sound too good to be true.

With all the challenges out there regarding cannabis packaging, it’s important to choose the right one for your brand. Cannabis Business Times’ author Brian Maclver asked Illinois-based Cresco Labs’ CIO, Zach Marburger, for his top five considerations when selecting CR packaging.

http://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/article/the-child-proof-is-in-the-packaging/

Five Considerations When Buying Child-Resistant Packaging

Functionality is key.
Many patients have medical conditions affecting their dexterity. Having packaging options that are not only child-resistant containers (CRCs), but easy to open for adults is key.

Get creative.
Packaging is often the most intimate and memorable experience a patient has with your brand other than consumption. CRC doesn’t mean ugly; let your brand shine through.

Be consistent.
Patients expect a level of consistency when purchasing any product. Changing labels, dosing and other specifics can be difficult for some patients to adapt to.

Solicit feedback and shop around.
Cannabis CRC packaging options evolve daily, so it’s important to make sure you’re always on the lookout for the next best solution.

Be compliant.
Are you 110-percent sure your packaging is CRC certified? Be wary of suppliers who are “almost certified” or are “awaiting certification”; this can land you in hot water.

Aug 17
0
Marketing Maze of Cannabis

THE MARKETING MAZE OF CANNABIS

By | Uncategorized

As cannabis use has become legalized in more and more states, there are bona fide strengths to acknowledge, opportunities to suss out, and new challenges to face when it comes to branding, marketing, and associated products.

A few things that cannabis has going for it are:
1) that it’s becoming more widely accepted
2) business service offerings have increased
3) consumers are eager to learn more about it.

Newfound opportunities for marketing cannabis include expanding demographics and experiential in-store marketing. Obstacles still include forbidden advertising platforms ongoing health and policy debates.

Since marijuana has taken center stage—with all of its controversy—it has still become increasingly accepted. Companies are offering business, legal, and financial services to cannabis businesses where they didn’t before. Cannabis has proven to be a legitimate and reliable business partner. Subsequently, the general population is curious. Consumers are seeking facts, educating themselves, and becoming experts on the plant.

The cannabis target audience is growing and changing. We thought it was interesting five years ago, when the demographic for cannabis users showed a majority of males aged 35 and up, married, employed, with an upper-class income vs. single, over-grown college freshmen with arrested development and goofy grins. Nowadays, there are plenty of newer additions to the cannabis audience.

A few to note are:
* Creatives; adults who use cannabis to enhance their expressions
* Patients; medical marijuana users
* Parents; replacing their night cap cocktail with a joint
* Millennials; accept the use of cannabis overall

A significant growing target is women. The female user is primarily 30 to 40 years old and hasn’t used the drug before. They are attracted to non-smoking options such as edibles, tinctures, and creams and are appealed to the use of cannabis for stress management and relaxation including meditation.

Experiential marketing is gaining popularity among cannabis sellers. It allows a dispensary to engage shoppers by providing in-store demonstrations and round table discussions. Customers learn more about specific brands and the varieties of products, while sellers learn more about the consumers’ wants.
As the world of MJ products grows along with savvy consumers, marketing messages will need to speak to buyers interested in specific effects. According to BDS Analytics’ top 10 Cannabis Market Trends for 2018, the average number of reasons consumers provide for consuming
cannabis is eight—including everything from “have fun” to “manage anxiety.” This offers brands a wealth of marketing opportunities. For example, the No. 1 brands in select categories in California and Colorado market for specific effects, like sleep and energy.

Although marijuana is legal and booming in states like California, Washington, and Colorado, and it’s becoming more widely accepted than ever before, that doesn’t mean it’s an automatic green light for advertisers. Digital and tech platforms, like Instagram, Facebook, and Google have “just said NO” ensuring marijuana brands are not allowed to advertise, even in states where it is legal. Also, many main stream media outlets are still forbidding cannabis ads. All the while, the health debate is alive and well. Some experts won’t budge when it comes to touting the risks of using cannabis, while others argue the opposite. This mixed messaging muddies the voice of marketers and hinders clarity and credibility.

From its early stages, we’ve watched the tiny bud of cannabis business mature into an explosive consumer marketplace. While the current climate of cannabis marketing potential is both challenging and promising, ultimately, acceptance for the industry remains constant and growing, along with marijuana sales. Go ahead marijuana, bring on the madness—this marketer isn’t worried.

Jun 22
2
Weed is the new wonder drug

Is Weed the New Wonder Drug?

By | Uncategorized

Like many plants, the Cannabis plant has a history of medicinal use dating back thousands of
years across many cultures. The use of medical cannabis is controversial, since it is listed as a
‘Schedule 1’ controlled substance under federal U.S. drug policy. While a number of medical
organizations have requested removal of cannabis from the list, there are others that oppose it.

