Everyone has their own reasons for smoking weed. Some people are drawn in by the feelings of bliss and euphoria the plant offers, while others appreciate the calm relaxation it brings. Others turn to marijuana to help manage the symptoms of certain medical conditions, such as chronic pain.
But whatever your personal reasons, it’s worth considering where and how you stash your stash. When you store your supply improperly, you risk altering its effects and your enjoyment. Properly storing your weed in the best cannabis bags, jars, and other solutions protects the potency and flavor so you get the best high at smoke time.
Why Proper Cannabis Storage Is Important
If you aren’t thinking about how and where you store your cannabis supply, you’re doing yourself a disservice and potentially interfering with the quality of your smoking experience. The biggest risk that improper storage poses to weed is overdrying, which can affect everything from the flavor and aroma of the bud to its potency.
Marijuana is extremely sensitive to its environment. When you’re storing it, you need to pay particular attention to three main conditions:
- Temperature — The ideal temperature range for cannabis storage is between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but the closer you can get to 65 degrees, the better.
- Humidity — The optimal humidity for storing your supply is between 59% and 63%.
- Light exposure — Although marijuana requires a good amount of light to grow, you should keep it out of direct light during storage. Overexposure to UV rays during storage will only dry it out.
Potency
The range of effects that marijuana is known for, from euphoria and relaxation to the munchies, come from THC, a naturally occurring chemical compound in the plant. THC and other cannabinoids are stored on the surface of the plant in small, crystal-like structures called trichomes.
Overdrying is particularly dangerous to trichomes. When weed is too dry, it becomes fragile and brittle, and the trichomes easily break off, taking those powerful cannabinoids — and their effects — along with them. As a result, the marijuana becomes less effective.
Flavor and Aroma
While the effects of marijuana are caused by cannabinoids, other chemical compounds in the plant, known as terpenes, are responsible for the recognizable taste and smell of weed. Terpenes are primarily made of essential oils and can degrade at enhanced rates when weed gets too dry, impacting the entourage effect — the combined effect of terpenes, cannabinoids, and other natural compounds. It can also make weed less aromatic and lead to a flavor profile that’s:
- Bitter
- Stale
- Harsh
Freshness
Finally, storing your weed in quality cannabis bags and other methods keeps the weed fresh. Elevated temperatures and overly humid environments can turn marijuana into breeding grounds for mold and mildew that diminish its flavor and aroma and pose risks to your health.
Cannabis Storage Container Tips
The first thing to consider when it comes to cannabis storage is what you’re storing it in. It’s important to choose a container that offers a decent amount of climate control to ensure the weed is kept at proper temperatures and humidity levels and exposure to light and air is minimized. The most common options are:
- Glass jars — Glass jars or mason jars are a classic option for cannabis storage and among the best routes to take. They have lids that offer an airtight environment that helps with temperature and humidity control. However, they’re usually see-through, so make sure to store the jar out of direct sunlight.
- Plastic bags — Although you should avoid them for long-term storage, plastic bags or cannabis bags might be fine as a temporary solution. Just be sure they have an airtight seal, and keep your supply in a cool, dark place until you find a more suitable container.
- Humidors — Humidors are a great option for marijuana storage. They’re specially designed to provide a humidity-controlled environment that keeps the weed fresh, flavorful, and potent. Humidors are used to store a range of smoke products, including cigars, cigarettes, and pipe tobacco, so be sure to get one that’s designed for storing weed.
- Titanium jars — Generally speaking, metal containers should be avoided when it comes to cannabis storage. Steel or aluminum can severely impact the flavor of weed. If you don’t have a dark place to keep your glass jars, opting for titanium is a good way to go.
Additionally, you should avoid storing marijuana in the refrigerator or freezer. This might seem like a good idea in theory, but below-freezing temperatures can make the weed just as brittle as overdrying it, sacrificing those valuable trichomes to breakage. Likewise, storing weed in the refrigerator increases humidity and encourages the growth of mold and mildew.
Tips for Checking Weed Quality
If you’re just now realizing that your cannabis bags or storage system isn’t up to snuff, it’s a good idea to check your stash to make sure it hasn’t passed its prime. Yes, weed can go bad. Fortunately, there are a few tell-tale signs that can cue you into the quality of your supply.
- Aroma — Expired weed may have a noticeably less pungent smell than fresh weed or no smell at all, so give your bag a sniff.
- Flavor — A harsh hit is a good indication that your weed has gone bad. If the flavor is just bland, it’s a sign that the weed is on its way to going bad.
- Appearance — Depending on the strain, weed can be green, shades of purple, or shot through with orange. In any case, these colors should be bright and vibrant. Expired weed will have a dull appearance.
- Texture — Weed should be slightly moist and spongy to the touch. If it’s brittle, abrasive, or crumbly when you handle it, it’s gone bad.
Elevate Your Cannabis Experience
Proper cannabis storage is key to keeping your supply fresh, flavorful, and rich in cannabinoids that deliver an enjoyable high. But then, not even the fanciest humidor or state-of-the-art solutions can improve on flower that’s simply low-quality.
At DDM Cannabis, our shelves are stocked with a variety of top-quality cannabis products. Whether you’re new to the world of recreational marijuana or you’ve just decided to change your storage habits, DDM Cannabis is where to go to score your next stash.
