How to Store Weed To Keep It Potent
Whether you’re a regular or occasional smoker, you’ve probably come upon a cannabis strain you find yourself favouring above other strains. So, naturally, you would want to stock up on as much of it as possible.
But how do you know how to store weed safely?
And in an ideal world, your weed stock would last and stay in the best possible quality for as long as you needed it to. But weed, like any other plant-based food, is an organic matter bound to degrade over time, even if properly cured for long storage.
Even though cannabis buds don’t expire, their degradation over time will affect the potency and quality of weed.
The weed buds won’t smell as great as they used to, and their potency level will drop significantly. Toking on such buds won’t lead to any psychoactive effects. Instead, you might develop a headache and get very tired.
However, if you properly store weed, it would remain in tiptop condition for around six to eight months, while the preroll cannabis would last for three months.
Read on to learn the nuances of how to properly store weed, the optimal climate condition for the longevity of cannabis, and some of the best storage containers that will keep your cannabis pungent and potent for the longest possible time.
Optimal Conditions for How To Store Weed
Accidental consumption of weed by either pets or children can ruin your entire experience with weed. Therefore, it goes without saying that wherever you choose to store weed, ensure it’s away from the reach of pets and children.
Generally, when it comes to storing weed, the aim is to preserve the cannabinoid that delivers weed effects and terpenes responsible for the aroma and flavours of different strains.
To conserve these essential compounds, the best way to store weed targets four primary conditions, including humidity, light, oxygen, and temperature.
Keep these four factors in mind when deciding how to store weed.
1. The Right Humidity
To conserve all the essential weed compounds, you must maintain the dried flowers at 55 and 65 percent humidity.
The average humidity in a typical airconditioned house is 30 and 40 percent which is less than ideal for weed storage.
The moisture will be too little, causing the buds to dry, leading to the weakening of bud structures and the evaporation of cannabinoids and terpenes.
On the other hand, too much humidity would increase the weed’s moisture level, making it susceptible to mould infestation.
That said, there isn’t a need to invest in an entire humidifier. Instead, a simple solution like a humidification pod would do the trick when you are looking to maintain optimal conditions in any storage container.
Some humidification pods are as small as a stack of six coins and can be reused for up to 5 years.
2. Optimal Cannabis Storage Temperature
Although you could get away with storing your weed at 10 degrees Celsius, the ideal temperature for the storage of cannabis is between 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
The temperature range is quite convenient as most Canadian homes are already maintained at that temperature.
However, it would help if you store weed in a cool spot that won’t get any light; more on light later.
So what would happen if the cannabis storage temperature is not maintained?
What happens if you put the bud in the freezer? Such low temperatures would damage the trichomes⸺the part of the weed that houses most cannabinoids and the potent THC.
In addition, when the temperatures are higher than usual, the THC in cannabis will decarboxylate into another cannabinoid known as CBN.
Though CBN boasts some medical benefits, it doesn’t offer any psychoactive effects. At best, the cannabinoid is mildly intoxicating.
Higher temperatures like 120 degrees celsius will lead to much faster degradation of THC to CBN. Usually about six minutes.
3. Restrict Oxygen Access
Even though the temperature and humidity will greatly affect the rate of degradation of cannabis, high exposure to oxygen will cause more severe damage in a shorter period.
When you leave cannabis in a highly oxidated environment, the THC is rapidly converted into CBN, while the terpenes will deteriorate and evaporate, leaving the cannabis devoid of pleasant aromas.
4. A Dark Place Would Be Ideal
UV light exposure, like oxygen exposure, can also lead to the rapid degradation of cannabinoids.
UV light will essentially break down the terpenes and cannabinoids in your buds. As a result, your cannabis will lose its vibrant green hues and take on duller tints.
The weed will also lose its potency as the THC gets broken down into CBN.
How to Store Weed Long Term
If you are looking for how to store weed and keep it fresh smelling, and vibrantly hued, your storage needs to control temperature, humidity, light and oxygen.
An ideal cannabis storage location would be dry, dark and cool. Ideally, placing your weed in a container that can restrict airflow is a great idea, provided you then place the container in a dark location.
You can easily control humidity by adding a humidification pod to your container.
Provided your home temperature is at the desired range, your weed should stay in optimal condition for up to eight months.
Best Containers To Store Weed
Ziploc Bag
You can safely store weed in an airtight ziplock bag. However, remember to fill the bag to eliminate any airflow within the stored cannabis.
Even a properly sealed ziplock bag won’t lock all the cannabis aromas. If you place the ziplock bag in your pantry, food such as bread, cereals, flour and soybeans may absorb the smell of cannabis.
Mason Jar
When it comes down to it, a glass jar may be the best container to store weed.
A hued airtight mason jar is the best option because the colour on the jar would prevent light penetration, while the vacuum seal will keep air and moisture out.
The good thing about using a mason jar is that it properly seals all cannabis aromas. Therefore, you can store the cannabis in your pantry and not worry about the smell soaking up into other foods.
To increase the storage efficiency of your mason jar, don’t leave too much headspace between the cannabis and the seal.
Preferably there should be little to no space between the lid and the product. This prevents air and moisture from degrading your cannabis.
Titanium and Food-Safe Stainless Steel
If you have titanium or a food-safe stainless steel container, they can also make for great cannabis storage as they won’t affect the smell or taste of cannabis.
However, please avoid low-grade aluminum as it can leave an undesired taste on the cannabis.
Also, Altoids tin doesn’t make for great cannabis storage. The metal is weak and doesn’t seal well.
How to Store Weed Joints
If you’re stocking up on preroll blunts, you must follow similar storage principles as you would with flowers and ground nugs.
The best way to store joints is to keep them in a cool dark location and vacuum sealed separately. This will help preserve them as you would only open a pack you’re able to finish for the period.
Remember that when you take your joint from storage, you must consume them within 30 days of opening the pack.
You can also store the joint in the container you bought them in, as they were already sealed for storage.
A mason jar can also make for great preroll storage. Pack the blunts tightly in the mason jar to prevent airflow and seal the jar.
How Long Does Weed Last? Can Weed Go Bad?
Weed doesn’t go bad per se, but important compounds like terpenes, THC and CBD degrade in time when weed is not properly stored.
Your weed should be in top condition for about six to one year when you store it well.
Some studies have revealed how weed will lose potency over the years. Here’s a preview of the percent level of potency reduction over the years:
- After one year, 16% of THC is lost
- After two years, 26% of THC
- After three years, 34% of THC
- After four years, 41% of THC
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