Regardless of legal controversies, medical marijuana is trending. The use of cannabis to treat
illnesses has progressed substantially in the last decade. Doctors across the globe are finding
success using it to treat a variety of illnesses. Most of the United States have adopted medical
cannabis laws allowing patients to access medical marijuana. However, each state has its own
unique list of approved conditions. Check this state-by-state guide to see what condition is
approved in what state. Here is a list of ailments that are among the most commonly approved
for use of medical marijuana:

  • Arthritis
  • Cancer
  • Chron’s Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDs
  • Insomnia
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
  • Nausea
  • Neurodegenerative Disease
  • Pain
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • PTSD

Lung Cancer

Naturally, you’d assume that smoking marijuana is bad for you, because well, cigarettes. However,
a well know expert pulmonologist and professor of medicine at UCLA, Dr. Donald Tashkin, has
been studying the effects of smoking cannabis for over 30 years. He was hired by the National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to prove that smoking cannabis is linked to lung cancer, but
Tashkin and his team found the exact opposite. “The THC in marijuana has well-defined antitumoral
effects that have been shown to inhibit the growth of a variety of cancers in animal models
and tissue culture systems,” says Dr. Tashkin, “thus counteracting the potentially tumorigenic
effects of the procarcinogens in marijuana smoke.” In fact, he says, marijuana smokers are less
likely to contract lung cancer than an individual who doesn’t smoke at all.

Weed vs. Opioids

According to a new study by University of Georgia researchers, approved medicinal cannabis
laws have brought a dramatic reduction in opioid use.
Dr. Ethan Russo, a board-certified Neurologist and psychopharmacology researcher, offers an
extremely convincing argument that the use of cannabis on its own, or in conjunction with
opioids can reduce opioid dosages patients require along with the severity of opioid-induced
side effects.

Can weed help resolve the current opioid epidemic? Dr. Russo certainly thinks so. “THC and
CBD compounds have pain-relieving properties,” explains Russo in the interview. “When used in
conjunction with opiates they help lower the opiate dosage needed, prevent development of
tolerance to and withdrawal from opiates, can rekindle the opiate analgesic effect without additional
opiate dosage, and there’s no evidence of clinically relevant adverse drug to drug interaction
between cannabinoids and opioids.” There are also no cannabinoid receptors in the area of
the brain that regulates respiratory function, which is why it’s impossible to overdose and stop
breathing when using marijuana. This is a major difference between opiates and cannabis and
the main reason why one can kill you and the other can’t.

Side Effects

Treatments such as Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors or SSRI’s – the drugs on the market for PTSD –
have a number of brutal side effects, including insomnia, weight gain, impotence and suicidal
thoughts or tendencies. Marijuana has the potential to help with the trauma, but without the
harsh side effects.

Oncologists.

Even though the majority of oncologists do not feel informed enough about medical marijuana
and its clinical utility, most discuss medical marijuana with their patients and nearly half recommend
it. This, according to a published study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Eye-Opening Truth.

There are vast examples of people who are using pot to manage and treat debilitating and even
life-threatening illnesses. Countless testimonials of everyday folks can’t be ignored. Quotes like
“cannabis saved my life” are growing in number, and these are from people who have no interest
in recreational use marijuana. So, yes, it’s becoming more and more evident that weed could very
well be the new wonder drug.

May 10
0
Elixir Fixation - Cannabis Drink Packaging

Elixir Fixation

By | Packaging, Packaging Design

Sometimes you just want to sip instead of smoke. Cannabis beverages are quickly becoming a popular option for consumers of both medical and recreational cannabis, especially those not accustomed to smoking.

Drinking cannabis can be an excellent way to relieve aches and pains in a discrete manner throughout the day, and it can provide immediate relief. THC in liquid form gets into your system quicker than any other method, meaning the effects are felt very soon.

THC & CBD infused beverages are commonly called elixirs. The term elixir is used whenever the product is in liquid form – this includes tinctures, sprays and beverages. Elixir drinks come in a variety of selections, such as effervescent soda, coffee, tea, and even smoothies.

Some people are coffee drinkers, and this is their go to drink. On the other hand there are folks who enjoy tea instead of coffee. In either case, the consumer should use precaution. A typical coffee or tea drinker likes to consume one cup after another. Obviously this is not OK when your hot drink is infused with marijuana. Most drinks contain 5-10 mg of THC, so it’s a good idea to sip slowly until you are comfortable with the results.

During a hot summer day, drinking an ice-cold beverage is incredibly refreshing. There are several cannabis infused sodas and tonics, made with fruit flavors and cola. Some are even sugar free.  And who wouldn’t want to add a wholesome, THC infused smoothie to their routine? Fruity, delicious, and relatively healthy, cannabis smoothies are a great way to get in your daily fix.

We can’t end without a shout out to Rebel Coast Winery, located in Hermosa Beach, CA. They are bringing alcohol free, THC infused wine to the market very soon. In fact, we here at Kaya just designed, manufactured, and supplied them with Child Resistant exit bags for their wine bottles.

If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s time to get your Elixir Fix while it’s hot.

Cannabis infused drinks are what’s trending!