How To Properly Store Your Cannabis.
No matter whether you’re a user of dry flowers, oils, vapes, dabs, or edibles, you want to make sure the marijuana products you spend your hard-earned money on remain fresh for as long as possible.
Even though most cannabis products tend to have a long shelf life, exposure to external factors such as heat, air, and light can impact the quality and potency.
Fortunately, you can take some preventative measures to protect your precious cannabis products from the elements. This article will discuss a few simple tips and tricks on protecting all your favorite cannabis products for as long as possible.
How To Properly Store Dried Cannabis Flower
Dry cannabis flowers are very delicate and should be handled with care.
What’s interesting about dry flowers is that most of the damage caused by improper storage is unnoticeable to the naked eye. While the buds might look the same as they did six months after being purchased, a lot of changes might have happened since.
While easy to use, plastic bags are one of the worst ways to store dry cannabis flowers.
The only bags that provide the necessary protection are heat-sealed bags, which work the same way as potato chips bags. When the dry flowers are packed in this way, the air in the bags protects the weed from any violent shaking, preventing the loss of THC crystals. In the same way, the air in the bags protects the potato chips from crushing.
Saying that, even if you buy your weed in such a bag, the moment you open it and let the air out, the needed protection is gone, and you are on your own. What should you do then?
The best next step is to take the flowers and put them in small, airtight containers, which can then be placed in a dark and cool space. This is to avoid your herb being exposed to high temperatures, as well as light, which will speed up the process of THC loss and, as a result, will degrade your dry flowers faster.
Ensure that the containers you use are made of glass or limonene-resistant plastic, such as PET, commonly used in the cosmetic industry. Certain other kinds of plastic might get slightly dissolved by specific terpenes, such as limonene.
Storing Dry Cannabis Flower:
- in a dark and cool place
- in an airtight container that is not much larger than the flowers you are storing
- clean container made of glass or limonene-resistant plastic (such as PET)
If You Don’t Store Cannabis Properly:
- THC levels will decrease, lowering potency
- the herb will lose its flavor and smell
How To Store Cannabis Edibles
Storing edibles can also be a bit tricky. That is because while most other cannabis products might lose their potency and flavors if they are not stored properly, it’s hard for them to expire. The same can not be said about edibles.
Edibles will only keep fresh for as long as the accompanying ingredients. So, when you come back from a dispensary with a cookie or a brownie, store it like you would with any other ordinary baked good.
Fortunately, this also applies to freezing. Like regular baked goods, baked edibles can be frozen and then thawed before use (but avoid storing them in the fridge, as this might encourage mold growth). If you purchase candy or tablets, they will last for a very long time, as long as you don’t expose them to direct sunlight. Space chocolate should be stored in a cool and dark space, like a block of standard chocolate.
Storing Edibles
- like you would store the same food if it weren’t infused with cannabis
- in dark and cool places
- in the freezer, not in the fridge
- only until the expiry date
If You Don’t Properly Store Edibles
- they will lose their strength
- mold might develop
- the accompanying ingredients might go bad, making it unsuitable for consumption
How to Store CBC And THC Oils
If you buy high-quality extracts, broad-spectrum or full-spectrum oils, they will last for years.
CBD and THC oils, just like any other cannabis product, are susceptible to UV light, oxygen and heat. Oils are usually sold in small glass or plastic containers with a pipette or spray dispenser.
In general, amber glass bottles do the best job protecting the oils from UV rays. In theory, dark PET or HDPE plastic can also achieve this. However, they will not perform as well as amber glass.
If you use your oils daily, make sure to close the lid after every use. Keep the oil in the original packaging as it has most likely been designed to sustain repetitive unscrewing. Storing oils in your own bottles rather than the ones you purchased them in is, in general, a bad idea.
Storing CBD & THC Oils
- in the original (ideally glass) packaging
- With the lid properly closed after every use
- in a cool, dry, and dark place
If You Don’t Store CBD & THC Oil Correctly:
- it will lose its potency
- it will crystallize
- it will become very bitter
How To Store Cannabis Concentrates
When it comes to storing concentrates, things can get a little complicated. When you store concentrates, whether it’s wax, resin, shatter, crumble, budder, or badder, it is important the cannabis concentrate is both protected and easily accessible.
Concentrates are known for their very sticky and difficult consistency. While the THC content is extraordinarily high, they are notoriously difficult to use. If you store your concentrate in the wrong container, you will struggle to get it out.
So what should you do? If you buy your concentrate in a dispensary, keep it in the original packaging, and store it in a dry, cool, and dark place. A drawer at room temperature will do, as long as you plan to use your concentrate quickly and don’t live in an area prone to heat waves.
Otherwise, you can keep it in the fridge. Freezing is also possible, but not recommended for first-time users, as the thawing process can be a bit complicated and can create a harsher dabbing experience.
Storing Cannabis Concentrates
- in a cool, dry place
- in a fridge after opening
- in the original container
If You Don’t Properly Store Cannabis Concentrates
- potency will decrease
- consistency will change (might become sugary)
- taste will become bitter
How To Properly Store Vape Cartridges
Vape cartridges tend to be sold in very resilient packaging, which means storing cartridges is pretty simple.
One of the most important things to do is store your cartridges horizontally, not vertically. So, if you have a habit of leaving your cartridges lying on the table, time to change it up!
Like any other products, vape cartridges do not like the UV rays and high heat, so it is best to keep them in dark and cool places. While you can put your cartridges in the fridge, never put them in the freezer. Also, avoid placing them in direct sunlight.
Storing Vape Cartridges
- store in upright position
- away from direct light
- never in the freezer
If You Don’t Properly Store Vape Cartridges
- they will lose potency
- they might leak
- they might lose flavor
How To Store Pre-Rolls
While pre-rolls can’t expire, they can get stale, moldy, and damaged. Moldy pre-rolls should not be smoked. You can still use broken and stale pre-rolls, although the smoking experience will not be nearly as nice as it would be with a fresh joint or blunt.
The best way to store your pre-rolls is to keep them in an airtight container, away from light and moisture. One of the most popular ways of storing pre-rolls is to put them in individual plastic or metal pre-roll containers called pre-roll joint holders or doob tubes. These types of holders are a great solution as they protect the joint from oxygen, light, moisture, and any physical impact.
The best part about keeping joints and blunts in such holders, or tubes, is that you don’t need to smoke it all at once. If you want to have a few puffs and then keep the rest for later, you can put the joint back in the holder, close it up, and wait for the next time you want to enjoy some weed. Just remember, though, that some ash might also get stored in the holder if you don’t stub out your joint or blunt properly first. Something to watch out for!
Little plastic bags are also commonly used, but we don’t recommend this solution. Plastic bags might seem handy, but they provide no protection from light, keep your pre-rolls very vulnerable to damage, and can melt if you put a slightly lit leftover joint in.
Storing Pre-Rolls
- in a dark and cool place
- in a sturdy container to protect them from damage
- in joint tubes rather than ziplock bags
If You Don’t Properly Store Pre-Rolls
- it will become stale
- it will lose potency and become harsher in flavor
- it might break
Conclusion
You need to know how to store cannabis products properly unless you use them right after purchasing. If you do not, they will lose their potency and flavor. While different types of cannabis and cannabis products require a slightly different approach, the universal rule is that you want to protect them from the elements – especially oxygen, light, and heat.
To do that, it is best to always keep your cannabis products in a dark, dry and cool place. In this way, you will ensure your products stay fresh and delicious for as long as possible. And that’s precisely what you want!