California’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has launched a new AI-based tool designed to help cannabis licensees assess whether the product’s packaging and labeling may be appealing to children.

The Cannabis Product Image Analyzer (CPIA) program, announced by the department this week, allows users to upload photos, screenshots or other supported image files of cannabis packaging and labels. The tool then analyzes the image and provides a summary that indicates whether the package is likely to attract children under the standards set forth in California’s regulations.

According to DCC, the agency does not store uploaded images or resulting summaries.

The department said the tool is designed to help licensees conduct their own independent assessments of packaging and labeling compliance. California regulations prohibit hemp products that are attractive to children.

Examples of prohibited images may include images of minors or persons under the age of 21, cartoons, similes of characters or phrases commonly used to advertise to children, imitation of candy packaging, and use of terms such as “candy,” “candy,” or alternative spellings including “kandi” and “candies.”

Regulators encourage licensees to test the new tool and provide feedback through a public survey. DCC said the responses will help guide future improvements and functionality.

The announcement was included in a broader regulatory update from the department that highlights several ongoing rulemaking efforts.

Among the recent changes, the DCC announced that emergency rules have been adopted to allow retail owners who hold both adult (A) and medical (M) use designations to separate those designations and create a matching M retail license in the same licensed premises. Eligible businesses can request a split through the newly available application process.

The Department is also accepting comments from the public on proposed updates to the Track and Trace system until July 20, 2026. The proposed changes would introduce additional safeguards against fraudulent transactions and potential abuse related to “lab purchases,” and would expand data entry requirements by requiring certain tax information from retailers and requiring retailers to provide certificates of analysis to customers upon request. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled for July 21.

In addition, regulators continue to seek public input on proposed updates to pesticide testing requirements for cannabis products. Comments on this rulemaking proposal are accepted until June 12.

The DCC also announced upcoming public listening sessions as part of efforts to increase engagement between licensees and department management. In-person sessions are scheduled for June 24 in Redway and July 30 in Sacramento, with additional 2026 dates to be announced at a later date.

In another update, the department said grow license holders who requested both adult and medical use designations can now view both designations on their license certificates and license records. The agency reiterated that licensees can do business with other licensees regardless of whether their licenses are A- or M-designated.

The department said it continues to monitor developments in federal cannabis transfers and will provide updated resources as information becomes available.

The regulatory update also included recent consumer advice regarding the voluntary recall of one Teds Budz flower product due to the presence of Aspergillus terreus, issued on 2 June. Additional recall information remains available on the department’s recall portal.