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Storing cannabis is easy if you follow these rules
Published: December 19, 2019 · Updated: August 28, 2020
The best way of storing cannabis is surprisingly cottagey.
A nick, a dime, and a key: whether referring to weight or price, the slang for various cannabis quantities was always measured inside a plastic bag—a nick equals $5 worth, a dime is $10, and a key is a kilo. But while ziplocks and sandwich bags may be convenient for selling cannabis, plastic is no way to store good quality marijuana.
According to Brittany Smith, a bud tender at Queen of Bud, a Calgary cannabis shop, there are six commandments for better storing.
However and wherever you’re storing cannabis, your first priority is to make sure it is out of reach of kids and pets. Smith suggests that you put it in the same place as prescription drugs and other medication.
2. Jar it like jam
The problem with the ubiquitous plastic bag is that it does a poor job of actually locking in smell and, long term, can shed chemicals into the cannabis, imparting unwanted flavours, says Smith. Instead, transfer your cannabis into a glass jar. The easiest option is a Mason jar—yup, the ones you use for making jams and preserves. The same seal that keeps pickles crisp helps lock in smell and keep out air, which can hurt the flavour and quality of the cannabis over time.
Pick a jar size that matches the amount of cannabis you need to store. Use too large a jar and the extra air will make the cannabis stale over time. But don’t pack the buds in too tightly either. Too little air flow can raise humidity, which can lead to mould growth.
4. Cool, not cold
Like the size of the container, you want Goldilocks storage temperature. Too warm and the cannabis can dry out prematurely, which impacts the essential oils and leads to harsh smoke. Meanwhile, freezing cannabis ruins the trichomes, the little crystals on the bud that impart a lot of the flavour. Temperature swings can mess with humidity, potentially leading to mould and mildew growth. Just right, says Smith, is a location that sits between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius with little variation. Do not put cannabis in a tobacco humidor, such as the ones often used to store cigars. They are usually made with wood that has oils that can interfere with cannabis flavours.
5. Dark beats light
Just like sunlight can degrade just about anything else left exposed to UV rays, so too can too much light break down cannabis. Store it in a dark space.
6. Separate containers
If you have more than one strain of cannabis, don’t mix them in the same jar, even if they look completely different. Accidentally smoking uplifting sativa right before bedtime will suck. Plus, the different strains have different oils and crystals that could rub off on each other, changing their taste and properties.
Follow those rules for storing cannabis and you’ll find it easy to keep cannabis safe and fresh for up to a year, Smith says. Much past that, and it will start to get dry and dusty. It will probably still get you high, but will have a harsher smoke and not a lot of flavour.
And it’s important to note that all this advice is for cannabis flowers or buds, not edibles, concentrates, or tinctures. In general these products are more perishable. Unless otherwise noted, store them in a cool, dark place, in a sealed container. But use them sooner. Quality products should list a best before date on the package.
Storing cannabis the right way will help to keep it fresh longer. Follow these simple rules and you can avoid stale or mouldy cannabis.
The Best Types of Containers for Keeping Your Weed Fresh
Keeping your weed fresh will help it go a long way.
by Jenn Keeler – August 6, 2020
Why is keeping your weed fresh important? Because smoking weed that’s all dried and crusty isn’t enjoyable. Dried out weed makes for a harsher smoke, which not only can influence the taste but can also make your throat feel like you swallowed a porcupine.
So, how do you keep weed as fresh as possible? Fortunately, it’s not too hard. It begins with understanding what makes good weed go bad – pretty much all elements of nature, including light, moisture, and air. Thus, in order to keep your weed fresh, you must protect it from these elements. And you can do this by:
Getting a good glass jar
Some people opt to buy glass jars designed specifically for storing pot. Others take whatever they can find – a sugar canister, an old jelly jar, a mason jar (just be sure to dump out the moonshine!). The type of jar isn’t as important as the circulation – it must be airtight!
As previously mentioned, air is one of the elements that dries out cannabis. The reason it does this is because of evaporation. Cannabis contains a certain level of moisture and air induces evaporation, causing your buds to dry up. Have you ever experienced dry skin after spending time outside on a windy day? It’s the same concept – air dries out cannabis just as it does skin.
Glass works where other material fails because it doesn’t change – it doesn’t leak compounds or allow the temperature to fluctuate. This isn’t to say no air is introduced into the jar – each time you uncap the lid, oxygen enters. In other words, if you’re opening the jar every five minutes to check in with your buds, you’re not doing Mary Jane any favors. Only open it when you’re taking weed out or putting weed in. And make sure your jar is size appropriate. If you have a small amount of weed, use a small jar.
Glass does have a major fault – it’s not immune to light. So be sure to store your glass jar somewhere dark (like a cupboard or basement shelf). Refrain from keeping it in a shed or garage – you don’t want to store it where it might get too hot. Don’t put it near a heater, either.
Metal is a suitable alternative to glass. But, again, the seal matters: it must be airtight in order to be sufficient. Titanium is most recommended. The reason is that titanium won’t change the flavor of the weed, turning it metallic. Like with glass, be sure that your metal jar (or box) is kept somewhere dark and away from heat.
