Buying cannabis in Washington state is starting to look more and more like a traditional shopping experience, but with the friendly addition of marijuana. Going to ‘your guys’ house and getting a rolled up sandwich bag is a thing of the past.
Logos, percentages, and stickers are now plastered all over glass jars, tubes, plastic containers, and even foiled mylar bags. Like any other product, packaging definitely affects the consumer’s decision.
A major packaging option for cannabis flower is glass. While some companies only package eighths or more in glass containers, others package down to the gram. Mostly filled with premium product, glass usually comes with a higher retail cost.
We had the opportunity to speak with Mike Maksirisombat on why glass packaging matters. Mike is the Inventory Manager & Lead Buyer at Seattle’s premier pot shop, Diego Pellicer. Mike has a well-rounded experience in the cannabis industry, working as a budtender, inventory manager, and operations director at various points in his career. He believes glass has many benefits for today’s consumers.
“I prefer glass containers for many reasons. One important one is that I can recycle them a bit easier. Most people will take out their product and throw away the original packaging so it’s nice to know that we’re not contributing to landfills any more than we have to. ”
He also said the eco-friendly option brings more perceived value to products as well. When asked if consumers also consider the environment when purchasing, he responded,
“Customers in Seattle definitely do, this is a city where you can be fined for not composting or recycling properly. Plenty of people want all of their cannabis products as natural as possible and that carries over into the packaging.”
Companies like Soulshine Cannabis, for example, have put the environment first offering biodegradable non-toxic materials that seem more like regular cardboard packaging. Not only do consumer segments want environmentally-conscious packaging, they also consider waste. Mike mentioned the trend in reusing containers for personal stashes at home. The “nug jug” is nothing new, as true connoisseurs have kept their buds in glass for years.
Cutting back on waste could potentially help loosen LCB restrictions and allow consumers to receive a sales tax break by bringing in their own containers. I know a lot of smokers end up putting their cannabis into their own jars at home and I personally keep an Indica and Sativa jar at all times. Nothing stays in the package long once it makes it past my apartment door.
I also had the opportunity to speak to one of the owners of producer/processor Trail Blazin’ Productions and 2016 Dope Magazine Activist of the year, Danielle Rosellison.
She said she prefers glass jars over plastic for many reasons, citing the environment and that glass is also better for the curing process of the flower.
“The plastic KILLS me from an environmental perspective. I’ve walked on beaches in Indonesia that were so littered with soft plastic that you couldn’t see the sand and there was just a thin trail to walk between the garbage. I’ve been on islands in Belize that had full layers of trash. The plastic hurts my soul. Also, plastic leaches into the product.”
While the environment plays a role in her purchasing she also see’s similarities with many demographics in the Pacific Northwest but plastic still has value to those who prefer it on the go.
At the end of the day, the packaging doesn’t alter my personal buying decision, but that’s because I value the cannabis itself more than anything. Although, I always store my weed in glass. Admittedly, a glass container’s shelf appeal does have a higher quality type of feel.
What are your thoughts? Glass or plastic? Do you have a preference and do you consider the environment when purchasing cannabis products? Respond in the comments below!
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