Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a casual smoker, you’ve probably questioned whether or not you were adequately preserving your weed. There are a lot of variables and elements to consider when deciding how to store Cannabis. First, you’ll examine the reasons why appropriate storage of medical Marijuana is so crucial, and then you’ll look at the potential threats to your stock.

Don’t ignore cannabis storage

Keeping your cannabis flower is essential, but why is this the case? If your stash is not adequately protected from the elements, it could be subjected to high or low humidity, severe temperatures, air or light; any of these factors can cause the quality, potency, and flavor of your flower to deteriorate over time.

Flowering Marijuana doesn’t technically have an expiration date, but improper storage might lead to a decline in quality. A flower has a very long shelf life if it is stored properly. How long does Marijuana last? Cannabinoids, according to a study published in 1976 in the Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, can be kept stable for up to 2 years provided the Cannabis is appropriately cured for at least four weeks and stored in an ideal atmosphere. Mold and mildew are just two problems arising from improper storage conditions, including very hot or cold temperatures and high humidity.

What is the best way to keep Marijuana?

When storing Cannabis, remember the golden rule: cold, dark, and dry. The conditions, especially the degree of dryness, darkness, and coolness, are crucial to success. Let’s examine the optimal ranges for the factors that significantly impact your marijuana harvest: humidity, temperature, airflow, and light.

Temperature Required to Preserve Cannabis’s Quality

If you store your Cannabis at temperatures that are too high, the terpenes in the flower will degrade, and the buds will get drier. This might result in a potentially unpleasant flavor and a painful experience for the consumer. Alternately, if you store your stash at a too low temperature, you risk the terpenes and THC content deforming.

The ideal temperature to store Marijuana is below 74 degrees, while temperatures above encourage mold growth and mildew. The optimal temperature is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but it should never drop below 55 degrees.

• Minimize light exposure

While light is essential for cannabis plants at all phases of their development, it significantly damages the flower when harvested due to UV light. You should keep your stash away from direct light sources to prevent the loss of valuable cannabinoid and terpene content while it is being stored. If you can’t keep your container in a completely dark place, you should use opaque jars or seal any holes or cracks with tape or stickers.

• Reduce air exposure

Cannabinoids and terpenes may degrade more quickly when there is a high concentration of oxygen present. Many patients and consumers ask, “Does dry cannabis lose potency?” The answer is yes. When buds are exposed to air, they begin to dry up, and the cannabinoids, terpenes and other phytonutrients in the plant material start to break down. Keeping your stash in an airtight container is the best way to ensure that it does not become contaminated by excessive air. Because of oxygen and light, the conversion of THCA to THC and, ultimately, to CBN, which helps induce sleep, is slowed.

• The Reduction of humidity

When storing Cannabis, it is critical to maintain the appropriate humidity levels. Low humidity can cause your Cannabis to dry up, reducing the number of terpenes and cannabinoids it contains. High moisture can be an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. The optimal range of relative humidity (RH) is between 54% and 63%. This is now simpler than ever with the availability of goods like Boveda humidity packs, which may be placed straight into your preferred storage container.

When does Cannabis go bad?

Many factors contribute to the wide variation in patient and customer perceptions of what constitutes a “poor” marijuana flower. Some believe that Cannabis has technically “gone bad” as soon as the quality begins to deteriorate and the cannabinoid and terpene content begins to decrease. Others don’t consider something to have “spoiled” until it’s moldy.

In most cases, though, it is not difficult to determine whether or not the items in your cache are still usable. This can usually be determined based on the appearance of the bud, in addition to how it feels, smells, tastes, and how potent it is. The odds of your stockpile becoming spoiled increase if it is dusty and dry or if it smells musty, or if it has been stored for a long time in a plastic bag or another non-airtight container.

Best cannabis-storing containers

Even though there is no such thing as the ideal cannabis storage container, there are some that perform better than others. Some are designed for short-term use, while others are flexible enough to be used for either long- or short-term storage purposes. Additionally, some of these choices have the added benefit of being odorless! Let’s examine the best cannabis containers.

Glass Mason Jars

For several reasons, glass jars are the most common and preferred options for keeping dried flowers. Mason jars are airtight because they are constructed of glass and contain a metal cover that creates a perfect seal. Because of the potential for light damage due to the transparency of mason jars, it is best to keep flowers in opaque containers. Keeping things stored in glass also helps better manage the relative humidity and temperature of the environment.

