Knowing how to read a cannabis label helps you compare products, pick an amount that suits you and see that what you're buying is fresh and tested. Michigan requires a long list of details on every package, from potency and net weight to the testing lab and a set of warnings. This guide goes line by line, then shows how labels differ for flower, edibles, tinctures, topicals, CBD products and concentrates.
Why labels matter: dose, freshness and safety
A label is the closest thing you have to a spec sheet for a product.
- Dose: the THC and CBD figures tell you how strong a product is, which is what you need to choose a sensible amount.
- Freshness: harvest and test dates show how long the product has been around.
- Safety: the testing lab, the package details and the required warnings show the product went through Michigan's system, and they remind you to keep it away from children.
In Michigan, every marijuana product must be sealed and labeled before it's sold.
How to read a cannabis label: name, net weight and the licensee
Start at the top, with the basics that identify the product:
- Product name and strain: the strain appears where it applies, such as on flower.
- Net weight: how much product is in the package.
- Producer and license number: the name and state license number of the business that made it, plus the packager if that's a different business.
- Package tag: a unique identifier for that specific package. Some labels also show a batch or lot number.
Knowing the producer helps you find brands you like and steer around the ones you don't.
THC vs. THCA, and how total THC is calculated
Flower and many concentrates contain more THCA than THC. THCA is the acid form the plant makes, and heat turns it into THC when you smoke, vaporize or cook with it. That's why a label or lab report can show both numbers. Our THCA vs. THC guide explains the chemistry.
To estimate the total THC available after heating, use this formula:
Total THC = delta-9 THC + (THCA × 0.877)
The 0.877 factor reflects the weight THCA loses when it becomes THC. THC's molecular weight is about 314.5, which is 87.7% of THCA's 358.5, so a gram of THCA can become at most about 0.877 grams of THC.
For example, flower that lists 22% THCA and 1% delta-9 THC works out to 22 × 0.877 = 19.3, plus 1, for about 20.3% total THC. Think of that figure as a ceiling: how much THC you actually take in depends on how you use the product.
TAC, ratios and minor cannabinoids
TAC: total active cannabinoids
TAC is short for total active cannabinoids. It adds up the cannabinoids a lab measured, such as THC, CBD and minor ones like CBG and CBN. TAC isn't among Michigan's required label fields, which center on THC and CBD, so you'll see it only when a producer or lab chooses to report it.
It's useful as context. Two products with similar THC can differ in their overall cannabinoid content, and TAC shows that at a glance. It isn't a measure of strength or a promise of particular effects. Our guide to what cannabinoids are introduces the main players.
Ratios and minor cannabinoids
Products that combine cannabinoids often show a ratio, such as 1:1 or 20:1.
- Read the order. A 20:1 CBD-to-THC product is very different from a 20:1 THC-to-CBD one, so check which cannabinoid comes first.
- Check the milligrams. The ratio tells you the balance, while the milligrams tell you the dose. A 1:1 tincture with 5 mg of THC per serving also has 5 mg of CBD.
- Minor cannabinoids. Some labels list CBG, CBN, CBC or THCV, in percent or milligrams. Research on most of them is limited, so use these numbers to compare products rather than to predict effects.
Our guide to cannabinoid ratios covers the common blends.
Terpenes on the label
Terpenes are the aromatic compounds behind a strain's smell, such as myrcene, limonene, caryophyllene, pinene and linalool. They aren't among Michigan's required label fields either, so you'll see them only when a producer lists them, usually as a percentage or in milligrams per gram.
A terpene list is a handy guide to aroma and flavor, and it helps you find products similar to ones you've enjoyed. Like a THC number, it isn't a promise of effects. Learn more in our cannabis terpenes guide.
Dates, batch numbers and the testing lab
Michigan labels carry the dates and identifiers that connect a package to its testing:
- Harvest date: shown on flower and other products where it applies. A recent harvest usually means fresher flower.
- Testing lab and test date: the name of the lab that tested the product and the date it was tested.
- Package tag: the identifier that tracks that package, sometimes alongside a batch or lot number.
If you want more detail than the label shows, ask where you bought the product or check the producer's website, since some brands publish full lab reports. Our budtenders are glad to go over any label with you.
Accuracy: what testing can and can't promise
Lab testing makes labels far more reliable than guesswork, but it isn't exact. Michigan labels must include a statement that actual THC and CBD values may vary by 10%. Plants also vary from bud to bud, and a sample can't capture every gram of a batch.
Studies from other states show why that caution matters:
- In a 2015 study of 75 edible products bought in three West Coast cities, only 17% were labeled within 10% of their actual THC. Another 23% contained more THC than the label said, and 60% contained less.
- A 2023 study of 23 flower samples from 10 Colorado dispensaries found that about 70% tested more than 15% below the THC potency on the label.
Neither study looked at Michigan products, and both were small. The lesson is simply that a label is an estimate, not a promise, so start low with any new product.
Label differences by product type
What you'll see depends on the product. Here's how the main formats compare:
| Product | How potency is shown | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Flower and pre-rolls | THC, THCA and CBD as a percentage of weight | Harvest date, strain and net weight |
| Concentrates and vapes | THC as a percentage, sometimes total milligrams | Net weight; Michigan limits concentrate sales to 15 grams per transaction |
| Edibles and drinks | THC and CBD in mg for each serving and for the whole package | Servings per package and the activation time; adult-use edibles cap at 10 mg per serving and 200 mg per package, drinks at 10 mg per serving and 100 mg per container |
| Tinctures and oils | Milligrams per package, and per serving or per mL | Bottle volume and the base, such as alcohol or oil; adult-use limit of 10 mg per dose and 200 mg per package |
| Topicals | Milligrams per package | How much to apply; topicals are made for skin, not for eating |
| CBD-dominant products | Milligrams of CBD and THC, often with a ratio | How much THC comes along with the CBD |
Two quick conversions help when you compare formats. A package of 10 gummies labeled 100 mg of THC holds 10 mg in each gummy. And a gram of flower at 20% THC contains about 200 mg of THC, though you won't take in all of it when you smoke or vaporize. For help choosing an amount, see our THC dosage guide.
Michigan-required warnings and symbols
Every package also carries Michigan's universal symbol for THC products and a set of required warnings:
- A reminder that impaired driving after using marijuana is against the law.
- The National Poison Control Center number, 1-800-222-1222.
- A statement that the product is for adults 21 and older, or for registered patients, with a reminder to keep it away from children.
- A boxed warning about use during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Edibles have extra requirements. They must come in opaque, child-resistant packaging, can't be shaped like people, animals or fruit, and can't use the word candy on the package. Stores must also offer every customer a pamphlet with the Poison Control hotline and information on the risks of use by young people.
At High Society, we work with trusted vendors to stock products that have passed Michigan's testing standards. Browse your store's menu in our online shop to compare products before you visit. 21+ only. Please consume responsibly.
