Cannabis is a living organism and therefore, will eventually deteriorate. This happens with fruits and vegetables in the same way. While with some of these, refrigeration will be enough to make them last longer, the same won’t apply to weed.

For your precious buds, there are a few things you should know so that they can last longer. Whether your local dispensary or coffeeshop had a great deal on weed or you just live too far away for weekly trips, it’s time to learn how to properly store your stash.

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SHELF LIFE

To understand how one can properly store cannabis flowers, one must first understand which variables contribute to the deterioration of weed. The first factor to take into account is temperature. Most bacterial life thrives between temperatures of 25–30°C. This includes nasty stuff like mould, which will quickly make your weed unsmokable. Cannabinoids and terpenes can also be damaged under high temperatures, making your smoke much harsher, and less potent. Keep your weed in a cool, dark place and you should be good.

Humidity can also be detrimental to your bud’s health. This is another aspect that, when too high, will invite mould to overtake your stash. But keep it too low and you risk drying out your stash and decreasing its flavour. Aim for anywhere between 55%–65% relative humidity. It’s a very small window, but storing cannabis isn’t meant to be easy - just very rewarding.

There are two other aspects to look out for. Light and air circulation can be your best friends or your worst enemies, depending on how well you control them. If you do this part well, your flowers will last you months without losing potency or flavour. Keeping the buds away from light is crucial. The UV rays will not do you any good. Make sure you store your buds in an airtight container. Intermittent “burping” of the container (opening it up to allow for air circulation) is a daily way to ensure that conditions are satisfactory.

WHAT TO USE AS A STORAGE CONTAINER

Any cannabis aficionado will tell you that they stand by only one storage rule: no plastic! There are a few exceptions of containers made from hard plastic, but we’re referring mostly to plastic baggies. These are the worst. Sure, it’s a great way to get bud from your connection, but remove it once you get home. Plastic releases chemicals that you don’t want to be smoking.

Glass mason jars are probably the most common storage material. Plastic or wood containers will impart their flavour in with your bud. In the same way that the best-tasting Coca-Cola comes in a glass bottle, so does your weed. All you have to make sure of is that it’s properly sealed and stored in a dark, cool place. Another great airtight option will be the CVault container. This is made from food-grade stainless steel to ensure it doesn’t adversely affect your cannabis experience.

You can also go for a vacuum seal. There are different schools of thought when it comes to this. Some say it’s the best way to store your weed, but others argue that the plastic design and harsh compression of this method ultimately leads to a decrease in quality.

EXTRA TIPS

Besides using the best container, there are always extra little steps you can take to ensure you’re taking the maximum care you can. You can keep a hygrometer and/or a humidity control pack in your storage room to make sure humidity levels are always ideal. The Humidipak 62 or Integra Boost 55 are designed to constantly keep relative humidity at a 62%, and 55% respectively. You can also vacuum seal the jars themselves, counteracting its disadvantages while retaining the benefits. Avoid handling the buds with your bare hands. Use large chopsticks or the like. The oils on your skin are too harsh for the delicate trichomes. And finally, store different strains separately, so they maintain their individual flavour profiles.

Now, when it comes to the “don’ts”, besides the obvious, there are a few tricks you may find useful. Don’t use the freezer or refrigerator. This will only separate the trichomes from your bud and throw off the humidity. So, unless you’re making hash, this won’t help you in any way. Don’t stash your marijuana near electrical appliances in use. These release heat. Even if you don’t notice it, over the course of several weeks, your buds will.

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR WEED HAS "GONE BAD"

Now comes the time when you’ve done all this, prepared for the worst, but you’re still unsure whether you’ve done everything properly. One doesn’t know if milk is ruined until it’s been tasted. After that first experience, you’ll always know when it’s safe to drink it. But in case you’ve never seen extremely poor weed, it’s good to know what to look for.

If you can see moisture accumulating in the container, it’s already a bad sign. Spotting this early on is crucial. You still have time to let the container air out. If you’re too late, it’s time to open up the jar and check the buds thoroughly. Break them open to check for mould. If you find it, there’s no point in keeping the bud. It can be very harmful to smoke in this condition. Check for the colour too. Loss of colour is a very common sign of weed that’s going or has already gone bad. Marijuana should look more green than yellow. If you’re unsure if it’s the right colour, it probably isn’t. Cannabis should almost always look appealing.

And that’s it from us! We hope you’re a pro at storing your bud for long periods of time, making for a top-quality stash. This will save you from losing money and incredible highs. Best of luck!