Oklahoma’s Dispensary Packaging Supply

Is Cannabis Legal in Oklahoma?

Fear not if you’re in Oklahoma and have some good buds within arm’s reach. As of 2018, the push for the legalization of cannabis was met with open arms: the voting came down to 57% in favor and 43% opposed to it. Though the initial push for legalization has allowed medical patients access to quality cannabis products in what seems to be about 2,000 operating cannabis dispensaries. However, 2023 invites a further push into cannabis legislation – as the ballot initiative for recreational cannabis legalization is being brought forth for its residents to vote on. And in doing so, it’s going to create a larger demand for cannabis products and the packaging that keeps them compliant.

As dispensaries have opened up throughout Oklahoma, sourcing cost-effective cannabis packaging has become imperative for companies as they strive to keep margins strong and their packaging competitive in both functionality and appearance. There’s where Oklahoma dispensary supplies have taken note and opened up shop. It’s where we here at Packlahoma got the idea to settle down and become viable and reliable in offering dispensary supplies wholesale in Oklahoma – namely Tulsa and the local areas around it.

What Should a Dispensary Supply Shop Offer?

No matter which state a dispensary supply store is located in, it should always offer packaging solutions that are compliant with the packaging standards set by the State Regulators. For Oklahoma, the OMMA is in charge of the OMMA compliance standards. When responsibly sourcing packaging from a supplier it’s important to keep these factors at the top of your list, as they will keep you clear of any compliance issues in Oklahoma: fair price, quality appearance, child-resistant, and tamper-proof.

Any wholesale dispensary supply store should offer packaging solutions that inherently abide by these four basic guidelines, as most states with medical and/or recreational cannabis legalization will require child-resistant and tamper-proof factors. 

What You Expect to Find at a Dispensary Supply Shop

When in the market for Oklahoma dispensary supplies, knowing what to expect is key. Some basic packaging solutions are often found at the brick-and-mortar location, while other more complicated options, such as custom packaging design or custom label services, may be something worth inquiring about as they’re not something that is typically available with an immediate turnaround time.

The Basics

The basics or essentials, offered at dispensary supply stores should include marijuana packaging options for flower, concentrates, vapes, pre-rolls, and edibles. 

Flower

Packaging for flower typically includes mylar bags, pop-top drams, or glass jars. For these options, it’s important to consider the child-proof and tamper-evident features. For glass jars, you’ll want to ensure that lid has a press-down-and-twist feature so that children are unable to open it; the tamper-evident method is usually a label applied from the lid to the base, or with a shrink wrap. For the pop-top drams, you’ll want to be sure that once closed, the plastic strip needs to be torn off in order to open it so that it’s tamper-proof. The pop-top drams need to have a squeeze pressure applied to both sides of the lid so that it cannot be opened easily (child-proof). The mylar bags should come with a resealable zipper-like option that is either pinch-and-pull or a pinch-and-slide feature (child-proof). The tamper-evident feature on mylar bags is applied when a heat seal is applied to the top and cannot be opened without tearing it open. 

Vapes

Vape packaging comes in many forms. Some include vape tubes (often doubling as pre-roll tubes), blister packs (or clamshell packaging), or custom boxes with a child-proof function. For the vape tube, it’s similar to pop-top dram but does not include the tear strip; instead, these tubes have a shrink-wrap or tamper label applied to keep them tamper-evident. Their child-resistant feature is the same as the squeeze-top feature found in pop-top drams. Blister packs are plastic packaging options that include a slot for the vape cartridge or disposable vape pen to be inserted. The child-proof feature includes flush packaging that requires the upper corners to be separated and the heat-seal (tamper-evident) to be broken. The custom boxes vary in their child-proof and tamper-evident features; these are some of the more complicated dispensary supply options that require custom design and printing with a lead time. 

Concentrates

The packaging you can expect to find for concentrates at any wholesale dispensary supply shop is simple. Given the nature of concentrates, the most common container are either 5ml or 9ml glass cube or round containers (aka dab jars) with a twistable lid. These are the best way to store concentrates. Silicone containers may be an option, but they do not do a great job of preserving concentrates that may be sitting on shelves for a bit before being purchased. The glass containers are best as they feature the press-down-and-twist (child-proof) feature. And the tamper can be customized to represent a brand logo, or it can be a generic tamper strip applied to the jar itself. 

Pre-Rolls

Pre-roll packaging has been pretty standardized in today’s cannabis market. The two most common pre-roll containers are the plastic pre-roll tube or glass pre-roll tube. Much like the aforementioned vape tube, the pre-roll tube also offers the same benefits and is the most cost-effective. For the fancier pre-roll option, the glass tube has a more professional and pronounced appearance. Its cap should have a child-proof cap that loosely twists until the press-and-twist is applied (child-proof). For the tamper-evident requirement, either a shrink wrap or tamper label is applied after the main label is applied to the tube. For a multi-pack pre-roll container, it’s best to inquire about availability, as these typically are not commonly found in dispensary supply shops. 

Edibles

Edible packaging is perhaps the most varying packaging type depending on the brand. Some common edible packaging options you can expect to find are short-and-wide pop-top drams, mylar bags, or customized boxes. The pop-top drams vary in size depending on the size and quantity of edibles. The child-proof and tamper-evident features are similar to those of the flower drams. The mylar bags come in many shapes, sizes, and designs, but ultimately have the same child-proof and tamper-evident features the mylar bags used for flower. The customized boxes are typically made for chocolates, but can also be designed for internal packaging (such as a plastic dram or tube). 

Custom-Design Services

Custom packaging is something that some brands are turning to in an effort to distinguish themselves from competitors. To accomplish this, both brands and dispensary supply and packaging companies work together in depth to ensure that the design is 100% on the dot when it comes to translating a digital image to a 3d representation. While generic packaging does not go the full distance in ensuring full compliance, custom packaging should include printable, or variable, information that pertains to the state’s cannabis compliance laws (oftentimes a THC warning logo or a government warning that is printed on the packaging itself). The compliance laws vary from state to state, so it’s imperative that the service provider can ensure this is translated from the customer’s design; it’s common for cannabis companies to have a compliance officer that signs off on packaging designs before being finalized. 

While not all dispensary supply shops will offer custom-design services, some do. It never hurts to ask because if the supply shop may not offer the services, they might know someone who does. And in the cannabis space, all resources are valuable assets.

The Bottom Line

While shopping around for wholesale dispensary supplies in Oklahoma, it’s important to know how much you’re willing to spend and what you’re looking for. Ultimately, prices will greatly fluctuate depending on the type of packaging you’re after and its complexity/customization. If you don’t always find what you’re looking for either in the shop or on the shop website, asking for help is the best way to narrow down your options and the flexibility of pricing for bulk purchases; more often than not, because it’s wholesale, there will be flexibility on pricing for bulk purchases.

While it’s important for small businesses to support other small businesses, knowing that fair operating practices are essential is something that should be common knowledge. Here at Packlahoma, we take pride in being able to offer Tulsa, OK cannabis companies, and dispensaries wholesale packaging solutions at more-than-competitive prices.