The way that the general population views cannabis has evolved throughout time. Once seen poorly, marijuana has come to be accepted more and more, particularly because of its therapeutic properties, which have made it possible for its recreational usage to increase. Regardless of how long you’ve been using marijuana or how new it is, maintaining fresh and strong cannabis may have a significant impact on your experience.
Fresh Cannabis Is Required for a Better Experience
Just like fresh food tastes better than its stale cousin, the freshness of cannabis has a significant impact on the quality of the experience. Just as freshly baked bread tastes better than preserved bread, a newly stored cannabis joint offers a considerably fuller and more potent experience. If you want your cannabis to remain fresh over time, you must keep it properly.
Knowing What Leads to Cannabis Degradation
Terpenes and cannabinoids are two of the several chemical components of cannabis. The tastes and effects of various cannabis strains are attributed to these chemicals. Cannabis may deteriorate for several reasons, therefore keeping it properly stored is essential to maintaining its quality.
Two cannabinoids, THC (which has euphoric effects) and CBD (which has medicinal advantages), are essential to the potency of cannabis. Terpenes, on the other hand, give the strain its unique flavor and aroma. Your cannabis will remain fresh and strong for longer if the terpenes and cannabinoids are preserved.
Factors Affecting the Decline of Cannabis
Time, light, moisture, and air are the primary factors that cause cannabis to deteriorate. Terpenes evaporate with time, and THC transforms into CBN, a less powerful molecule, which results in flavor and strength loss.
Time is an essential component. THC and CBD are among the cannabinoids that are activated by decarboxylation, a process that takes place when cannabis is allowed to rest. However, a plant’s potency will ultimately decline if it is constantly exposed to air and other environmental factors.
Since light, particularly UV light changes the molecular structures of terpenes and cannabinoids, it may cause them to break down more quickly. For this reason, cannabis must always be kept out of the light in an opaque, dark container.
Cannabis is more susceptible to mold growth because of oxidation brought on by air exposure. Moisture makes matters more complicated by encouraging microbial development, which has an impact on the cannabis’s taste and safety. To avoid these problems, cannabis can be kept in sealed, humidity-controlled containers.
How to Keep Cannabis Fresh and Sturdy in Storage
Cannabis must be stored with consideration for air exposure, light, humidity, and temperature. You may increase the shelf life of your cannabis while maintaining its flavor and potency by managing these variables.
Controlling temperature is necessary to keep cannabis fresh. The optimal temperature range is 60°F to 70°F, or 15°C to 21°C. The tiny structures called trichomes, which are responsible for producing terpenes and cannabinoids, can be harmed by extremely low temperatures, but the breakdown process is accelerated by higher temperatures. Cannabis must be stored in a cold, dark area out of direct sunlight.
Controlling humidity is also crucial. For cannabis, a humidity range of 59% to 63% is ideal. While too much moisture might cause mold to grow, too little moisture can dry out cannabis, giving it an unpleasant flavor that makes it unfit for use. To keep the proper balance, airtight containers with humidity control packs come in handy.
Cannabis must be kept protected from light when being stored. Terpenes and cannabinoids are broken down by UV light, which lessens their flavor and intensity. To stop this deterioration, keep cannabis away from direct sunlight and store it in opaque containers.
Another important factor in the preservation of cannabis is air control. Oxidation caused by oxygen exposure breaks down the cannabinoids. An example of an airtight container that keeps air out and extends the freshness of your cannabis is a glass jar with elastic bands.
Top Cannabis Storage Options
Glass jars are among the greatest storage options for cannabis. Glass doesn’t react with cannabis or change its quality because it is an inert material, and its airtight seals keep it fresh. Especially for people who want to place weed bulk orders online, these jars keep your cannabis fresh and potent by shielding it from light and air.
Vacuum-sealed containers are a great alternative for long-term storage applications. They lessen the chance of oxidation and assist in maintaining the right humidity level by drawing air out of the container. These are especially helpful for bulk storage or for keeping cannabis items like edibles and concentrates fresh.
It makes sense to look at specialized storage containers with extra security features like humidity control. If these containers are made of materials that are more resistant to external influences, cannabis may have a longer shelf life in them.
Common Errors in Cannabis Storage
Cannabis may quickly deteriorate if it is not stored properly. The most frequent mistake people make while storing cannabis is to do it in plastic bags. These bags don’t provide any protection from light and aren’t airtight. Plastic can also produce static electricity, which harms the fragile trichomes.
Exposing cannabis to extreme heat, moisture, or light is another common error that can cause mold to grow or its potency to decrease. Freezing cannabis for storage causes the trichomes to be destroyed, which lowers the plant’s effectiveness.
How to Store Various Cannabis Products
Different cannabis products require different ways of storing. Candies and chocolates infused with cannabis should be kept out of the heat and light in a cold, dark area. Airtight packing is crucial since baked foods in particular tend to dry up rapidly.
Keep tinctures and oils upright and out of direct sunlight. If parts split as a result of improper storage, uniformity, and efficacy may degrade. To retain quality and evenly disperse the contents, shake the bottle occasionally.
Topical goods like lotions and balms infused with cannabis must also be stored in a dry, cold environment. It is crucial to routinely inspect for symptoms of degradation since variations in texture, color, or smell may indicate deterioration.
How to Identify Stale Cannabis
If cannabis is not stored correctly, it may eventually go bad. Stale cannabis frequently gets dry, and brittle, and loses much of its aroma. In addition, the color may shift from vivid green to a muted yellowish tone. Stale cannabis may be less effective and have a harsher effect when smoked or vaped.
Stale cannabis can occasionally be consumed without negative effects, but doing so has significant health concerns, especially for those who have respiratory conditions. Before using your cannabis, make sure it is free of mold or mildew.
In Conclusion
Proper storage is essential to preserving the freshness, flavor, and potency of cannabis. You can prolong the life of your cannabis and improve your experience by managing variables like temperature, humidity, light, and exposure to air. These tips can help you keep your cannabis fresh and potent for longer, whether you’re storing flowers, edibles, tinctures, or topicals.