Sealed plastic bags

The truth is that sometimes a sealed plastic bag is your only option. Although this is not the best approach to store your stash in any manner, form, or shape, it is much preferable to the alternative of leaving it open to the elements in its entirety. If you must temporarily keep your Cannabis in plastic bags, avoid touching the contents of the bags as much as possible and ensure the seal is tight to prevent static electricity from damaging your buds. Although some people prefer to use a vacuum sealer, those who do should use plastic that has not been treated with BPA. You should also avoid carrying the bag in your pocket and keep it in a cool, dark place; for long-term storage, change to a new medium as soon as possible.

Humidor

A cannabis humidor is another option if you invest a little money in safeguarding your supply. Humidors are commonly used to store tobacco products such as cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and cannabis flower. Only use humidors that have been built exclusively for Cannabis, as the wood from which other humidors are manufactured may change the flavor of your flower. This humidor, called the “Cannador,” is ideal for storing and protecting up to four unique cannabis strains in modest quantities.

Titanium Jars

Most consumers avoid purchasing metal storage containers, especially for extended periods. Metals can potentially make cannabis flowers taste very differently over time. However, titanium jars are the next ideal option for individuals who choose not to store their goods in glass containers and who need to find a way to limit the amount of light reaching their contents. In contrast to metals like aluminum or steel, titanium won’t change the taste of your weed while keeping it safe.

 

Avoid freezer and refrigerator

For several reasons, the fridge and freezer aren’t good places to keep dried flowers. Your bud will freeze solid and become brittle due to the extremely low temperatures and increasing humidity. While this happens, the valuable trichomes covering the cannabis buds freeze and fall off, reducing the medicine’s potency, flavor, and efficiency.

Cannabis Product Storage

We trust that you now know exactly how to keep dried flowers preserved for as long as possible. But have you ever wondered if a joint might go wrong? Whether or not refrigerating is required to store edibles and tinctures, etc. Both are excellent concerns, and it’s just as important to store these things carefully as it is to keep flowers. Let’s examine some ideal methods for preserving other forms of Cannabis.

Joints

Do joints ever go wrong, then? The answer is yes. When exposed to elements such as light, harsh temperature, high humidity, and air, a rolled joint is just as likely to see a decline in quality, flavor, and potency as with dried flower that has been stored. This is true for joints you roll at home and the pre-roll options accessible at numerous dispensaries in the modern day.

Even though most of us don’t start rolling until we’re ready to light up, there are occasions when we opt to get a head start on the day and start by preparing a few joints before we light up. In this instance, store your joint in a “doob tube” or PotPocket. The best way to store joints coincides closely with how long you should keep dried cannabis flowers.

Cannabidiol-Infused foods and beverages

Always follow the manufacturer’s storage recommendations when it comes to storing infused meals and drinks. To preserve its quality, refrigerate it if it calls for eggs, dairy, or other perishable ingredients. It is generally safe to keep gummies and other similar delicacies in their original packaging for shorter periods. It is advised, however, that cannabis edibles be stored in a cold, dry place inside an airtight container to ensure the highest quality and flavor retention. When it comes to keeping the quality and flavor of foods, a Tupperware container that is airtight is more than adequate to meet your needs.

Tinctures/Oils

Tinctures have the most extended storage life among the several forms of Cannabis accessible today. It is often sufficient to keep tinctures in their original, airtight containers in a cool, dark place to prevent them from degrading. These products have a substantially longer shelf life regardless of storage conditions, often lasting months even when left out in the open and subjected to light and temperature extremes.

Concentrates

Glass containers with airtight seals are ideal for storing cannabis concentrates. Many people believe that the best way to maintain the flavor, strength, and consistency of concentrates is to keep them in the refrigerator while not being used. The concentrated forms of THC were shown to be more stable when frozen, according to a 2019 study. When refrigeration isn’t possible, it should be stored in a dark, cool place inside an airtight glass jar.

Conclusion

Remember several dos and don’ts when keeping cannabis flowers and other items. Let’s recap. No matter what cannabis storage you choose, keeping the flower in a cool, dark place is the best practice. Regarding the particular medium for storing items, it is strongly advised that airtight glass containers be used.

Avoiding excessive temperatures, light, air and humidity by storing Cannabis in a sealed, glass container in a cold, dark area greatly reduces the danger of deterioration to your terpenes and cannabinoids. It has become clear that these factors can drastically alter Cannabis’s effectiveness and taste. Remember these guidelines the next time you’re preparing to store your stockpile and feel free to pass them along to your friends.