Let There Be Light… Just Not Near Your Cannabis
Are you taking the proper precautions when you are storing your cannabis flower? Just like any other plant in your home, you should be taking the upmost care of your cannabis. This is the key to how fresh, potent and effective your medicine will be. And you want it to last right? After all, it’s not cheap.
In its dried form cannabis has many benefits, but also requires some TLC in order for it to last. The quality of your flower depends on many variables such as exposure to oxygen, moisture, light, and heat. In order to preserve the cannabinoids and terpenes in your flower and avoid drying out or mold growth, you want to make sure it’s properly stored. So what does this consist of? Keep reading!
So How Should I Store It?
You go see your plug and he gives you your flower in a little Ziplock bag and you just toss it on your dresser. That’s cool and all (well, not really) but that definitely happens if not purchased in a dispensary. What do you use, you ask? Glass is said to be the best storage container as they are airtight, have no static charge unlike plastic, and keep humidity and the smell contained. Just keep in a dark spot if using clear glass because the flower isn’t protected from light this way. Best option would be a dark amber or any opaque airtight jar.
Light
What’s done in darkness must come to light, but leave your cannabis out of it. Light causes your flower to degrade at a faster rate, so it’s best to keep it somewhere dark. A study published in 1976 found that light exposure had the greatest impact on how much cannabinoids were lost. Sun exposure is obviously not ideal as the UV rays from the sun cause the cannabinoids in the flower to degrade and results in lowered potency. A drawer would be my suggestion to keep light out.
Temperature
Now that you’ve found the perfect container and location in the house for your meds, what temperature is best? If you store cannabis at too high of a temperature, you run the risk of drying your flower and degrading your terpenes, which can alter the flavor. Too low of a temperature, and you still can ruin the terpene and cannabinoid profile as well as risking freezing off the trichomes, which will result in reduced potency.
So what’s the sweet spot? Well, mold can grow between the temperatures of around 77 to 86°F so you want to avoid that range. Ideal temperature of storage is between 55 to 70 °F.
What About Edibles?
The storage of your edibles will depend on whether they’re store bought or homemade. If store bought, you can follow the manufacturer recommendations on the package. If homemade, you would store them as perishable foods as they may contain egg, butter, oil, etc that can go bad. Ideally, store in an airtight container wrapped in wax paper (as plastic wrap can stick to the edibles) in the fridge. This way they can last for a few months. If you have kids, PLEASE label them and keep them out of reach.
If you keep your flower in a cool, dark, and dry place, your flower can last from 6 months to a year or longer! Edibles can last you for up to a few months. Take care of your flower and let your flower take care of you!
References:
Andrea Nestoroska Medically reviewed by Codi Peterson, Nestoroska, A., Nestoroska, A., & Medically reviewed by Codi Peterson. (2021, June 20). How to properly store cannabis to preserve its flavor and potency. The Cannigma. https://cannigma.com/products/how-to-properly-store-medical-cannabis-to-preserve-its-flavour-and-potency/.
Sweet, T. (2020). The wholistic healing guide to cannabis: Understanding the endocannabinoid system addressing specific ailments & conditions making cannabis-based remedies. Storey Publishing.