How to Read a Cannabis Product Label

Every legal cannabis product in Canada carries standardized labelling. Here's what each element means — THC vs. total THC, the cannabis symbol, lot numbers, and more.

One of the most practical benefits of legal, regulated cannabis is the label. Every product sold by a licensed retailer in Canada carries standardized, federally mandated labelling — and once you know how to read it, you can compare products accurately instead of guessing. Here's what each element means.

THC and Total THC

Most labels show two numbers for THC (and two for CBD):

• THC — the amount of active THC in the product as packaged.
• Total THC — the amount of THC the product will contain once heated. Raw cannabis mostly contains THCA, which converts to THC when it is heated (a process called decarboxylation). For dried flower, "Total THC" is the number that reflects what you would actually consume.

For example, a flower label might read "THC: 1%, Total THC: 22%". The second number is the meaningful one for inhaled products.

CBD and Total CBD

The same logic applies to CBD: "Total CBD" reflects the content after heating. Products are often described by their ratio of THC to CBD (such as 1:1 or 20:1), which you can calculate from these numbers.

Milligrams vs. Percentages

• Dried flower and vapes are labelled in percentages (or mg/g).
• Edibles, beverages, capsules, and oils are labelled in milligrams per unit and per package. Edibles are federally capped at 10 mg THC per package.

The Standardized Cannabis Symbol

The red octagonal symbol with a cannabis leaf appears on every product containing more than a trace amount of THC. It exists so that anyone — including someone who cannot read the label — can recognize that a product contains THC.

Health Warning Messages

Every package carries one of Health Canada's rotating health warnings in a standardized yellow box. These are required by federal regulation.

The Excise Stamp

The coloured excise stamp over the package seal shows that the product came from a federally licensed producer and that duty was paid. Each province has its own stamp colour. No stamp means the product is not from the legal supply chain.

Lot Number and Packaging Date

• The lot number allows a product to be traced back through the supply chain, which matters in the rare event of a recall.
• The packaged-on date tells you how fresh the product is. For dried flower, more recent is generally better, since terpenes fade over time.

Producer Information

The label names the licence holder that produced the product. Over time, this lets you identify producers whose products you prefer and look for them again.

Child-Resistant Packaging

All legal cannabis products come in child-resistant packaging. Keeping products in their original packaging preserves both the labelling information and that safety feature.

Questions About a Label?

Bring any product to the counter at a Hive Cannabis location and our staff will happily walk through the label with you. Cannabis is for adults 19 and over in British Columbia.