he best way to store your weed is to keep it in an airtight glass container, in a dark location between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit and at 62% humidity. The following are tips on how to store weed for long-lasting freshness and some common practices to avoid.
Best Containers To Store Your Weed In
Glass Jar with Airtight Seal
When it comes to cannabis storage, one of the most popular and effective methods is to use a good old fashioned Mason Jar. They’re airtight, non-porous, and solid which makes them ideal for locking in aromas and flavor while preventing your delicate buds from getting crushed while moving or storing.
Choose the size of your jar according to how much weed you have to store. Ideally, your buds should loosely fill three-quarters of the jar to prevent trapping extra air and humidity. Consider purchasing an affordable vacuum sealer to remove even more air and create a tight seal. Store your container in a dark place to keep your flower tasting fresher, longer.
Opaque or Dark-Colored Glass Containers
Preventing light exposure is key for maintaining the freshness of your cannabis. While storing clear glass jars in a dark area like a cabinet or lockbox is effective, some prefer to go the extra mile. You can purchase tinted or opaque glass jars or make your own by applying black duct tape or another light-tight material to the exterior of a glass container.
Commercial Products
How Long Does Weed Stay Fresh?
One preliminary study concluded that “carefully prepared herbal or resin cannabis or extracts are reasonably stable for 1 to 2 years if stored in the dark at room temperature.” As weed becomes old and dry, the THC degrades to CBN, resulting in less potent cannabis. Terpenes also degrade, which can make your herb taste stale and lose its nuanced aroma. Conversely, if exposed to a warm, wet environment, cannabis may grow mold that can be harmful if consumed. You can prevent the growth of mold and keep your weed from drying out by storing it properly.
Factors that impact freshness:
To Freeze or Not to Freeze?
A hotly debated topic among cannabis experts is whether or not it’s a good idea to store your cannabis in the freezer. Some strongly caution against it, warning that freezing the herb will cause the trichomes to become brittle and break off, resulting in less potent flower.
While freezing can cause brittleness, damage can be avoided with ease by allowing cannabis to come to room temperature before handling. The trichomes that do break off will likely end up in the kief chamber of a grinder or at the bottom of the jar to be collected later.
In a recently published study, researchers analyzed six different high-potency cannabis products over a period of four years. They stored these cannabis samples at different temperatures and found that freezing was “the best storage condition to avoid the reduction of the cannabinoids content over time.”
Freezing may not be necessary, depending on how long you plan to store your weed. Outdoor growers, for example, may only produce one crop per year and want to freeze their yield to keep it fresh throughout the year. You don’t need to freeze a small amount of bud that you use on a regular basis, but if you are buying larger quantities of cannabis, you may want to store it in your freezer to maintain freshness.
What to Avoid When Storing Your Weed
Best Containers To Store Your Weed In
Glass Jar with Airtight Seal
When it comes to cannabis storage, one of the most popular and effective methods is to use a good old fashioned Mason Jar. They’re airtight, non-porous, and solid which makes them ideal for locking in aromas and flavor while preventing your delicate buds from getting crushed while moving or storing.
Choose the size of your jar according to how much weed you have to store. Ideally, your buds should loosely fill three-quarters of the jar to prevent trapping extra air and humidity. Consider purchasing an affordable vacuum sealer to remove even more air and create a tight seal. Store your container in a dark place to keep your flower tasting fresher, longer.
Opaque or Dark-Colored Glass Containers
Preventing light exposure is key for maintaining the freshness of your cannabis. While storing clear glass jars in a dark area like a cabinet or lockbox is effective, some prefer to go the extra mile. You can purchase tinted or opaque glass jars or make your own by applying black duct tape or another light-tight material to the exterior of a glass container.
Commercial Products
- Cannabis humidor: The ultimate in herbal luxury, a cannabis humidor is built to maintain ideal storage conditions for the highest-quality smoke. Brands like Cannador and Cannaseur offer customizable, premium humidors made of premium woods like mahogany and walnut with prices ranging from $150 to $400.
