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Best places to store marijuana
Pro tips for long-term cannabis storage
Are you looking for the best way to keep your cannabis in storage? You’re in the right place.
Storing your buds correctly is crucial to retaining their flavor, potency, freshness, and taste. You've lovingly grown some marijuana plants, so you probably want to ensure the yield lasts.
Are you ready to learn how to keep weed fresh? We’ll give you a rundown of some of the best storage methods below.
Let's jump in.
How long does weed last?
Cannabis, like other consumable products, can turn unpleasant if it isn’t stored correctly.
Smoking old marijuana might not pose any significant risks to the average stoner. The exception to the rule is if the cannabis has mold growth or if the consumer has pre-existing health conditions. In extreme cases, contaminated weed may cause coughing, vomiting, or nausea.
The rule of thumb is to consume dried cannabis within 6–12 months. If maintained correctly, marijuana can last considerably longer, even beyond a year.
A few things happen when weed starts to age:
- Cannabinoids begin to disintegrate
- THC transforms into CBN
- Terpenes evaporate and change the flavor of the cannabis
How to preserve weed
Controlling a few crucial elements helps ensure your weed is fresh when you need it. So, how should you store THC-rich buds that are dried and cured?
Humidity, temperature, light, and oxygen are the main components in keeping your cannabis as fresh as possible. If these elements become unbalanced, they can change the buds’ quality, flavor, and desired effects.
The golden rule is to store weed in a dark, cool, and dry environment to prevent mold on cannabis and keep your nugs happy.
Let’s investigate these four components below:
Humidity
If you’re a grower, you likely know all about indoor humidity for weed and the effect it has on the flowering process. It's also a significant factor in keeping your cannabis in storage.
Humidity is defined as the amount of water vapor in the air. Too much can increase the risk of mildew and mold in your buds. A low percentage may cause the marijuana to dry out and become brittle.
The grower’s job is to ensure the moisture content is at the desired level when drying and curing weed. The consumer's role is maintaining the appropriate range to keep the nugs fresh.
The best humidity for weed storage is between 55–65%. This range can be achieved using the correct equipment. Cannabis humidity packs can also help you maintain the required levels by adding and reducing moisture as needed.
Temperature
Storing your weed in the appropriate thermal conditions ensures your cannabis stays fresh. The ideal temperature for growing cannabis is about 68–77°F, which is also the perfect range for keeping your nugs unspoiled.
Stashing your marijuana in an environment that’s too warm may cause the buds to wilt. On the other hand, overly dry cannabis can lose its flavor and strength.
Keeping weed in the fridge is an option some stoners use, but it’s not the most ideal. The delicate trichomes become brittle in temperatures that are too cold. Since they contain cannabinoids like THC and CBD, losing them decreases the potency of your marijuana.
Light
Light is vital for growing cannabis but a menace once you have cured buds. Too much illumination increases the risk of the nugs becoming brittle and drying out. Cannabinoids also break down under excess brightness, making dimmed conditions more desirable.
A cool, dark place that can keep these rays out as much as possible is the best way to store marijuana.
Oxygen
Too much oxygen can increase the degradation rate of marijuana. When you store the buds loosely, air moves between the flowers quickly. This setup is a recipe for disaster and a contributing factor to mold growth.
The fewer elements that come in contact with your cannabis buds, the better. Limiting O2 exposure is the best way to store pot.
Best places to store marijuana
Some stoners have a preferred process on how to store cannabis. Most techniques suffice short-term, but some could result in quality changes long-term.
Vacuum sealing is considered one of the most efficient ways to store weed. However, it’s only suitable if you’re not planning on smoking your stash frequently. Constantly visiting your sealed nugs could expose them to the elements, making this idea unrealistic.
What’s the best method to keep your marijuana fresh? Here are a few ways to store your buds, starting with the least effective:
In the fridge or freezer
Food stays fresh in the fridge; you might store your unpopped cannabis seeds there too, so your weed should do the same thing, right? Unfortunately, the temperature in a refrigerator creates an environment that’s too cold for marijuana.
The conditions in the fridge are constantly changing with the door opening and closing. The result is fluctuation in the humidity and temperature levels, which causes unnecessary moisture. Due to these factors, the best way to store weed isn’t in the refrigerator.
The freezer also provides temperatures that are unsuitable for marijuana storage. Apart from being too cold, choosing this spot may also:
- Damage the trichomes
- Alter the cannabinoids
- Increase the risk of mold and mildew due to increased humidity
In a plastic bag
Some stoners are fond of keeping weed in plastic bags, but they’re not the best way to store marijuana.
They’re not airtight, and you can’t pack your buds tightly enough to prevent oxygen movement. This extra space causes the weed to start drying out.
A static charge can also form in the plastic bags and affect your weed’s valuable trichomes. It may cause them to fall off or alter the flavor and smell of your cannabis buds.
In a glass jar
Glass jars are the way to go when learning how to keep marijuana fresh. They make it more manageable to control humidity and oxygen levels. Jars are easier to handle and gentler on buds and joints. They’re also useful for storing cannabis seeds, as they keep moisture out.
Although there’s a risk of broken glass, these jars are primarily long-lasting and reusable. An airtight seal is possible when using these storage containers and prevents leakages.
One downside to these vessels is that light can penetrate through the glass, making the marijuana dry and brittle. Learn how to keep weed from drying out by storing the glass jar in a dark place out of direct sunlight.
In a metal jar
Although glass jars are rated number one for cannabis storage, some stoners use metal canisters. Short term, these containers get the job done and are better than plastic.
Like glass, metal also provides an airtight seal and slows the marijuana oxidation process. An advantage is that these containers don't allow as much sunlight to penetrate, which is generally the best way to store weed.
Long-term, some jars may leave a metallic taste in the buds. Titanium containers are your best bet if you opt for this storage method. They don't alter the taste of cannabis as much as other metals.
Keep your jars in a cool, dark environment to avoid changes in temperature and humidity.
Pro tips for long-term cannabis storage
Here are a few pro tips on the best ways to store weed:
- Keep the environmental conditions consistent to ensure your stash lasts. Always store marijuana in cool, dark, and dry conditions.
- Mold and mildew are not your friends, so keep humidity between 55–65% to eliminate the risk of these pathogens.
- The fridge may be ideal for stowing cannabis seeds, but it's not the answer to how to store marijuana. Cold and wet conditions are a recipe for disaster when it comes to your buds.
- Glass jars are the best way to keep weed fresh, with metal jars coming in second.
- Pack your stash as tightly as possible to reduce the risk of mold growth.
- Vacuum sealing and placing your weed in a cool, dark environment is ideal if you don’t plan on using your stash anytime soon. Over time, THC degrades to CBN if you're not storing your cannabis correctly.
- Although plastic bags are the cheapest option, we recommend investing in proper storage containers. If you're spending money on premium marijuana, why not ensure it stays fresh for as long as possible?
The lowdown on storing weed
Cannabis won't last more than a few months if you're not storing it correctly. After buying or growing a premium marijuana strain, it's essential to know how to maintain the weed's quality.
The most complex element to control is moisture. A few products on the market can assist you in managing the correct levels, such as humidity packs.
Putting weed in the fridge isn’t ideal, even if it's just an ounce. The temperature and humidity fluctuations can negatively affect your cannabis. Store your marijuana buds in glass or metal jars for best results.
Now that you know how to store weed, why not visit our store and buy top-tier cannabis seeds with reliable genetics? We guarantee our premium strains are worth looking after correctly.
