RXDco

Child-Resistant Packaging for Cannabis

Ensuring Safety & Compliance

A colorful display of RXDco's child-resistant cannabis packaging solutions, including pre-roll boxes, gummies, and jars, set against a pink background.

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Child-resistant packaging keeps the little ones safe, mitigates your legal risk, and fosters consumer trust in your brand. Ensuring child safety is not only a legal mandate for cannabis products but also a smart business decision. In this article, we guide you through what it all means and how you can maximize the opportunity.

The Importance of Child-Resistant Packaging for Cannabis


Why ensuring child safety is a mandate for the industry.

Mylar Bags with direct print custom labeling child proof cannabis compliantNaturally curious, children are attracted to attention-grabbing bright colors and shiny objects. This is especially true during a child’s early development when vision is still maturing. Because children are drawn to vivid colors which evoke feelings of happiness and excitement, the seemingly mundane and routine household products of adults can be highly stimulating for kids—a potentially dangerous situation that has spurred child safety regulations. 

The accidental ingestion of cannabis products is especially toxic for a child. Because of their smaller size, children have a higher risk of cannabis poisoning. The impact of using cannabis at an early age, but particularly the impact of accidental exposure to high THC quantities, may have negative mental or physical health outcomes.

In conjunction with legalization spurring the explosive growth of cannabis business in the US, states have seen an increase in accidental consumption of cannabis products by children. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics who tracked pediatric cannabis edible ingestions in children under age 6, there were a total of 7043 exposures reported during 2017–2021. That same time period saw a 1375.0% increase in incidents from the 207 reported cases in 2017 to the 3054 cases reported in 2021, with 97.7% of all exposures occurring in a residential environment.

What is Child Resistant Packaging (CRP)?

Defining what CRP means and how it is tested.

Stylish blue cylindrical and rectangular child-resistant cannabis packaging with creative design elements, set against a light blue background.The term “child resistant” is defined in the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, 16 CFR Part 1700 as packaging that is designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for children under five years of age to open and not difficult for adults to use properly. 

Child-resistant (C-R) packaging, also referred to as “special packaging,” is used to reduce the risk of children ingesting potentially hazardous items, including certain prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications, pesticides, and household chemicals. 

Testing protocols as outlined in 16 CFR § 1700.20 ensure that packaging cannot be opened by children 42-51 months old. Packaging is considered child-resistant if at least 85% of children cannot open the package within the first 5 minutes, and at least 80% cannot open it within 10 minutes.

Child-Resistant Compliance and Certifications

Understanding the CR certifications you need.

ASTM D3475-18 and US 16 CFR 1700.20 are both commonly used standards related to child-resistant (CR) packaging. Though they often complement each other, it is important to understand how they differ in focus, authority, and application.

ASTM D3475-18 is a voluntary industry standard developed by ASTM International as a classification system to guide manufacturers and suppliers in designing and selecting appropriate CR packaging formats. It focuses on the physical design and functionality of CR packaging, outlining the various types and styles of child-resistant packaging (e.g., push-and-turn caps, blister packs) to ensure consistent terminology and design specifications.

US 16 CFR 1700.20 was developed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), under the Code of Federal Regulations to specify the testing procedures used to determine whether packaging is child-resistant and senior-friendly. It specifies the testing groups of children (ages 42-51 months) and adults (ages 50-70 years) to assess accessibility and usability and establishes the performance metrics for passing these tests (e.g. the percentage of children who must be unable to open the package within a given timeframe).

Ultimately, ASTM D3475-18 guides the design process of CR packaging, while 16 CFR 1700.20 ensures the final product meets federal safety regulations. RXDco is proud to offer a catalog of best-in-class, ASTM D3475-18 certified child-resistant cannabis packaging options for a full range of cannabis products, from flower to concentrate.

Understanding Child Resistant Cannabis Regulations 

Regulatory standards and state-by-state interpretations.

Green cannabis leaf overlaying the outline of New Jersey in a circular emblem design.Though every state enforces the pre-existing federal standards established by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (PPPA) requiring that the packaging of cannabis products be child-resistant, this is incorporated in different ways. 