- Boveda Packs: The folks at Boveda have developed a line of products that regulate the humidity inside any storage container. Simply pop one of their two-way humidity control packs in with your stash and it releases or absorbs water to maintain ideal moisture conditions in the jar. These packs can be reused until they harden and become wafer-like. Boveda even offers a Bluetooth-enabled monitoring device that senses storage conditions and can reorder Boveda Packs when they are in need of replacement.
How Long Does Weed Stay Fresh?
One preliminary study concluded that “carefully prepared herbal or resin cannabis or extracts are reasonably stable for 1 to 2 years if stored in the dark at room temperature.” As weed becomes old and dry, the THC degrades to CBN, resulting in less potent cannabis. Terpenes also degrade, which can make your herb taste stale and lose its nuanced aroma. Conversely, if exposed to a warm, wet environment, cannabis may grow mold that can be harmful if consumed. You can prevent the growth of mold and keep your weed from drying out by storing it properly.
Factors that impact freshness:
- Light: Researchers found that light was the greatest single factor in cannabinoid loss, especially in solutions such as tinctures. It is important to store weed away from all types of light to prevent it from losing potency.
- Air: The same study concluded that “air oxidation did lead to significant losses” in THC potency, which is why it’s crucial to use storage containers with an airtight seal.
- Humidity: Maintaining proper moisture levels can prevent your weed from growing moldy or becoming too dry. Ideally, buds should be kept at a relative humidity(RH) of 62%. The organic matter begins to turn brittle at a RH of 55% and mold can start to form at 65%.
- Temperature: It’s best to store your cannabis at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees are ideal conditions for mold growth.
To Freeze or Not to Freeze?
A hotly debated topic among cannabis experts is whether or not it’s a good idea to store your cannabis in the freezer. Some strongly caution against it, warning that freezing the herb will cause the trichomes to become brittle and break off, resulting in less potent flower.
While freezing can cause brittleness, damage can be avoided with ease by allowing cannabis to come to room temperature before handling. The trichomes that do break off will likely end up in the kief chamber of a grinder or at the bottom of the jar to be collected later.
In a recently published study, researchers analyzed six different high-potency cannabis products over a period of four years. They stored these cannabis samples at different temperatures and found that freezing was “the best storage condition to avoid the reduction of the cannabinoids content over time.”
Freezing may not be necessary, depending on how long you plan to store your weed. Outdoor growers, for example, may only produce one crop per year and want to freeze their yield to keep it fresh throughout the year. You don’t need to freeze a small amount of bud that you use on a regular basis, but if you are buying larger quantities of cannabis, you may want to store it in your freezer to maintain freshness.
What to Avoid When Storing Your Weed
- The refrigerator: While research shows that freezing is ideal for maintaining the potency of cannabis, it is NOT a good idea to store your weed in the fridge. The temperature and humidity in refrigerators can fluctuate drastically and increase the chance of mold growth. Store at room temperature or in the freezer.
- Plastic: Weed should never be stored in plastic baggies. Plastic causes cannabis to become crumbly and dry, can leach BPA, and allows more air exchange than glass. Anyone who has ever wrestled with cling wrap knows that plastic is also prone to static, which can snap off precious trichomes and reduce potency. If you purchase your herb in a plastic bag, transfer it to an airtight glass container as soon as possible.
- Cigar/Tobacco Humidors: Most are made of cedar wood which can impart its flavor and aroma onto your cannabis. Many also use propylene glycol to regulate humidity. Look into humidors specifically geared toward cannabis users.
- Heat sources: Avoid storing weed near appliances and electronic devices that produce heat, such as stoves, heating units, lamps, or televisions.
- Storing with pipes and lighters: Store your weed away from paraphernalia or anything that could impart its own aroma and flavor.
