Last verified: March 2026

Every cannabis product sold at a licensed Michigan dispensary must carry a standardized label with specific information required by the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA). Michigan's labeling rules are codified in CRA administrative rules R 420.1 through R 420.1004, which cover everything from font size and placement to mandatory warning language. Understanding what each element on the label means helps you make informed purchasing decisions, dose accurately, and consume safely.

Required Label Information

CRA administrative rules mandate that all cannabis product labels include the following:

• Product name and brand — The product's commercial name and the licensed producer or processor
• License number — The CRA-issued license number of the business that produced or packaged the product
• Net weight or volume — The total amount of product in the package
• THC and CBD content — Total milligrams of THC and CBD per package, and per serving for edibles
• Metrc tag number — The unique seed-to-sale tracking identifier (see below)
• Batch/lot number — A unique identifier that traces the product back to its specific laboratory test results
• Testing laboratory — The name of the licensed Safety Compliance Facility that tested the product
• Harvest or manufacture date — When the product was harvested (flower) or processed
• Ingredients list — All ingredients for manufactured products like edibles and tinctures
• Universal THC symbol — The standardized cannabis warning symbol indicating the product contains THC
• Allergen warnings — Required for edible products that contain common allergens

Metrc Seed-to-Sale Tracking

Michigan uses the Metrc (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance) system to track every cannabis product from seed to sale. Every plant, package, and product in the regulated supply chain is assigned a unique Metrc tag number that follows it through cultivation, processing, testing, transport, and retail sale.

You will find the Metrc tag number on your product label, typically displayed as a long alphanumeric string or barcode. This number serves several functions:

• Traceability: Links the product to its specific grow batch, processing facility, and testing results
• Recall capability: Allows the CRA to rapidly identify and pull specific products if safety issues arise — a critical feature demonstrated during the 2024–2025 Viridis Labs recall
• Compliance verification: Ensures the product passed all required testing and was legally transferred through the supply chain
• Inventory tracking: Helps regulators monitor market supply and detect diversion

Understanding Potency Numbers

Potency is the most important number on a cannabis label, but it is expressed differently depending on the product type:

Flower and Pre-Rolls

Potency is listed as a percentage of THC by weight. For example, a product labeled "22% THC" contains 22 milligrams of THC per 100 milligrams of dried flower. A typical joint contains about 0.5 to 1 gram of flower, so at 22% THC, that joint would contain roughly 110 to 220 mg of total THC — though only a fraction is absorbed when smoked.

Edibles

Potency is listed in milligrams of THC per serving and per package. Recreational edibles are capped at 10 mg per dose and 100 mg per package. Medical edibles allow 50 mg per dose and 200 mg per package. For new consumers, 2.5 to 5 mg is generally considered a starting dose.

Concentrates and Vapes

Potency is listed as a percentage of THC, similar to flower but typically much higher — often ranging from 60% to 90%. Some labels also list total milligrams. Concentrates are the most potent products available and are recommended for experienced consumers only.

Tinctures

Potency is listed in milligrams per dropper (serving) and per bottle. Tinctures allow for precise dosing because each dropper delivers a measured amount. Labels will specify the THC:CBD ratio if the product contains both cannabinoids.

Terpene Profiles

Some Michigan products list terpene content on the label. Terpenes are aromatic compounds that contribute to a strain's smell, flavor, and potentially its effects. Common terpenes you may see include:

• Myrcene — Earthy, musky; the most abundant terpene in cannabis
• Limonene — Citrus aroma; associated with uplifting effects
• Linalool — Floral, lavender; associated with calming effects
• Caryophyllene — Peppery, spicy; the only terpene known to interact with cannabinoid receptors
• Pinene — Pine aroma; associated with alertness

As Michigan's market matures and the lab testing infrastructure strengthens after the Viridis scandal, consumers are increasingly seeking products based on their full chemical profile rather than THC percentage alone.

Warning Labels and Packaging

Michigan's CRA administrative rules require several standardized warnings and packaging features on all cannabis products:

• Universal THC symbol — A standardized graphic indicating the product contains THC
• "Keep out of reach of children" — Required on all products
• Child-resistant packaging — All products must be sold in child-resistant, resealable containers
• Government warning — Health risk statements including impairment and pregnancy warnings
• "For use only by adults 21 and older" — Age restriction notice on recreational products
• No marketing to minors — Packaging cannot use cartoons, imagery, or language designed to appeal to children

Batch Numbers and Lab Results

The batch or lot number on your label links back to the specific laboratory test results for that production run. All cannabis products in Michigan must be tested by a licensed Safety Compliance Facility for:

• Potency (THC, CBD, and other cannabinoid concentrations)
• Pesticide residues
• Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury)
• Microbial contamination (mold, bacteria, yeast)
• Residual solvents (for concentrates and extracts)
• Mycotoxins
• Moisture content and water activity

Some brands and dispensaries provide access to full Certificates of Analysis (COAs) via QR codes on packaging or their websites. Given the testing integrity issues exposed by the Viridis scandal, seeking out brands that provide transparent lab results is especially important in Michigan. See our Lab Testing page for more detail on testing requirements and ongoing reforms.

Medical vs. Recreational Labels

Medical and recreational products carry similar labeling requirements, but there are key distinctions:

• Medical products may carry additional dosing guidance
• Medical edibles allow higher potency (50 mg/dose vs. 10 mg/dose for recreational)
• Medical purchases are exempt from the 10% MRTMA excise tax and the 24% wholesale tax
• Packaging for medical products identifies them as part of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Program

For comprehensive information about cannabinoids, terpenes, and how they work together, visit Cannabinoids & Terpenes on TryCannabis.org.