Weed is a precious, precious commodity. To keep it looking, smelling and tasting its best, there are a handful of things you can do to protect it— but it all starts with storage. Below we’re breaking down everything you need to know about keeping your weed fresh, along with some of the best ways to store it.
What causes weed to break down anyway?
The four top contributors to weed degradation are air, moisture, light and temperature. When buds are subjected to the elements, they begin to break down at a rapid rate. They can lose potency, flavor and odor, leaving behind something that smells and tastes a lot like hay and won’t get you the stoney effects you’re looking for. Below we’re breaking down a few ways they contribute to bud degradation.
Air — Exposing your buds to oxygen converts your THC to CBN. While this is a slow change, long-term storage without an airtight seal will cause your buds to lose potency. Alternatively, too little oxygen can cause humidity levels to build up, which can cause mold.
Light — UV rays from sunlight and even some artificial lights play a major role in the degradation of THC. These rays alter the chemical integrity of THC, which causes it to break down and to lose potency. Weed exposed to light loses potency faster than weed exposed to other extreme conditions. One study found that 0.5% THC was lost for every hour a bud saw direct sunlight.
Temperature — High temperatures can cause your flowers to dry out, evaporating cannabinoids and terpenes with it. Further, warmer temperatures between 78-86 degrees are the sweet zone for mold to thrive. Ideally you’ll want to keep your buds below this temperature range, in a cool, dark location. We don’t recommend putting your buds in the fridge or freezer either, since harsh cold can also dry flowers out and cause trichomes to burst, leaving you with a less potent experience.
Humidity — While humidity itself won’t make your buds any less potent, it’s a breeding ground for mold. You can’t smoke moldy weed without getting sick, so keeping your buds dry is important. On the other hand, you can’t let your bud get too dry since it’ll degrade the cannabinoids and terpenes in your bud. It’s important to keep your buds between 59-63 relative humidity. To accomplish this range easily, most people opt for humidity control solutions like Boveda’s 2-way humidity packs or Evergreen Pods.
Best ways to store weed
Weed begins to break down quickly in the presence of light, air, improper humidity, and extreme temperatures. So the best way to store your weed is to regulate those effects to help preserve your flowers for longer. There are a few things you’ll want to consider before storing your weed, though.
Storage container: Glass, ceramic or plastic?
For starters, you’ll want to consider the material you’ll use for the container. Ideally, you’ll want to vacuum seal everything. However, that just simply isn’t practical. The best materials to store your bud in are glass or ceramic materials with an air-tight seal. Plastic jars are susceptible to sweating, which can hurt your potency and alter the flavors of your buds.
Limit light exposure
Next, consider the opacity of your jars. UV exposure from light can damage the integrity of the trichomes in your buds. Using a clear glass jar is no big deal if you’re storing your weed in a cool, dark place. However, if you’re going to be keeping your stash out in the open, you’ll want to opt for something opaque that will prevent light from seeping in and damaging your materials.
Control the temperature
Temperature also plays a role in bud degradation. However, that doesn’t mean we recommend keeping it in the freezer or refrigerator. Freezing temperatures can cause trichomes to burst and lose potency. The cold temperatures in the refrigerator are also unsavory since they’re known to increase moisture content and could lead to mold. Worse, if you’re not using an airtight jar, old food flavors could make their way into your herb.
Use humidity control
Last but not least, you’ll want to monitor your humidity levels. A lot of old heads have said that you can throw a piece of bread or fruit rinds into your stash jar to help rehydrate buds, but you should avoid this. Sometimes it’ll overhydrate the buds and cause mold. Instead you should use two-way humidity packs specially designed for cannabis. It keeps the jar at the correct relative humidity by removing moisture and adding moisture as needed. Also, this goes without saying, but don’t use a tobacco humidor like you’d use for cigars. They’re typically made with cedar, which is oily and absorbs into your flower.
In conclusion
With all that said, the best place to store your bud is in an airtight glass container in a cool, dry, and dark place. It helps to also use 2-way humidity packs to help keep your flowers at the right humidity, which prevents them from drying out or growing mold. Always avoid using plastic or storing your weed with other paraphernalia, as those can degrade your weed with unpalatable flavors. It seems pretty straightforward, but the best place for your bud is in an airtight jar in a dark basement or cabinet with a humidity pack for best results.
