“This study reveals a serious gap in regulation that puts consumers at risk. We need coordinated action at both the state and federal levels to ensure cannabis product safety and to rein in misleading packaging,” study author Ryan Sultán, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, said in a press release.
For the study, researchers analyzed 88 cannabis products, including 58 flower and 30 vape products, from randomly selected licensed and unlicensed cannabis retailers in New York in late 2023. Their labels were coded across four categories: essential information including THC potency and use-by date, safety features such as health warnings, youth-appealing elements including multiple bright colors and cartoons, and other product descriptors or imagery.
Ultimately, the researchers found that around 1 in 30 unlicensed cannabis products carried all six of New York State’s required health warnings and safety features, while the same was true for around half of licensed products. The majority of unlicensed products did not include their THC potency, and few provided guidance on dosing. Meanwhile, all licensed products included THC content, and around half included standard dose information.
The researchers further noted that many of the unlicensed products were mislabeled or had official-looking symbols from other states like California. Some non-edible products included warnings about the delayed effects of edibles.
Regarding youth-appealing elements, the researchers noted that items from both licensed and unlicensed shops displayed packaging elements likely to appeal to minors including bright, multicolored designs, and playful fonts. Around a quarter of unlicensed product packages- but none of the licensed products- contained cartoon characters or graphics.
“It’s especially troubling to see how many products were clearly designed to catch the eye of kids and teens—that’s a public health concern we can’t ignore,” said Sultán.
Sources: EurekAlert, American Journal of Preventive Medicine
