How to Store Weed?

Written and Fact Checked by S. Zulfiqar

No matter how seasoned a smoker you may be, at some point in life, you must have asked yourself this question, ‘how to store weed?’ Some of the smokers may have found some storing techniques that work for them but that does not mean that those storing options are ideal. So whether you’re storing your weed in the pocket of your winter jacket or a little box, in your drawer; it’s time to know what the proper way of storing it is. This article will shed light on the storing options and more.

Like all perishable items, cannabis is also considered to be stored in a cool and dark place. Pretty sure a lot of us already know till here. What we don’t know is the expiration date of our stuff. Does it have an expiration date? Well, the answer might not be so simple. Although cannabis is considered faithful as it has a dependable expiration date, how long does it take to lose its flavor, taste, and potency is the question here.

It’s recommended to consume your weed within 6-8 months of the purchase. That does not mean that you should not use it before that. It means that if it’s any older than the given period, you might want to think before consuming it. However, some ways can help you keep your weed safe for a longer period.

One type of fungus known as mildew that can stick to your cannabis can thrive in temperatures between 77° and 86°F. This is not exactly good news. So looking at the basics, we should always keep our cannabis stored in a cool and dark place. That’s one of the precautionary measures that can help enhance the shelf life of our beloved plant.

How it works is that heat causes dryness and hence, the terpenes and cannabinoids can dry out. It usually takes months for them to develop and excessive heat will cause the essential oils to dry out, along with the rest of the plant. What happens is that warm air carries much more moisture than cold air does and as a result, we will get harsh and unpleasant smoke. In short, excessive heat can ruin the day.

Similarly, lower temperatures can also not be ideal for the plant as the THCA tends to convert into THC, which later on becomes CBN. This means that our plant is no longer what it used to be.

All this Brings us to Next Consideration – Humidity Factors

Controlling humidity means that you’re closing the gates for mildew and other similar contaminations which can damage our greens. So it’s highly recommended to not only keep your cannabis stored in a cool and dark place but also at an ideal humidity level. The ideal humidity level ranges between 59% and 63%. That’s called the relative humidity (RH) level. And once stored in such a controlled environment, the plant tends to maintain its flavor, color, consistency, and aroma.

Watch Out for the Sunlight

Similarly, you must have noticed your weed turn dark or brownish at the end of a hot summer. It’s probably because of its exposure to the light. Sadly, light isn’t the best friend of the weed as well. It’s the harmful UV rays that get into the cannabis and break down plenty of naturally synthetic and organic materials.

This theory is backed up by a study that was conducted at the University of London, a while ago. According to it, the ‘single biggest factor in the degradation of cannabinoids is light’. In the same research, they concluded that the cannabinoids remain good for as long as two years when they are stored properly. So it’s the light and the temperature to look at as well.

Oxygen is Vital

Like everything else, your plant needs oxygen to grow. And storing your grass in a mason jar with just the ‘right amount of air is pretty crucial. Oxygen not only helps the plant in growing, but it also helps it with curing. So having little air in your storing jars can cause the humidity to take over.

Similarly, having too much air in the jars can be a disaster as well. The high oxygen levels tend to speed up the process of degradation. For this exact purpose, several vacuum pumps are available in the market. They are available in both hand and electrically controlled ranges and help you in maintaining the optimum level of oxygen in your storing jars.

 

Make Sure the Buds are Dry

Meanwhile, if your buds are not completely dried before storing them, you have to leave everything and get them dried first. Storing wet buds can become a nightmare.

The Dos & Don’ts

Finally, here’s a brief list of the do’s and the don’ts while storing your weed:

DO’s:

• Ensure storing your weed in a cool and dark place.
• Keep it stored away from the sunlight and in airtight mason jars.
• Store them in neutral toned jars.
• Use third-party products like hygrometers etc. to keep an eye on the RH levels.
• Use vacuum pumps to control the oxygen levels within the jars.
• Carefully label the jars according to the strains that they contain. It sucks when different strains get mixed up.

Don’ts:

• Storing your weed in a refrigerator or freezer will always be a big no. There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn’t do that but what’s important is that you ought to be promising yourself that you won’t ever do that.
• Do not store your cannabis in cheap quality containers and plastic bags. If you ever have to use plastic bags, make sure that you’re only using them for a really short period and that too only when you really have to.
• Do not store it anywhere near any electronics. The reason behind that is that the appliances give off heat and we all know that temperature and heat degrade the plant.
• Always keep them stored in a dried, clean, dark, and cool place. Like on some shelf in the basement of your house, away from the reach of children and pets. 

 

Interesting Reads: What Does Weed Feel Like, How to Make Potent Cannabutter, Hash vs. Weed: What’s the Difference?

References

1. Andre CM, Hausman JF, and Guerriero G. Cannabis sativa: The Plant of the Thousand and One Molecules. Front Plant Sci. 2016; 7: 19.
2. Benedict K, Thompson G, and Jackson BR. Cannabis Use and Fungal Infections in a Commercially Insured Population, United States, 2016. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jun; 26(6): 1308–1310.
3. Fairbrairn JW, Liebmann JA, and Rowan MG. The stability of cannabis and its preparations on storage. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 1976;28:1.