The cannabis industry’s labeling framework is in disarray—and for many stakeholders, from regulators and operators to consumers, it’s a daily pain point.
Labels are packed with information few can read or understand, laws change faster than businesses can print new packaging, and inconsistent standards across state lines only deepen the confusion. But a new white paper from policy consulting firm Strategies 64 suggests a solution is already in the hands of most consumers: the QR code.
In a comprehensive analysis titled The Future of Cannabis Labeling Is Digital, Strategies 64 dives deep into the policy failures plaguing marijuana labeling and argues that embracing QR code technology may be the most effective and politically feasible path forward.
“There is a general consensus among stakeholders that current cannabis labeling policies are neither optimal nor efficient,” said S64 Vice President Daniel Smith, who authored the report. “QR codes and similar technologies offer a practical solution for streamlining regulatory compliance and promoting informed consumer choice. They may also be the key to achieving much-needed standardization across product types and among legal cannabis markets.”
A Patchwork of Confusion
The paper begins by laying out the three main issues at the heart of the labeling problem: verbosity, instability, and inconsistency. Across the country, states mandate an overwhelming amount of information to be printed on cannabis packaging—information that’s often revised with little warning and which varies wildly between jurisdictions. Even within a single state, edibles and flower can carry entirely different labeling formats.
This approach creates a no-win situation for nearly everyone involved. For consumers, it results in a confusing barrage of small-font warnings, symbols, and product data that’s difficult to interpret. For businesses, it means bloated packaging, costly label revisions (often running into six figures), and time-consuming manual sticker applications. Regulators, for their part, are burdened with overseeing highly technical rules on everything from terpene content to THC potency per serving—topics often far outside their expertise.
As one example, the report highlights how California has altered its labeling requirements four times in just six years, each time forcing businesses to adapt, reprint, and relabel at great cost. And it’s not just California—across the U.S., labeling changes have become an annual expectation for marijuana producers and retailers.
Warning Labels: Too Much, Yet Not Enough
Perhaps no component of cannabis labeling is as bloated—or ineffective—as the warning labels. While well-intentioned, the current system has resulted in a tangle of verbose, redundant, and sometimes conflicting warnings. According to a 2024 study cited in the report, the average state-mandated warning runs 57 words long. Most states require at least four different warnings per package, contributing to the “white noise” effect where nothing stands out, including the most important safety information.
Even when warnings cover the same topic—such as the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy—the phrasing varies drastically from state to state. One label may read, “Not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding,” while another says, “Marijuana use during pregnancy poses potential harms.” The lack of standardization not only confuses consumers but undermines public health messaging.
The Political Trap
So why hasn’t the system been fixed? According to Strategies 64, the root issue isn’t technological—it’s political. Every label requirement typically has a stakeholder advocating for its inclusion, while the opposition tends to be diffuse and general. This makes it easy for lawmakers to add new requirements but nearly impossible to remove existing ones.
And because the cannabis industry is still evolving, regulators often feel pressure to revise labeling rules as new research or political priorities emerge. The result is a patchwork system where change is constant but improvement is rare.
QR Codes: A Simple but Effective Fix
The white paper’s proposed solution is deceptively simple: digital labeling. By allowing QR codes to act as digital extensions of cannabis product labels, stakeholders could resolve many of the system’s fundamental problems.
QR codes can host full product profiles online, freeing up valuable physical label space for the most critical information. This would make packaging cleaner and more readable while still giving consumers access to lab results, detailed dosage instructions, and updated safety warnings. For businesses, it would significantly cut the cost of complying with label revisions and reduce the need for oversized or multi-layered packaging.
In addition, QR codes could help establish greater uniformity across state lines. If regulators agree on a common set of core labeling elements and direct consumers to a standardized digital format for the rest, it could harmonize the consumer experience without requiring federal legislation.
Not a Silver Bullet—But a Practical Path Forward
Of course, QR codes won’t solve every problem. Some stakeholders raised concerns about accessibility, particularly for older adults or those without smartphones. But the report notes that crowded and unreadable physical labels are already a bigger barrier for these groups. QR codes, if used thoughtfully and in tandem with simplified physical labels, could actually improve access to important information.
States are already beginning to move in this direction. As of April 2025, 17 states reference QR codes in their cannabis labeling regulations. A handful require QR codes for certain information, while others allow their optional use to satisfy or supplement label mandates. The trend is clear: digital tools are slowly making their way into regulatory frameworks.
Looking Ahead
The white paper makes a strong case that cannabis labeling reform is both necessary and overdue. It also makes clear that waiting on federal guidance—or expecting state lawmakers to streamline things on their own—isn’t realistic. QR codes offer a low-cost, high-impact way to reduce clutter, improve consumer safety, and make the entire regulatory system more adaptable and efficient.
If more states follow the lead of those already incorporating QR codes, digital labeling may become the new standard—not just for cannabis, but potentially for other regulated products as well. In the meantime, the industry has a rare opportunity: a chance to embrace a modern solution to one of its most persistent, frustrating, and costly problems.