Plastic is not recommended for weed storage because of its moldability – it does leak chemicals that can change the flavor of weed (or the flavor of anything else). Even cookies stored in Tupperware start to take on a plastic taste if stored long enough. Storing weed in a pencil box for twenty-minutes while your RA conducts room inspections probably won’t hurt anything, but avoid it for anything long-term.
Try a cannabis humidor
Sure, humidors are “so cigar” but they work for cannabis too. A humidor, as the name insinuates, help control humidity, something highly important to cannabis. Humidity acts opposite of air – it doesn’t dry out weed, but it leaves it too moist. And that sets the stage for mold.
Moldy weed is a different ballgame than weed that is simply dried out. The former can be unhealthy for you, especially if you smoke moldy weed routinely. Inhaling mold spores can exacerbate conditions you may already have (things like asthma) while leaving you more prone to lung infections (like pneumonia).
A humidor doesn’t solve the problem of moldy weed entirely – there’s always a chance that the weed was moldy when you bought it. But it does help you control humidity, which will prevent healthy cannabis from growing mold. The best humidity levels are over 50 percent but less than 70 percent.
Of note, most cigar humidors maintain humidity levels higher than what is recommend for cannabis. If you’re using a cigar humidor to store your weed, keep this in mind – it’s probably already programmed at levels higher than you want.
Not putting weed in the refrigerator or freezer
Back in college, when we were young and dumb, weed was stored in the mini-fridge as a routine – heck, if you wanted to keep things fresh, that’s where it went! Some people (i.e. my parents) even put batteries in the fridge or freezer.
But these places are not ideal for cannabis. The freezer is especially bad as it can cause the weed to lose its trichomes, which are essentially the heart of the cannabis plant. The reason the freezer does this is that it causes the flowers to freeze, crystalizing the trichomes and allowing them to break off. This breakage not only lessens the benefits of cannabis, but it can also make it taste funny.
Overall, when storing cannabis, it’s best to keep it in a dark, cool place (but not freezing) free from too much air or too much humidity. Make sure you don’t store it somewhere it may be exposed to periodic heat, such as in the kitchen cupboard above your oven. If you can do all this, you should be able to keep your pot good to go for an extended period of time. Long live the leaf.
The Best Containers for Organizing Your Cannabis Stash
If you plan to store cannabis, it is important to consider these variables so that you can enjoy the most potent version of your medicine for the longest duration of time. Cannabis is best stored in an airtight container placed in a cool, dark room or box, and with a relative humidity (RH) level between 55% and 62%. Cannabis should never be frozen because the cannabinoid-laden trichomes will become brittle and break off. Cannabis also should not be placed in sandwich bags or tin cans. The bags create static that pulls away at the trichomes and the cans let in too much air. Degradation is inevitable, but choosing the right storage container can slow down the process. Here are 6 of the best containers on the market.
1. Cannador – $169-$318
The Cannador is one of the best cannabis storage containers you can get. Aesthetically, the wooden box is simple, elegant, and discreet. Practically, the mahogany interior provides natural humidity control and resistance to swelling. The boxes come with airtight glass cups meant to keep strains separated and that fit perfectly in the wooden box. Depending on the size (from 2 strains to 9 strains), the Cannador comes with either an additional drawer or a nook in the interior for your various accoutrements. The box also comes with a lock and two keys which makes it just that much more secure.
2. SneakGuard – $69.95
With its discreet, smell proof, security, moisture-reducing, and light shielding features, the SneakGuard protects cannabis from every threat. The container’s vaccum system is air-tight, keeping oxygen out and potency in. The SneakGuard is also built with humiddicant holders that keep moisture at safe levels. Odors are sealed into the container because of its dual airtight seals and built in vacuum system. The container’s opaque construction keeps cannabis out of sight, light away from cannabis, and curious eyes out of your business. Finally, the SneakGuard can only be opened with a four-digit code, making it one of the most secure containers on the market.
3. The 4 Strain Apothecarry Case – $259
The Apothecarry Case was clearly designed with the chic, experienced, and discreet consumer in mind. The hardwood case boasts an elegant, rustic design. The box is locked with both a code combination and a key lock, making this a child, pet, and nosey stranger secure cannabis case. The case is separated into two sections to prevent odors from resin spilling over into fresh flower. One side is designed to hold strains and concentrates, the other is meant to hold your tools. The case comes equipped with airtight glass containers and a metal grinder. The glass containers are designed to keep RH levels at 62%. They also come with reusable labels. The container also includes a metal dab stick and food grade silicone dab jars suitable for holding concentrates and waxes. The designers of this box truly thought of everything.
4. Re:stash Jar – $19-$25
BPA free, UV-resistant, eco-friendly, child-resistant, and smell proof, this American manufactured jar has given the mason jar the perfect upgrade for the cannabis consumer. The Re:stash Jar is made with 30% farm waste, which sounds kind of gross, but totally great for the environment. The jar is shielded from light by an opaque silicon koozie with varying designs. In addition to the light protection, the koozie is a great addition to any wide mouthed jar containing a beverage best insulated. It’s also microwave and dishwasher safe. The child proof lid and discreet nature of this container make it a secure and cost-effective option for cannabis storage. The jars come in 4 oz, 8, oz, 12, oz, and 16 oz sizes.
Nobody likes to smoke dried up, crusty weed. Here are some jar tips for making sure your stash stays as fresh as possible, as long as possible.
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