Intro To Cannabis: How To (And Not To) Store Your Ganja
Hello! Genesis Grow Corp. is back with another blog that is chock-full of great information guaranteed to help those of you new to cannabis culture (heck, it might even help you seasoned cannabis lovers out there too!).
We’ve all been there. You run out of cannabis, but after searching your storage spot, you find that container of bud that you bought a few months ago and never finished. You’re super pumped to blaze, but once you light up the bud tastes different. Gross even. Well, that’s because your weed has gone stale!
Today, we’ll be talking about something everyone can benefit from — proper cannabis storage. Let’s face it, although we all love using our weed, chances are it takes a little bit of time for you to get through your stash.
Over that time, you’ve probably noticed that your cannabis gradually dries out, begins to taste stale, or just becomes different over time. As your cannabis dries out, its quality goes down. This is because the terpenes and cannabinoids lose their potency as they dry out.
As we move through this blog, we’ll talk about some different storage methods, their pros and cons, and what you can do to maximize the quality of your cannabis with each.
Security
The first aspect of proper cannabis storage is security. Above all else, your cannabis needs to be secure and inaccessible to minors. Fortunately, when you get cannabis from a dispensary, it will be packaged in a child-proof container, so you just need to worry about storing that container in a secure, inaccessible position like a safe, locked closet, or a lockbox.
Now for those of you who grow your own plants at home, you’ll have to do a little more work. Sometimes, you may have a childproof container available to store your cannabis in. However if you’re storing your cannabis in a container that is not childproof, take extra precautions to ensure that the cannabis is in a secure, inaccessible position.
What Dries Out Cannabis?
When it comes to what dries out your cannabis making it stale, there are a few different factors that contribute — air, humidity, temperature, and light. Let’s look into each.
Air
Like with most things, extended exposure to air will dry out your cannabis flower. Obviously, we don’t want to be leaving our cannabis containers open overnight (as it will dry out your weed and not be a secure storing method). However, there are actually varying level of air exposure depending on the type of storage container you use. For instance, plastic is porous, meaning that over time air will infiltrate the storage, affecting your flower.
To mitigate the air exposure to you cannabis, choose a container that doesn’t leave much empty space when the bud is inside it. Also, vacuum sealed containers remove the excess air from your container, preserving your cannabis longer.
Humidity
This element is a bit trickier than air because it requires a delicate balance. Too much humidity will compromise the quality of your cannabis, and hasten the decomposition process. The worst case scenario involves mold or mildew growing on your flower.
On the flip side, a lack of humidity will cause your cannabis to get stale and dry out. All this considered, there are plenty of solutions to this problem. For the do-it-yourself types out there, you can simply use citrus peel from an orange, lemon, lime, or any other citrus. Take the peel and place it into your cannabis container. Citrus peels effectively add humidity to your cannabis, so be sure that you’re not going to add too much moisture to your cannabis, as this will also ruin its quality.
For those looking for the fail-safe option that costs a bit extra, invest in humidifier pods. Humidifier pods are two-way humidifiers that keep your cannabis flower in its optimal state. They do this by adding moisture when the cannabis is drying or removing moisture when there is too much! A brand we’d recommend is Evergreen Pods.
One humidifier you should not use for your cannabis is a tobacco humidifier. These utilize cedar, which will alter your cannabis flower’s flavor.
Light
Extended direct light on your cannabis is a surefire way to dry it out your cannabis. Fortunately, most cannabis storage containers are opaque, meaning they block out light. That being said, if you’re storing your cannabis in clear glass or plastic, it will be affected by light that passes through. In fact, UV light effectively causes the goodies that cause your high to degenerate with extended exposure.
The solution? Like we said above, store your flower in an opaque container. Additionally, take an extra step to store your stash in a dark area like a closet, safe, or cabinet. This will minimize light that can come in contact with your bud.
Temperature
Finally, we have to consider temperature, the final element that contributes to drying out your cannabis. High temperatures pose a threat to the composition of your cannabis, as they effectively cause the moisture in your flower to evaporate, which dry out the weed. The solution to fight this is to store your cannabis in a cool place. This can be as simple as a medicine cabinet or closet. We don’t recommend putting your cannabis in the freezer, as this may compromise the status of your trichomes, hurting the cannabis’ potency in the long run.
