Jul 11, 2023
As a cannabis connoisseur, you know that proper storage is crucial for maintaining the quality, potency, and enjoyment of your bud. Improper storage techniques can rapidly degrade precious terpenes and cannabinoids, leading to dry, crumbly cannabis that has lost its aroma and psychoactive effects. Prevent this disappointment by learning the best practices for storing your cannabis to keep it as fresh and flavorful as the day you bought it for as long as possible.
At Treehouse Cannabis, we are dedicated to providing our customers with the highest quality, freshest cannabis products. That’s why we’ve compiled this guide on the best ways to store your cannabis at home. Follow these cannabis storage tips, and you’ll be rewarded with buds that retain their stickiness, vibrant colors, rich scents, and robust effects. Let’s review the key factors that will help you store your cannabis for maximum freshness and potency.
The first rule of proper cannabis storage is to keep your buds in an airtight, UV-resistant container. Exposure to air and light are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to speeding up the drying and degradation processes. Only store your cannabis in containers that seal completely to lock out excess air and lock in moisture. Glass and certain plastics that block UV rays are ideal materials for cannabis containers.
Glass jars and UV-resistant plastic containers are widely available at local smoke shops, dispensaries like Treehouse Cannabis, and online retailers. Look for options that come with tight sealing lids, either screw top or latching style. Glass Mason jars are a popular choice, coming in sizes like quart, pint, and half-pint depending on your personal stash amount. Thick plastic containers with rubber gaskets also effectively keep air out. No matter what type you choose, be sure to regularly inspect the seal and replace any containers that are not fully airtight.
In addition to being airtight, the ideal cannabis storage location is cool, dry, and dark. Exposure to heat and light degrades the cannabinoids, breaking them down more quickly over time. Store your cannabis containers away from heat sources like appliances, candles, or direct sunlight. Do not store cannabis in the refrigerator, however, as the overly cold and damp conditions can lead to mold growth.
Instead, keep your cannabis in a cabinet, drawer, box, or closet away from windows. Use an area of your home that maintains temperatures between 60-70°F, and keep the storage space neat and tidy to prevent crushing or spilling of the containers. If you have a wine fridge or cooler that allows customized temperature settings, this can create ideal cannabis curing conditions between 60-64°F.
In addition to moderate temperatures, controlling the humidity level wherever you store your cannabis is also important. Too much or too little moisture causes issues like mold, drying out, and loss of aroma. The ideal relative humidity (RH) for cannabis storage hovers around 62%.
You can monitor the RH using hygrometers and adjust as needed. Boveda and Integra Boost humidity control packs are designed specifically for maintaining optimal cannabis and cigar humidity levels around 62% RH. They come in different sizes and simply toss in the jars or containers with your buds. The packs absorb or release moisture as needed to keep humidity in the sweet spot.
When you first get your hands on large, gorgeous cannabis buds, it may be tempting to store them intact to preserve their impressive appearance. However, leaving buds whole can actually accelerate the drying process and potency loss. Breaking them up into smaller pieces increases the surface area exposed to air.
Take the time to break up larger buds into smaller, popcorn sized nugs before storing your cannabis. This slows moisture loss and keeps the buds fresher for longer inside the airtight containers. Breaking up buds may feel counterintuitive, but trust us, it leads to better long-term storage and enjoyment.
Image: Buds broken up into small pieces
While plastic bags may seem convenient, they are far from ideal for cannabis storage. Standard plastic bags like sandwich bags or zip locks do not fully contain the aroma or moisture levels. They can also degrade and leach chemicals when exposed to light and heat. For the best quality and potency, skip the plastic bag route. Glass jars or rigid plastic containers are vastly superior and create optimal cannabis storage conditions.
Image: Cannabis in a plastic bag with a no symbol over it
No matter what storage methods you utilize, it is critical to keep your cannabis safely out of reach of pets, children, or anyone else who should not access it. Store your stash up high, in a locked drawer or box, or behind a childproof latch. Edibles in particular must be stored safely, as ingesting too large a dose can be harmful or fatal to kids and animals. Keep your cannabis storage space tidy and secure.
While clear glass jars may look pretty on your shelf, they don't do your pot any favors. Light, even indirect sunlight, degrades THC, CBD, and terpenes over time. Store your cannabis in containers made of tinted, opaque materials that fully block light. Look for dark colored glass, or solid plastic containers marketed as UV-resistant.
When accessing your supply, be quick and efficient when opening lids. Don't leave containers sitting open exposing the contents. A brief light exposure won't ruin your cannabis instantly, but the less light the better for storage purposes.
Every time you open your cannabis container, you compromise the internal environment by letting in air and humidity. Limit air exposure by opening lids only briefly when needed. When getting ready to enjoy your bud, have any tools prepped and ready to go. Open the lid, quickly remove what you need, then immediately seal it back up tight.
You don't want buds sitting in open air for long. Work quickly and with purpose when handling your stored cannabis to keep the remaining product fresh. Don't leave jars casually open while you roll, grind, or measure out portions.
Buildup of humidity is one cannabis storage enemy, as it raises mold risk. Periodically "burping" containers prevents too much moisture accumulation inside. Once a week or so, simply open your airtight jars for a few minutes to exchange some of the stale, humid air with fresh dry air.
Monitor humidity levels using hygrometers and burp more frequently if above 70%. The ideal cannabis humidity level is around 62%, so burp as needed to maintain it. Just don't overdo it, as too much air exposure can also dry out your stash.
Vacuum sealers remove all air from storage bags, greatly reducing oxidation and deterioration. While not strictly necessary for short term storage, they are a smart investment if planning to keep cannabis for 6+ months. Vacuum sealing bags add an extra layer of protection against air, humidity, and light.
When used properly, vacuum sealers can keep cannabis fresh for well over a year in the freezer by preventing moisture loss. Just beware of crushing delicate buds when sealing bags. For long term stash preservation, a quality vacuum sealer delivers excellent results.Proper Storage = Perfect cannabis
There you have our top 10 tips for storing your cannabis to maximize freshness and potency. By using airtight containers, controlling light, humidity, temperature, and air exposure, and properly freezing or burping jars, you can keep your buds feeling fresh for months on end. Follow these in-depth cannabis storage best practices, and you’ll be rewarded each time you open your jar with vibrant, sticky, terpene-rich buds that deliver robust effects just like the day you purchased them.
Treehouse Cannabis is dedicated to helping our customers maintain the highest quality, freshest cannabis products. Contact us in Nyack, NY with any other questions about how to store your cannabis for maximum enjoyment. Our team is happy to provide advice on the best storage practices to keep your stash tasting great for the long haul.
