California's Department of Cannabis Control’s (DCC) debuted its new Cannabis Product Image Analyzer (CPIA) tool. The CPIA tool uses artificial intelligence to review images of cannabis packaging or labeling and indicate whether it may be attractive to children.
How does CPIA work?
Users can snap a photo using their smart phone or mobile device, screenshot or any other supported file format and upload to the CPIA tool. The image will be analyzed and provide a summary of its findings. DCC does not retain the image or the summary of findings.
Our goal is to assist licensees in their independent evaluation of whether packaging or labeling may be attractive to children. More information is available on our website: Cannabis products that are attractive to children are prohibited.
Images that are attractive to children include but are not limited to:
- Images of minors or anyone under 21 years of age
- Cartoons
- A likeness to images, characters, or phrases that are popularly used to advertise to children
- Images that are any imitation of candy packaging or labeling and
- Images with the terms “candy” or “candies” or variants in spelling such as “kandy” or “kandeez”
California regulators in the past few years have issued recalls for cannabis products with packaging deemed attractive to children. In 2024, the DCC targeted "Kush Creaturz" with products featuring cartoon characters with named including "Randy Resin," "Marty Mids," and "Frank the Fuego Man." Last year, it issued a notice of voluntary recall for multiple Zurpz integrated vaporizer products.
