Pay attention that growing marijuana may be subject to special restrictions and regulation in your country or state. Please contact your attorney to obtain advice before cultivating cannabis.
In the Neolithic age, the proper handling and storage of grains for the next-season’s use was already developed. While modern post-harvest facilities exist in today’s era, small-scale versions might be relevant to keep cannabis storage intact and secure to protect your weed from various quality-degrading biotic and abiotic factors. If you are always on the go, a mini-repository on hand is especially useful to roll up your prized joint anywhere you want! Hence, we have written this article to share the secrets, tips, and methods on how to store weeds. We won’t leave you hanging, so keep scrolling to know a bit more on this topic!
How Long Can Weed Last Fresh & Good?
Weeds contain cannabinoids (CBD) that are unstable and decompose through time, thereby reducing the quality of your stash. Does weed go bad after 2 weeks? It depends. The references about how long can weed last seem to be varied–usually, the safe figure is between 6-12 months. It highly depends on multiple factors, mainly temperature, light, and humidity, that slow down or speed up the CBD and THC content degradation in dried flower buds.
Methods for Cannabis Storage
Unlike diamonds, cannabis is not forever. Fortunately, various techniques on how to make weeds last longer can be employed, which are as follows:
Glass Jar
Be it a mason jar or merely a simple glass jar with a tin lid, it is perhaps one of the practical ways to keep your weeds last long. How long does weed last in a mason jar? The chemical superiority is still acceptable after a year or two, given all the optimal conditions.
Amber Glass Jars
If you can find tinted glass, we would suggest choosing this instead. While the differences are barely noticeable, according to a study, in both connoisseurs' sensory analysis high-grade detection methods, THC content is still 2% higher in amber glass jars after a year of storage.
Silicon Containers
Storing weeds in silicon containers is an upgraded version of the previously mentioned methods. It works by tightly sealing the jar to prevent oxygen contact, preventing cannabinoid oxidation and terpene evaporation. Opt the medical-grade or food-grade containers to keep your pot uncontaminated.
Humidity Packs
Using humidity packs is the best way to store cannabis free from moisture. It is used by putting it together with your typical glass jar as a moisture absorber in case your weeds still have some moisture.
Cold Storage
Can you put weed in the freezer? You cannot but can refrigerate it, ideally above freezing -15°F (4°C). However, this is a more practical solution for bundles of marijuana that are less likely to be consumed immediately.
Foil
Food-grade aluminum wraps help protect your babe from light, heat, and air, making it an excellent option if you are always on the go. The weed in such packaging should be consumed immediately, as the freshness lasts only for a few weeks.
Humidors
Using this wooden box might not be the best way to store marijuana, but this is useful for short-term preservation if you have no other storage jars. It will keep your buds organized as this comes in various sizes and compartments.
Plastic Food Wraps
What about how to preserve weed edibles? The answer is: you simply need a simple plastic food wrap or use its original packaging. Sugar is a natural preservative, but the plastic can help it prevent it from absorbing extra moisture.
Ziploc Baggie
Some would say no to ziplock plastics, but if you have no other options, this method is still a practical one. However, since it is not ideal for long-term storage, you are better off consuming it within 6-12 months.
What Is the Best Way to Store Weed
The best way to store weeds is to lock them fresh in an amber jar and place it in an ambient, dry place such as your kitchen cupboard. In this way, the chemical processes that degrade the active ingredients of your buds are less likely to happen, or if it does, the difference is barely noticeable.
Ideal Conditions for Storing Weed
Keep cannabis storage place in ideal conditions by providing the crucial conservation environment below:
Light
If you are unsure how to properly store weed, look for a dark place. Your kitchen cupboard or an unused cabinet would be the perfect storage place for your stash. Light usually contains a ray of UV that deteriorates the condition of weeds, converting the precious THC into cannabinol unwanted, less potent form of CBD.
Humidity
Humidity is a crucial element in storing marijuana to make it last. A relative humidity (RH) between 55-65% is considered to be a safe range. Unless you want an ammoniated and slightly toxic moldy flavor on your weed, defining the maximum limit at 63% would be better, as molds typically thrive in 65% RH. The good news is most average households are in this range, but if you live in a humid or tropical climate, a hygrometer comes in handy in monitoring the safe range of air moisture.
