If you’re a cannabis user, you’ve likely found yourself wondering just how long your weed is good for.
Perhaps you stumbled across a few nugs in your jacket from two weeks ago. Maybe you were given some bud, but only have a Ziploc baggy to keep it in.
Maybe you’re a new cannabis user, and don’t know what to do with all the herb you just picked up.
Whatever the situation, it’s important to properly store your excess flower until you’re ready to enjoy it.
You see, like a fine whiskey, marijuana is the most tasty and effective when it’s been aged in a cool, dark place. While marijuana doesn’t have an actual expiration date, there are some key factors to take into consideration when storing your marijuana for an extended period of time.
Ideal Temperatures for Storing Cannabis
Temperatures between 77° and 86° F are breeding grounds for mildew and other types of mold that grow on cannabis and other types of organic matter.
This is why you’re going to want to keep your weed in a cool, dark place. Too much heat can lead to dried out cannabinoids and terpenes pretty quickly, even though those took months to develop. And when those essential oils get too dry, the plant material gets dry, and then you get that harsh throat-burning smoke.
You don’t want the temperature to get too cold, either. Lower temperatures drastically slow down the decarboxylation process of the cannabinoids, the process that changes THC-A into THC and eventually degrades into CBN.
Ideally, you want to keep the storage temperature between 32° and 68° F. Anything hotter or colder than that can adversely affect the flower. Warm air also holds more moisture than cold air does, and humidity is one of the biggest enemies of cannabis.
Which brings us to the next point. . .
Humidity Factors for Cannabis Storage
Humidity management and control is one of the most salient aspects of proper cannabis storage. Without taking the time to control the humidity of your storage area, mildew and mold will have a great time wreaking havoc on your weed.
Avoid this by keeping your marijuana stored in an environment that has a relative humidity of between 59% and 63% to maintain its color, flavoring, aroma, and texture.
Careful control is important, though. If your humidity level reaches above 65%, there is an increased risk of molding. If it goes below 59%, the trichomes tend to become brittle and the essential oils will dry out.
Air Control for Cannabis Storage
While marijuana needs oxygen while it’s still growing and being cured, too much air during storage accelerates the degradation process because cannabinoids don’t like being exposed to too much oxygen.
At the same time, having too little air can greatly affect the humidity of the container, especially if the buds were not entirely dry before they were stored.
There are several vacuum pump attachments available that help minimize the amount of oxygen the buds are exposed to.
That requires a bit of an investment, though, which is why special air-tight containers are available specifically for cannabis storage.
We’ve got affordable jars available that are great for storing your bud:
Herb Preserve 1/4 Ounce Storage Jars $14.00
Herb Preserve 1/2 Ounce Storage Jar $18.00
Herb Preserve 1 Ounce Storage Jar $22.00
Light and Cannabis Storage
As you’ve probably figured out by now, Mary Jane is a fickle creature. Too much air, too little air, and you have issues. Too much humidity, too little humidity, and you have issues. Too hot, too cold, and you have issues.
The same goes for light.
Just as UV is harmful for your body, these rays will also break down plant materials much like it breaks down your lawn or the fades the paint job on your car during the summer.
UV rays will degrade your cannabis if it’s overly exposed. In fact, light was determined to be the biggest cause of cannabinoid degradation in a study conducted by researchers at the University of London.
Always store your cannabis out of direct light to preserve the cannabinoids and help you maintain proper temperature control. It’s best to keep it somewhere low to the ground, in a cupboard, or in a basement.
But, whatever you do, do not place your cannabis above, on, or near appliances and electronics because they emit heat that will ruin your bud.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Cannabis Storage
DO
- Store your cannabis out of direct sunlight
- Store your cannabis in a cool, dry place
- Use containers made of neutral elements, like glass
- Keep your strains separate, so as to preserve their individual flavor profiles
Don’t
- Keep your marijuana in the fridge. This will almost certainly result in mold and mildew because of the inconsistencies in humidity and temperature.
- Keep your marijuana in the freezer. This will turn the trichomes into brittle little icicles. Not good.
- Store it in plastic, whether it be bags or containers. Plastic is full of static and will attract the trichomes in your bud. If you absolutely HAVE to use a bag, don’t keep it in there for long and only store small amounts.
