Tariffs dominated the conversation in 2025.
They upended supply plans and forced cannabis manufacturers to rethink how custom packaging was sourced and priced.
But heading into 2026, the question has changed.
Rather than asking whether tariffs will impact packaging, cannabis brands are now asking how these ongoing trade costs should shape their decisions moving forward.
Packaging choices influence margins, compliance, and time to market—and tariffs are now part of that equation. Here’s what needs to be understood about the current state of tariffs and how brands are adapting to build more flexible, dependable supply strategies.
What to Know About Current US Tariffs
Many of the tariffs shaping packaging costs today trace back to earlier trade actions, particularly Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports that remained in place through multiple administrations.
What changed in 2025 was not their existence, but their reach.
Those measures were expanded and reinforced, bringing tariffs back into sharp focus across manufacturing and consumer goods. According to Smithers, tariffs introduced or reaffirmed in 2025 affected a broad range of packaging inputs, including plastics, aluminum, steel, and flexible packaging components, creating cost volatility that rippled through supply chains.
That pressure showed up quickly in pricing models.
A Yahoo Finance analysis noted that renewed tariff enforcement reshaped cost structures across packaging and consumer goods, with import-heavy categories experiencing the sharpest impact.
As of late 2025, most of these tariffs remain in place.
There has been no broad rollback, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty continues to limit predictability. But tariffs are no longer operating in isolation. Their influence is now intertwined with several structural shifts that are reshaping how packaging decisions are made.
Supply chain security and risk reduction
Reliability, for example, has taken on new importance.
As Modern Retail observed, tariff exposure has pushed companies away from long, import-dependent supply chains and toward sourcing models that offer “greater control over sourcing and lead times.” What may have begun as a cost response has become a broader effort to reduce friction and regain operational certainty.
Sustainability and regulatory pressure
At the same time, environmental regulation is tightening. Extended producer responsibility laws and increased scrutiny around environmental claims are prompting manufacturers to favor packaging that is “easier to verify, report on, and adapt as regulations evolve” heading into 2026.
These requirements compound tariff considerations, particularly for packaging formats that rely on complex or imported materials.
Ongoing trade volatility
Broader trade disruptions add a final layer to the extended impact of packaging tariffs.
Research from Yale’s Budget Lab shows that tariff exposure continues to vary significantly by state and industry, reinforcing that trade-related costs are “persistent and measurable rather than temporary or theoretical. This uneven landscape makes static packaging strategies harder to sustain.
The direct impact on packaging for cannabis brands
So, how do these broad changes directly impact cannabis brands? Especially those who may have invested heavily in international sourcing to minimize costs?
Pricing pressure across common materials
Just like cannabis regulations vary by state, the impact on pricing varies by the type of packaging.
Packaging components most affected by tariffs include:
- Metal tins and aluminum containers, often sourced internationally.
- Glass jars, where imported supply still dominates certain sizes and finishes.
- Flexible packaging, including multi-layer pouches and films tied to overseas resin and foil production.
- Vape hardware and accessories, which frequently rely on China-based manufacturing.
And it’s not just the price change, it’s the timing. In many cases, tariff-related cost increases landed after existing inventory cycles ended, forcing brands to absorb higher prices midstream rather than gradually adjusting.
Longer lead times and less predictability
Tariffs have also amplified lead-time uncertainty. As noted by Chase & Associates, tariff tension compounds existing global logistics challenges, making delivery windows less reliable for flexible packaging and specialty formats.
For cannabis brands operating under strict compliance deadlines and windows for product freshness, packaging delays aren’t just an inconvenience. They can stall product launches or create costly workarounds if there’s no secondary solution.
Fewer “easy” sourcing options
In prior years, brands could easily pivot between overseas suppliers to manage cost. In 2025 and beyond, those alternatives have narrowed.
Tariff exposure is broader, and secondary markets face capacity constraints of their own. The result is a packaging environment where choice still exists, but flexibility requires more intentional planning.
How cannabis brands are adapting and innovating
Despite these constraints, cannabis brands are actively reshaping how they approach packaging.
Shifting toward domestic and near-shore suppliers
Many brands are reducing reliance on overseas packaging by working with US-based or North American partners. Domestic sourcing helps avoid tariff exposure altogether while improving communication, quality control, and turnaround times.
The tradeoff is often higher base pricing—but greater predictability offsets that cost for many operators.
Ordering smaller runs more frequently
Large, bulk packaging orders made sense when lead times were long but stable. Today, brands are opting for right-sized production runs that reduce inventory risk and allow for faster design or compliance updates.
Lower minimum order quantities have become a competitive advantage rather than a concession. And they allow brands to do more testing, explore further customization, and more easily pull or expand product lines.
Simplifying packaging formats
Tariff pressure has encouraged brands to reassess packaging complexity. Multi-material formats with imported components are being replaced with simpler, more modular designs that are easier to source domestically and easier to adjust.
They’re also far less costly to produce and tend to align with sustainability goals. Looking further ahead, opting for simpler, bolder packaging can prepare cannabis producers to move between state lines as well.
By leaning into packaging that is less likely to overstep existing regulations, there’s no need to rethink designs if a brand wants to go multi-state.
Integrating design, production, and fulfillment
Brands are increasingly valuing packaging partners that can handle design, printing, and application under one roof. Tighter integration reduces handoffs, shortens timelines, and limits exposure to external delays.
It also allows packaging to evolve alongside product strategy, rather than lag behind it.
Stay nimble with the right packaging supplier
Tariffs and their extended impact are not disappearing in 2026.
For cannabis brands, the path forward is not about finding a single workaround. It’s about building a more adaptable packaging strategy supported by the right partners.
The most resilient brands are choosing packaging suppliers that offer:
- Domestic or tariff-resilient sourcing options.
- Flexible order quantities and faster production cycles.
- Transparent pricing without surprise fees.
- Experience navigating cannabis-specific compliance requirements.
Packaging should not be the most fragile part of a cannabis operation. With the right supplier, it becomes a stabilizing force—one that supports growth even when external conditions remain unpredictable.
If you’re still on the fence about looking toward domestic packaging manufacturing options, check out our write-up on how making a change can be a painless process.
And when you’re ready, connect with our team to explore packaging options, explore fulfillment strategies, or request a custom quote.