Temperature
A high temperature is the last thing that you want to expose your weed to! Most chemicals undergo several processes (i.e., decarboxylation) that are hastened by the temperature rise, which leads to the loss of active substances for pot session. If that doesn't sound discouraging, molds also thrive with higher temperatures (yikes!)The best place to store weed to make the best out of it is to stow it in a spot with temperatures below 70°F (21°C) but above freezing to keep it fresh and mold-free.
Air Circulation
Ever wondered why all perishables, such as canned goods and preserves, are packed in closed containers? That is to retard the chemical and biological processes fueled by the presence of oxygen! Marijuana still needs a little oxygen during its storage to preserve its aroma. However, too much of it breaks down the precious chemicals. Hence, it is highly recommended to keep cannabis storage airtight.
Place
Given all the crucial elements above, let’s talk about the physical spot where to store weed! If you want to preserve your cannabis buds for over a year, all the necessary factors must be considered. First, you will want to place your stash in an airtight glass in a cool, dry place. Your cupboard, medical, or first aid cabinets are likely the best spots for keeping joints in good condition. Alternatively, it can be preserved in a refrigerator as long as it is not below freezing and is not frequently opened. The glass can catch moisture from the surrounding air’s condensation.
Tips on How to Store Weed Properly - Dos & Don’ts
As there are numerous methods on how to store marijuana, it is usually hard to choose one, but being well-versed on the must and must not do can be helpful, such as the following:
Dos
- Use humidity packs for storing short term.
- Conserve concentrates in the fridge.
- Utilize hermetic jars for a vacuum seal.
- Keep the humidity and temperature stable.
- Place your pot container in a dark location.
Don’ts
- Don’t put your cannabis containers next to a heat source such as an oven, microwave, radiator, fireplace, or heater.
- Don’t place a bag of unwrapped stash under the sun’s direct heat.
- Don’t freeze marijuana buds because this can make the trichomes brittle after defrosting.
- Don’t store bare or uncovered marijuana flowers in the refrigerator.
- Don’t keep your precious weed strain with other paraphernalia like grinders or pipes.
How to Make Weed Last Longer
How to store pot and make it last longer? The trick is to introduce your flower bud to the perfect ambient conditions to minimize the active chemicals’ degradation. Below are some of the improvised methods to make it withstand time:
- Use empty jam jar and wrap it with black carbon paper. Make sure to use clean jam jars, as unusual flavor and smell cannot be absorbed. Covering it with black paper will prevent the light from penetrating inside, making the contents even last longer. As an added measure, you can put it in the fridge. When using joints, take only the quantity you need and do not take out the glass for too long as it can be moist from condensation.
- Nitrogen gas. This is a rather more advanced method of preventing the oxidation of cannabis. It replaces the gas in the packaging (mainly oxygen) with nitrogen, reducing the oxidation rate. If you own a marijuana plantation where you need to warehouse lots of produce, investing in nitrogen gas pumps would be your must-haves.
- Magnetic containers. Designed to be light and small, this trendy and sleek container is best for staying organized when packing marijuana during week-long travels. This can be bought online and is available in many shapes and sizes.
FAQ
Should You Store Weed Ground or Whole?
The recommendations on how to store cannabis include storing it as a whole bud. Pulverizing the buds results in the oil's exposure to the air. Apart from that, it’s more prone to quality-aggravating factors.
Can You Put Weed in the Freezer? What Can Happen?
Putting weeds in a freezer is not advisable for storing cannabis. Otherwise, the trichomes, where most of the active compounds are, could shed off. The safe temperature of fresh buds is about -15°F (4°C).
Does Weed Go Bad after 2 Weeks, in the Sun?
Yes, the CBD in the buds undergoes decarboxylation, converting it to a less potent form. The best way to store cannabis is to place it safe from the direct sunshine, such as in your cupboard or medicine cabinet.
How Long Does Weed Last in a Mason Jar?
A Mason jar is probably one of the best options for storing weed. Given all the optimal conditions, the chemical superiority is still acceptable after a year or two.