- Store it on, above, or near electronics. Remember: Heat rises.
- Keep your accessories (grinders, pipes, etc.) with your marijuana. All of that ash and resin from the burnt bud will linger in your storage area. It will affect the aroma and the flavor. It’s also just not that sanitary.
Other Types of Cannabis Storage
It’s not just bud that has to be carefully stored.
Cannabis-infused products, like edibles, have their own individual storage guidelines. These are usually listed on the label and are generally treated like other, regular food items.
It’s generally not recommended to keep these items stored for a long period of time, so enjoy them shortly after purchasing them.
Alcohol tinctures and other concentrates are at a lower risk for mold because they have less organic matter to them. That being said, they should still be stored in the manner outlined throughout this post, as this will help preserve the potency, flavor, and structure.
How do YOU prefer to store your cannabis? Let us know in the comments below.
I appreciate you sharing this article.Much thanks again. Really Great.
We’re glad you liked it! It’s always important to keep your weed as fresh as possible.
Great do’s and don’ts list here. Storing your cannabis in the light is a great way to ruin it.
Thanks for reading, Drew! We’re glad you liked the post.
Do you have any additional tips you would add to this list?
Help! I live in the hot, dry desert with my indoor temp often reaching 80 degrees. I don’t have a cool dry place.
Any suggestions?
Try storing it inside of a cabinet that is lower to the floor, such as a nightstand. That should help!
Hi great article, I have one question, when you say how long in plastic bags and containers, is it weeks or half a month? More light on this please?
Plastic is one of the worst ways to store your weed long-term. Plastic has a static charge that picks up the trichomes, removing them from your nugs. It’s best to remove any flower from plastic bags or plastic containers as soon as possible after you purchase them. Unless you’re only storing them for a matter of days, you’re going to have issues with the plastic.
Glass containers (and those mentioned in this post) are the best way to store your weed.
Do you have an opinion or experience on using a wine refrigerator for storing jars? I’m thinking of storing my harvest in jars at 58 degrees in my wine cooler. Good idea or bad idea? Thank you!
That sounds like a great storage, Joe!
It’s temperature controlled, so you can keep it at the ideal temperature. The jars would be away from excess moisture, sunlight, heat, or cold. Sounds like a great place!
My basement is at 68 degrees with a humidity level around 45%. My question is this will this humidity level effect cannabis in the short term say a week? I usually smoke what I buy within a week. I bought a acurite temp and humidy gauge cause I was curious. Anyways do I have to worry about humidity for short term storage? I can never find any answers and I worry too much. .
You’re smoking your flower fairly quickly, so you shouldn’t have to worry about the humidity level too much.
I’ve been growing an average of 20 to 30 pounds of different strains per year for the last 10 years or so. Storing this much weed in Mason jars is just impractical for me. I store mine in large size Reynolds oven bags (which hold about 2 pounds each) with two large Integra (62% humidity packs) inside. (Available at Amazon.com) I pinch the bag around a plastic drinking straw and suck out all of the air, twist the top of the bag tightly, and then seal it with a twist-tie, then fold the remaining twisted top of the bag over and seal it with another twist-tie. It keeps it air tight till the next time I open it.
As far as the claim that the static in the plastic will attract the tricombs off of the buds, I have to call B.S. on that! There’s no way that the tricombs will magically jump from all the buds and stick to the plastic bag. It that were the case, the inside of the bag would be awfully sticky which it never is or I would have tricombs collecting the bottom of the bag which I never have.
I have a separate fridge that I use only for storing my stash which I keep at a constant temperature of 42° and my weed easily stays like new for up to a year. Probably could store it longer, but my pot is so damn good (my opinion and others) that it all easily sells out within a year.
Thank you for sharing your method.
I live in Southern Ontario Canada
I have been keeping my jarred weed in an unheated outdoor shed, is this good or bad?
That depends on how cold your shed is getting. Ideally, you want to store your weed at a temperature between 32 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
I have a question. Small hallway type house here and the furnace is in the middle of the basement. My basement is at 63 to 64 degrees depending on if the heat is on. What I buy I usually smoke in a week. Is that temp fluctuation bad? There is a cold spot that stays around 60 degrees. Not sure where to store it
You’re not storing it for a long period of time, so it should be fine.
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