Interestingly enough, when you store your cannabis securely, most times you are also taking the necessary steps to allow you weed to maintain its state of fresh potency. If it’s locked away securely, it should be in a dark, cool place in an air-tight container! This is basically 98% of the equation. The only aspect lacking when it comes to secure storage is humidity control, which can easily be remedied by utilizing methods we’ve mentioned above.
A Guide To Storage Vessels
In addition to storing your weed in conditions that prevent it from drying out, you can consider the container you’re using to store your cannabis. Primarily, we recommend using plastic or glass to store your cannabis.
When it comes to plastic storage containers, the best bet is to invest in a vacuum sealed storage container. These have a button on the lid that you push as you close the container, and during this process it ejects all excess air from the vessel. This creates an air-tight seal, and helps maintain the integrity of your nugs.
That being said, plastic is an inferior storage material to glass. This is because plastic is more permeable than glass, meaning that your cannabis is vulnerable to ‘sweating.’ This means losing moisture because it’s sweating through the permeable plastic. Don’t fret, however, as plastic is fine to store your weed for a short amount of time, sweating becomes an issue when storing cannabis in plastic for extended periods of time.
Glass is the way to go because you don’t have to worry about your cannabis sweating. The best glass container to use is an airtight one, which usually has a rubber seal and a clamp to secure the lid. If you do not have an airtight glass container, a mason jar will also be a better bet for storing your cannabis than a plastic container. Just be aware that a standard mason jar will not maintain your weed’s integrity as long as an airtight vessel will.
The only issue associated with storing your cannabis in a glass container is the possibility of light exposure which, as we mentioned before, directly plays a role in ruining the potency and quality of your cannabis. However, the solution is easy! First, make sure you’re storing your weed in a dark, cool place that is out of direct sunlight. If you want to take the extra step, invest in a colored glass jar, or wrap your jar in a cloth to prevent any light from passing through the glass.
If you’re interested, you can even take a trip to your local head shop and ask them about their storage solutions. Most times, you’ll be able to find air-tight glass containers or even high-quality, vacuum sealed plastic containers. Additionally, you’ll be able to find some cannabis humidifying tools to keep your bud fresh.
Don’t Worry If You’re Not Doing This
We hope that this blog hasn’t made you paranoid that you’re mistreating your cannabis! All of the information we’ve shared today can definitely benefit the casual smoker, but this information is moreso intended for those people who have cannabis they smoke on over the course of a few months.
Think of it this way: If you’re used to exclusively buying pre-rolls or an eighth of your favorite strain, you’ll be fine storing it in it’s stock container. After all, you’ll likely consume all of your cannabis within a couple of weeks. Now, if you’re like us and enjoying buying an ounce at a time and smoking it over the course of a few months, it’s a great idea to invest in some airtight, glass storage solutions.
Now that we’ve covered the ins-and-outs of cannabis storage, we suggest you try for yourself! Take two nugs, store one in a glass container in a dark place. Store the other in a plastic container or bag (just ensure that it’s secure and out of reach of any minors). Give it a month or two, and test each nug individually. We guarantee that the properly stored nug will taste much fresher and better than the nug stored in plastic. If you have done this, let us know about your experience in the comments!
Genesis Grow Corp.
Thank you so much for revisiting the Genesis Grow Corp. blog. We’re constantly trying to share all of the helpful information and tips around cannabis culture that we know, and we’re so happy to be a quality resource for those who are new to cannabis culture.
If you’re interested in getting some more helpful information about all things cannabis, take a look at our other blogs, and visit our website to learn more about what we do!
For those who are looking to try some of our luxury cannabis for themselves, make sure you look for our brands Pacific Crest Pre Rolls, Oh My Gang! Cannabis, and Mad Cow Genetics cannabis in your local dispensary.
And, as always, if you have any questions or suggestions regarding our products, contact us today! We love hearing from our amazing customers. Until then, keep blazing!