Best Way to Store Weed for Maximum Freshness
Believe it or not, there is not just any old way to store weed. If you have ever smoked brown, dried-out weed, you will understand the importance of storing your weed properly. Dry weed hurts your lungs, can taste funny, and worsens your smoking experience.
We all know fresher weed is better, so finding the best way to store weed will keep it fresher for longer.
I know a lot of us chuck it into a baggie and hope it stays fresh. This isn’t going to work for a number of reasons, so stop being lazy!
You want to keep your weed tasting as good as the day you bought it, but how do you handle your stash?
Keep reading to find out the best ways to store weed.
Why It’s Important to Store Weed Correctly
We have to remember that marijuana is a plant. Like any plant, you have to make sure it's in optimal conditions to keep it at its finest.
You wouldn’t chop a tomato in half and leave it on the counter, would you? (If you do this, please seek help.)
Cannabis breaks down fairly easily, so what was fresh yesterday may not be fresh today. It is made up of hundreds of cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, which are sensitive to the environment.
These cannabinoids all interact with your body in different ways. THC is the psychoactive component that makes you feel high, while CBD carries many of the health benefits.
There are others that affect taste, smell, and overall effect.
When you leave your weed in the wrong conditions, these cannabinoids begin to degrade, leaving you with cannabis that is a shell of its former self.
Choosing the best way to store your buds maintains the potency, taste, and smell of your weed. From harvesting to smoking, the highest-quality weed gets stored properly.
If you don’t store your weed the right way, this is what you can look forward to:
- Brown, dried-out weed that is harsh on your lungs and can cause headaches.
- Mold, which nobody wants on their buds.
- Lower quality weed that is less potent.
- Weed that smells and tastes bad, even if it was once of good quality.
- Children finding your poorly hidden stash and showing it to their school friends (and possibly their teachers).
As you can see, investing some time and money into the best storage for your weed will only be to your benefit.
Marijuana stored in the worst conditions could last for a week. Stored correctly, it will last you months.
Best Ways to Store Your Weed
Let’s get to the answers you came here for.
Marijuana is sensitive to temperature, light, moisture, and air. You want to do your best to keep it happy, so you need to find the environmental sweet spot.
Temperature: If the temperature of where you store your weed is too high, it dries out and becomes crumbly, brown, and less potent. Too cold, and the trichomes containing the best cannabinoids start to fall off.
The ideal temperature for marijuana storage is 15–21 °C (or 60-70°F). This keeps your buds fluffy and full of potent cannabinoids.
Light: Light is extremely important during growth, but once weed is harvested, it can be detrimental. Ultraviolet rays break down your buds even further, meaning you want to store them in a dark place away from direct light.
Moisture: Moisture is the silent killer of good weed. More moisture leads to higher humidity, which could make your weed go mouldy. I’ve seen entire stashes ruined thanks to the horrors of mould.
It won’t kill you, but it can lead to nausea, vomiting, and heavy coughing. Experts agree that the best humidity level is 50 to 65%.
Air: Like most organic matter, marijuana is susceptible to oxidation. This chemical process breaks down one of the most potent cannabinoids, THC.
Exposure to air directly affects the potency of your cannabis and its lifespan. This is easy to avoid with an airtight container. Reduce exposure by keeping these containers open only as long as you need to.
Making sure all these conditions are met will keep your marijuana at its happiest.
Now that you know the ideal conditions for storing cannabis, what are some of the best products to use?
Storing Cannabis Flowers
A glass mason jar that is airtight is the best way to store cannabis flowers. Unlike plastic, glass doesn’t give off harmful chemicals, and fewer trichomes stick to the inside of a jar. This keeps your air levels in the right place, but what about humidity levels?
It’s important to control humidity levels with the help of one of these bad boys. Boveda humidity packs absorb any excess moisture, leaving you with a perfect humidity balance of 62 percent. This will preserve terpenes, leading to a better smell, taste, and no mould.
Storing Joints
Pre-rolling joints is the ultimate convenience. Being able to pull one out and light up takes away the stress of trying to roll the perfect joint. The problem with a pre-roll is that they usually get messed up during storage, so you’re left with a crooked twig instead of the magic wand you wanted.
The best way to store your joints is with the help of a Saverette. This nifty joint-shaped cone will keep your joint exactly as it was when you made it. I would recommend getting a cigarette case if you want to keep multiple of these for the road.
Storing Edibles
You would store edibles the same way you would store any food item. Make sure you store it in an airtight container for the best results.
If you are going to eat them tomorrow, throw them in the fridge. Any longer than that, and you will want to freeze it for another day.
Unlike cannabis flowers, freezing edibles is safe. It will preserve potency and flavour. I would recommend letting it defrost slowly. Rapid temperature changes could spoil your edibles.
Storing Concentrates
Cannabis concentrates can be a mess if stored improperly. The best way to store concentrates is in a silicone concentrate jar.
This is a must-have for any dabber as it makes it easy to use and a breeze to clean, since it is non-stick. Exposure to air can also affect concentrates, so limit this where possible.
Best Tips to Store Your Weed
Remember, the key to the best weed storage is to keep it in the right environment.
This means:
- No light.
- No moisture.
- No excessive heat or cold temperatures.
- No moisture.
- No exposure to air in a sealed container.
There are also a few things you should avoid to keep your weed fresher for longer.
Storing cannabis in plastic baggies does nothing except break them down quicker. Not only do the trichomes stick to the baggie, but the friction can also fry them. This takes away the rich smells, tastes, and potency of your weed.
Excessive handling of your buds can also rub off a lot of the cannabinoids. We all love to feel, smell, and look at our buds, but every second you do so, you lose quality and precious cannabinoids.
It is a good idea to keep a dedicated cupboard or drawer to store your marijuana. This is a dark place, usually at the right temperature and humidity levels. You want to make sure you only put cannabis-related stuff in here.
I once had a friend who kept all their weed in a perfume drawer. I thought I might be smoking a strain called Chanel No. 5 until I asked where she kept all her goods.
Marijuana easily absorbs smells and flavours from other products, which can really ruin the smoking experience.
Storing your weed properly will preserve it for much longer, but it’s recommended you smoke it within 8 months to a year. If you have a big stash, you better get smoking!
Hopefully, these tips and tricks give you an idea of the best ways to store your cannabis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it good to keep weed in the refrigerator?
While storing edibles in the fridge is okay, storing cannabis flowers will cause too much moisture and damage. Rather, keep it at room temperature, around 15-21°C (or 60-70°F).
How long does weed stay good?
If all the conditions are right, weed can last 8 months to a year. After a year, it loses around 16 percent of the original THC, and it only goes downhill from there.
What is the best place to store your weed?
There are many great products dedicated to weed storage. Wooden boxes work well and absorb the fresh smells and flavors. Whatever you use, make sure it is airtight.
Is storing weed in a jar good?
Anything with a rubber seal is the best option, so a jar is good for storing weed. This makes sure nothing gets in or out. A good test is to fill the container with water and check for air bubbles or leaks.