There are numerous state-based policy variables governing packaging design and its appeal to children. Several states require plain packaging, opaque packaging, odor-proof packaging, and/or tamper-evident packaging. Many states prohibit packaging that resembles commercially available foods, including candy, snacks, baked goods, and beverages. Others also outline strict labeling protocols including forbidden language, imagery, and graphics (e.g. toys, games, candy, characters, cartoon characters), must-include language (e.g. the word “marijuana” clearly and conspicuously labeled), mandatory visual warning symbols, the poison control number, and more. 

In New Jersey for example, the term “child resistant” is defined by the Poison Prevention Act of 1970 to meet the performance specifications outlined in 16 CFR §1700.15 AND includes the following requirements for all usable containers for sale to a consumer, patient, or designated primary caregiver:

The state of New Jersey further stipulates cannabis package labeling shall NOT contain any:

Types of Child-Resistant Cannabis Packaging


Exploring the many child safe options for cannabis.

Innovative child-resistant cannabis packaging solutions by RXDco, featuring jars for pre-rolls, flower, gummies, and concentrates.

Perhaps the most familiar of all CR designs are the “push-down and turn” and “squeeze lock” mechanisms that require two motions to open. “Tamper-evident rings” are also a commonly used closure on bottles while child-resistant zippers are often used on flexible pouches. 


At RXDco, we ensure that our child-resistant packaging is both completely child safe and allows adult consumers the ease of use. We take every precaution to adhere to stringent regulatory standards throughout our proprietary product development and in every stock item we sell.

We offer a diverse collection of child-resistant certified containers, tubes, bags, and boxes for all cannabis products, from flower and edibles to concentrates, including:

The Challenge of Sustainability in Child Resistant Packaging

Eco-friendly options that balance compliance and functionality.

Not only is consumer behavior shifting toward sustainable packaging despite rising cost, research shows eco-friendly shopping preferences among marijuana consumers continues to trend upward. Even the NJ Packaging and Labeling Guide For Adult-Use (Recreational) Cannabis Flower and Cannabis Products states that “Cannabis businesses shall make a good faith effort to utilize packaging that is biodegradable.“

Unfortunately however, the industry’s stringent child-resistant regulations are a sustainability challenge. Because there are limited existing alternatives for materials and closures that are both child-resistant and sustainable, a high-volume of CR cannabis packaging is single-use plastic waste. As part of our commitment to sustainability, RXDco is pioneering solutions to fix the widespread use of CR plastic containers.

Not only do we offer recycled plastic, biodegradable, and/or recyclable options for stock items throughout our catalog, we are innovating new sustainable child-resistant technology. RXDco is pushing sustainable materials to their limit—researching, designing, and developing high-quality eco-conscious packaging solutions with all required child-resistant functionality. Our biodegradable PearlLoc system and our award-winning, paper-based ATID containers are the first of their kind, redefining what sustainability means in cannabis packaging.

Learn more: Why Your Brand Needs Sustainable Cannabis Packaging” >

The Importance of Choosing the Right Cannabis Packaging Partner

Certifications alone are not enough to ensure compliance.

Packaging design for cannabis products isn’t just a beauty contest based on shelf appeal. For the cannabis industry, packaging is also a hefty compliance issue with stringent, varied, and complex regulations that you can’t leave to chance. 

Beyond just standard CR product certifications, cannabis companies are best served by a team of regulatory experts that includes custom labeling and design.

As an innovative partner with custom child-resistant packaging solutions, our team understands the unique challenges associated with manufacturing and selling cannabis products. We work together to guide our clients, creating on-brand, compliant packaging with expertise and insight from all regulatory angles.

Child-Resistant Packaging Conclusion

Safety and compliance are where packaging begins at RXDco. Child-resistant cannabis packaging is not just a regulatory requirement for the cannabis industry but a primary responsibility.

From innovative packaging design that prioritizes child safety—to product labeling that adheres to strict regulation, RXDco provides compliant CR packaging solutions with the ultimate sustainability and functional design advances.

With ever-evolving state laws and regulations, ensure the safety and compliance of your cannabis products in CR packaging backed by a team of regulatory, labeling, and design experts at RXDco.

We invite you to explore our catalog of child-resistant packaging solutions and contact us to discuss how we can optimize a solution for your brand today.






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