Storing Your Cannabis Properly
Whether you’re a medical user or a recreational connoisseur, knowing how to store cannabis properly is crucial to ensure a consistent and enjoyable experience. In this article, we will delve into the best practices for storing cannabis flower and concentrates, focusing on maintaining moisture, preventing light and oxygen, and preserving the trichomes and terpenes.
Moisture Maintenance – Preserving Taste and Maintaining Your Product
One of the key elements in preserving the quality of cannabis flower is maintaining the right level of moisture. Boveda or Boost packs have become a popular choice among cannabis enthusiasts for their ability to regulate humidity effectively. These two-way humidity control packets release or absorb moisture as needed, creating an optimal environment to prevent cannabis from becoming too dry or too moist.
Keeping cannabis at the right humidity level not only maintains its texture but also preserves the delicate trichomes that house cannabinoids and terpenes. Boveda packs typically come in various humidity levels, allowing users to choose the one that best suits their preferences. The result is a consistently fresh and potent cannabis experience.
Cannabis that gets too dry will lose most of the terpenes which will greatly reduce the effect and flavor of the final product. This can lead to a harsh smoke with lackluster effects. Improper moisture levels can also contribute towards accelerated oxidation of the cannabinoids. Contrarily cannabis with an active water threshold above .6aw runs the risk of growing moldy in storage. Additionally too much moisture can also lead to a harsher smoke.
Shielding from Light & Oxygen – Preventing Degradation
Light is one of the biggest enemies of cannabis storage. Exposure to sunlight can lead to the degradation of cannabinoids and the breakdown of terpenes, compromising the overall quality and flavor of the flower. To protect your cannabis from the harmful effects of light, store it in opaque containers, such as dark glass jars. While mylar bags will do a good job keeping sunlight out, they typically do not seal as well as a glass jar which can allow the terpenes to escape. In addition the trichomes are less likely to stick to glass than mylar which helps preserve the integrity of the product. Clear or transparent containers may be aesthetically pleasing, but they allow harmful UV rays to penetrate and accelerate the degradation process. By opting for dark glass jars, you create a light-proof environment that shields your cannabis from the detrimental effects of UV rays, helping it maintain its potency and aroma over time. Silicone sleeves can help turn any ordinary mason jar into a light proof, air proof container. If you have larger quantities you plan on storing we recommend looking into C-Vault containers. If you plan on storing your flower or concentrate for long periods of time consider purchasing a can of argon to displace the air within the jar before sealing. Argon will not react with the cannabinoids and should provide a neutral environment.
Temperature – Finding the Right Balance for Preservation
If you are planning on consuming your cannabis within the next few months it is perfectly fine to leave it at room temperature in the dark; however, if you have a large batch of distillate or concentrate that you don’t plan on using anytime soon, refrigerating or freezing can extend shelf life. The danger with this method involves the possibility of condensation contaminating the sample. Condensation can be avoided by slowly warming the concentrate to room temperature over a longer period of time.
Note on Storing Concentrates:
Due to the high terpene content of most concentrates they can sometimes leach heavy metals or other chemicals from silicone or metal containers. It is always recommended to store concentrates in glass.
Signs of Degradation
Cannabis flower will typically turn a light to dark brown color as it is oxidized. In this state many of the terpenes will be lost and much of the THC will have been oxidized into CBN which will cause it to have less psychoactive but more sedative effects. Distillates can turn a variety of colors ranging from yellow, purple, and pink. While oxidized distillate is still safe to consume, it will likely have reduced effects. Be weary of any blue/green coloring in your distillates as these could be signs of azulenes which could prove harmful to your health.