Knowing how to store your cannabis is important to every smoker. It’s mostly likely that you’re going to have extra weed that you just can’t smoke, and you don’t want it to go bad.
Sandwich bags and Tupperware might be okay for temporary storage, but they aren’t going to cut it in the long run.
Oxygen and moisture are the biggest buzz kills of weed, so knowing how to properly control them can prolong the life and taste of your buds. If a breeder went to all the trouble of growing a quality, shelf-stable flower that’s free of mold, it would be a shame to let it rot!
CONTAINER
There is really only one option for a storage container for your cannabis: a sealed glass jar. In the long run, metal and plastic will begin to affect the characteristics of your buds, so they’re not a long-term solutions.
There are a few things to take to think about when selecting the correct jar and actually storing your weed, though. Let’s look at the factors you need to consider.
AIRTIGHT: Glass containers are airtight and nonporous. That means that if it’s properly sealed, no fresh air is getting in and no air is getting out of the jar — tightly sealed glass jars help maintain humidity levels and exposure to oxygen. Because they’re airtight, glass jars — like your standard Ball mason jars — are also great at containing the aroma of marijuana.
AIR SPACE: Just because glass containers are airtight doesn’t mean there’s no air in the container. You want to fill your container with just the right amount of flower. Too much or too little air space are both bad for your bud — fill your container about ¾ full.
COLOR: Light is a big factor in how quickly your cannabis degrades (we’ll talk about that more below). Clear jars are great at the provisioning center so you can see what’s inside, and they’re the most readily available type. However, it’s best to choose an opaque or brown jar to store your cannabis long-term because they will diffuse light and prevent degradation.
CONDITIONS
Marijuana is a surprisingly delicate flower. The delicate trichomes that house the aromatic, all-important terpenes can be easily destroyed if not stored in ideal conditions.
The three environmental conditions you’ll need to control are water (moisture), temperature, and light.
MOISTURE: This is a big one. Like all organic material, if weed is exposed to too much moisture it will begin to rot. Mold is always all around us, but it requires ideal temperatures and moisture levels to thrive. Mold grows well between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, especially when there is high humidity (moisture in the air).
For that reason, your refrigerator is a not a place for storing your cannabis. While your fridge is a cool place, the humidity level is generally in a range that isn’t ideal for your buds. Even in a sealed container, weed stored in your fridge is most likely to mold.
TEMPERATURE: Heat will cause your buds to dry out, become brittle, and lose their effectiveness. On the opposite end of the spectrum, freezing can cause your trichomes to become brittle, snap off, and lose their effectiveness.
The ideal temperature for storing marijuana is between 55- and 74-degrees Fahrenheit. Most people shouldn’t have a problem finding a cool spot in their home, just avoid hotspots like near the stove or furnace.
LIGHT: Light is great for marijuana while the buds are growing on a plant. After it’s harvested? Not so much.
While sealed glass jars are best for preserving your marijuana, it’s best to use ones that are opaque instead of completely clear glass. Brown glass jars are excellent at keeping out light, too (it’s the same reason most beer comes in a brown bottle). Light will break down the integrity of the THC in your bud, making it less potent the longer it's exposed to light.
That makes the ideal place to store your weed the mythical “cool, dark place.” Where is that, exactly? Well, the basement is a great location for this if you live in a house. If you’re in an apartment — or you’re renting and don’t have access to a basement — then an interior cupboard works well.
NON-FLOWER PRODUCTS
When it comes to non-flower cannabis, each product is different. The packaging of the cannabis product should have instructions on the best way to store it.
If you bought something that came refrigerated, keep it refrigerated. Many gummies are okay to simply store in the packaging they came with but putting that package in an airtight container in a cool, dark place can help prolong their lifespan.
Keep your non-flower cannabis products in their original packaging to avoid any confusion about the product.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE JAR
There are other methods for long-term preservation of weed, but the science is still out on them.
Some people suggest freezing marijuana for storage, but we don’t recommend it. The freezing process can make your bud brittle and susceptible to breaking when you thaw it to use it. Plus, if your weed hasn’t been thoroughly dried out and moisture remains, there’s a potential that it can go bad while it’s thawing (or it can be even more brittle).
The jury is still out on freezing, so we suggest to stick with what works — airtight glass jars!
If you have more questions about the best way to store cannabis, we suggest you head over to Prosper Cannabis Company where their knowledgeable Cannsultants are here to help. We want your weed to be great the first time you smoke your latest Prosper order and when you smoke the last bowl or joint.