When you first hear of marijuana, your first thoughts are not, ‘Wow! Amazing’. This is because, for a long time, it has been a herb plagued with many misconceptions. Over time, with the discovery of many of the benefits of marijuana, legalization for medicinal and recreational use began to spread. This legalization has gone beyond the borders of the US to other countries as well.
Since more people are getting familiar with the herb, it is important to understand the best way to maintain it to get the best value for money. Packaging has come a long way but since weed does not come with an expiration date on the packaging, users need to know how best to store it. It is not so much dependent on the expiry but on how you store the herb that determines how long it will maintain its flavor and value. So, if you want to keep your weed fresh for longer periods of time, you have to invest in a proper storage solution, as suggested by Smoke Cartel, as this will allow you to ensure the quality for even longer. There are many different types of marijuana containers you can purchase online that will prevent the plant from losing its properties. It is very important to understand the best ways to store marijuana, and here’s how it is done.
Air and Light
Air and light affect many things including bread, cookies, and other foods. Marijuana is not special case and can suffer due to too much exposure to air and light. Light has the worst effect of all the elements on marijuana causing it to age fastest. Light exposure causes cannabinoids to deteriorate. UV light degrades weed. Additionally, oxygen oxidizes terpenes and makes the flower produce a grass, hay-like smell. Both light and air began a process where THCA becomes CBN, the latter being the non-intoxicating brother of THC. If stored properly and away from light and air, marijuana can last from 1-2 years.
Humidity and Temperature
Humidity and temperature go hand in hand for better or worse of marijuana. They either work for or against the herb depending on the ranges they are in. The best range of water activity is between 0.55 and 0.65 while the most ideal temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius. When temperatures get too high, mold and mildew are bound to thrive which makes the herb unsafe and unhealthy for consumption. They dry out the flower and evaporate terpenes which are essential to enjoying your marijuana. Drying out the flower is of greater concern for vape users that have precise temperature control but for those who use flames to heat their marijuana, the flame destroys it anyway. It is best to store your marijuana in a cool place, maybe a closet or pantry.
Storage options
There are definitely dos and don’ts when it comes to the best methods to store marijuana. Some of the worst methods of storage include plastic sandwich bags, clear glass containers, and open trays. Storage begins from curing up to when the herb is in your home and incorrect storage at any process will affect the herb quality and experience for the user so it is important to get it right from the start. The best storage methods keep light and air out and these include airtight glass or ceramic containers, mason jars, and vacuum bags. Some of these items are easily available in most homes as medicine bottles or glass jars. Some more sophisticated methods include Boveda packs, titanium containers, and humidors if you are willing to spend some more cash. Humidors are especially known for their airtight properties that maintain humidity between RH 59 and 63 percent.
What happens when it gets old?
While properly stored marijuana can last up to 2 years, it may age earlier due to improper storage. It is important to understand what to look out for to show that it has aged. Marijuana that is old loses THC due to exposure to heat, oxygen, and UV light which can be noticed after a few weeks. It will also convert to CBN which has mild psychoactive properties and finally, will lose flavor. Due to the lost flavor, it will taste harsh when smoked due to terpenes drying out.
Conclusion
Enjoying marijuana is not just about getting the right strain but storing it appropriately to maintain the flavor and effects. It is important to take note of how much light, air, humidity, and temperature it is exposed to. Glass and ceramic containers in a cool, dark place are your best bet to avoid these.
