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Draft — awaiting medical/legal review. Facts marked “VERIFY” are not yet confirmed. Do not rely on this page.

Consumer guide

How to read a California cannabis label

A California cannabis label tells you what the product is, how much THC is in each serving and in the whole package, and that it carries the state's warnings. Look for the universal symbol, the government warning and the THC numbers. A label is a starting point. It does not prove what is inside.

By CHSA editorial team · Published

Checked against the Department of Cannabis Control regulations (rev. July 1, 2026) and the Business and Professions Code on . Next review: .

Fig. 1 · Specimen diagram · California · edible example

How to read a California cannabis label

Generic label for illustration, not to scale. Not a real product. The field list is a draft until the regulatory reviewer signs it off.

  1. Universal symbol. Required. Missing? The product may not be from the licensed market. 4 CCR § 17410: at least 0.5 in tall, black or white on a contrasting color
  2. Product identity. What it is. Edibles must also say “cannabis-infused” in bold, just above it. 4 CCR §§ 17404(a)(1), 17405
  3. THC per serving and package. Edibles: no more than 10 mg THC per serving and 100 mg per package. 4 CCR § 17304(a) · B&P § 26120(c)
  4. Net weight. How much is in the package, in metric and U.S. units. 4 CCR § 17404(a)(3)
  1. Who made it. The maker’s name and phone number or website. Search for the business in DCC’s license search. 4 CCR § 17406(a)(1)
  2. Batch and UID. Recall notices list these numbers. Keep the package. 4 CCR § 17406(a)(10)–(11) · DCC Recall Portal
  3. Ingredients. All ingredients, largest amount first, and a “Contains” list of major food allergens. 4 CCR § 17406(a)(5)–(6)
  4. Government warning. Required, in bold. Missing or altered wording is a warning sign. 4 CCR § 17406(a)(3) · B&P § 26120(c)

Sources: Cal. Code Regs. tit. 4, §§ 17304, 17404–17406, 17410 · Bus. & Prof. Code § 26120(c) · DCC Recall Portal · Retrieved · CHSA. A label is information, not a guarantee. CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products.

Five things to find on every label

1. The universal symbol

California cannabis products must carry the state’s universal symbol. It must be black or white, printed on a contrasting color, and at least half an inch tall. Vape cartridges and other vaporizers may use a smaller symbol, a quarter inch square.23

2. The government warning

State law requires a warning that starts with “GOVERNMENT WARNING” in bold.1 DCC’s rules set the exact words. On products such as edibles and vapes, the warning says:2

  • the product contains cannabis, a Schedule I controlled substance;
  • keep it out of reach of children and animals;
  • only people 21 or older may have or use it, unless they are a qualified patient;
  • its effects may be delayed by up to two hours;
  • using cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding may be harmful;
  • it makes it harder to drive or use machines.

Flower packages carry a similar warning, without the line about delayed effects.2 If the warning is missing or the wording is changed, ask where the product came from.

3. THC per serving and per package

The label must show how many milligrams (mg) of THC and other cannabinoids are in each serving and in the whole package.1 Check both numbers. A package often holds many servings.

4. Who made it, and the batch

For edibles, vapes and other made products, the label must show the maker’s name and its phone number or website. It must also show the date the product was packaged for sale, the batch or lot number, and the unique identifier (UID), a tracking code.2 Flower labels must show the UID, the name of the grower or packager with a phone number or website, and the packaging date.2 These numbers matter if there is a recall. DCC recall notices list the product and its batch or UID details, so you can match them to your package.5

5. Child-resistant notices

Packages for products you inhale or put on the skin may be child-resistant only until they are first opened. If so, the label must say “This package is not child-resistant after opening.”2 Edible packages must stay child-resistant for as long as the product lasts.2

Know the edible limits

For adult use, a California edible may contain up to 10 mg of THC per serving and up to 100 mg per package.23 Some medical-only products may contain more. For example, orally dissolving products for medical use may contain up to 500 mg per package. Topicals and concentrates are capped at 1,000 mg per package for adult use, or up to 2,000 mg if labeled “FOR MEDICAL USE ONLY”.2

The only edibles allowed above 100 mg per package are orally dissolving products, like lozenges or mouth strips. They must be labeled “FOR MEDICAL USE ONLY” and sold only to medical patients.2 If a gummy, chocolate or drink says it has more than 100 mg of THC in one package, it does not meet California’s limits. Ask where it came from.

The Prop 65 warning

You may also see a Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) warning on cannabis products. Prop 65 is a California law with a list of chemicals. It requires businesses to decide whether they must warn people about significant exposure to the chemicals on that list.46

The list includes:

  • cannabis (marijuana) smoke, because it can cause cancer and can harm a baby’s development during pregnancy;4
  • delta-9 THC, because exposure during pregnancy may affect the baby’s development.6

What a Prop 65 warning means, and what it does not:

  • It means the business says the product can expose you to a listed chemical.
  • It does not mean the product is defective or has been recalled.
  • A product without the warning is not necessarily lower risk.

What a label cannot tell you

A label shows what the maker says is in the product. It does not prove it. To learn more:

Packaging rules at a glance

California cannabis packages must be:12

  • tamper-evident, so you can tell if it was opened;
  • resealable, if it holds more than one serving;
  • child-resistant;
  • opaque, for edibles;
  • not made to look like products for children.