Ever since the 2018 Farm Bill was signed into law allowing products that contain no more than 0.3% THC in them to become legal, cannabis products have become much more mainstream. The truth is, there has never been a better or safer time to start using cannabis products, but if you’re new to these products, you’ll also want to learn how to store them properly and safely. This is important for lots of reasons, with the most important being their overall effectiveness.
Why Is Storage So Important?
To get the best results from your cannabis products, it’s crucial that they be as fresh as possible. Storage is important because in order to get the results you’re aiming for, the products have to be cured and stored properly. The thing is, what does “stored properly” actually mean, and is it difficult to achieve?
Most cannabis manufacturers tell you that your products should be effective for two years as long as they’re stored correctly, but keep in mind that the form of the product matters when it comes to that storage. Indeed, storing buds and flowers isn’t the same thing as storing a vape cartridge product, and the favorite storage method of a lot of users—placing the weed in plastic reclosable bags—isn’t as effective as most people think it is.
For one thing, humidity and light can alter your flowers and make them less potent, not to mention reduce the lifespan of the products. Other factors can do the same thing, including:
1. Air
Both too much and too little air can cause the effectiveness of the product to dwindle. The best way to avoid both of these things is to store the cannabis in something airtight. If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, try jars with lids that seal the cannabis completely and keep all air out of the jars.
If you’re using any type of CBD oil, it already comes in the right container, but you still have to remember to store it in a location that is dry and cool.
2. Temperature
Keeping cannabis products in a cool, dry place is a necessity, and ideally the temperature should be below 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This is because mold and mildew can develop and thrive once the temperature reaches this amount, so you’ll need to keep it cooler than that.
A cool, dry place is normally a dark corner in a room that isn’t near your kitchen or even a closet in your basement. Just make sure the location doesn’t get too moist or damp because that can affect the product as well.
3. Moisture (Humidity)
A “dry” place ideally means a location with a relative humidity (RH) of between 59 and 63. Moisture degrades cannabis products and therefore makes them much less effective.
4. Light
Direct light—especially sunlight—quickly affects the overall integrity of your cannabis products. You’ve likely already noticed the fading effect that results when direct sunlight hits toys and even tools that you keep in your garage. Now picture that same thing happening to your cannabis stash.
So … What’s a Cannabis User to Do?
The best thing you can do to avoid these problems is use curing and storing products made specifically for cannabis. So, while a mason jar to store your cannabis will do if nothing else is available, it’s best if you use dark or opaque containers, containers that are the right size, and humidifying capsules to keep the product dry.
In fact, if you work with the right company, they’ll be able to help you get the right containers and other products necessary to cure and store your cannabis properly. If you purchase your cannabis from a reputable company, they’ll be able to answer your questions and help you determine how to store everything properly. It’s also a good idea to learn about each product in more detail because each form of cannabis has a different shelf life.
What About Products Other Than Flowers?
Flowers can usually last two years when stored correctly, whereas tinctures can last almost indefinitely. Just remember that dark, cool, and sealed are what you want when storing your cannabis products, and that light, heat, and oxygen are your enemies. As a general rule, you can follow these tips for the storage of various cannabis products:
Infusion products keep exceptionally well when stored in the refrigeratorPrepared infusions, such as butters and oils, can be frozen to keep them around longerThe perishability of edibles can vary depending on their form; for example, breads and baked goods will naturally not last as long as chocolates and candy barsTinctures made with pure alcohol distillations always last longer than those prepared with glycerineDo these tips mean that keeping your cannabis products stored properly is difficult? Not really. You just have to pay attention when buying the products and make sure you not only store them correctly but also become familiar with the “best if used by” date to make sure you don’t purchase anything too old in the beginning. Of course, purchasing from a reputable store that offers only high-quality products is always a great way to start.
All of these things are important because let’s face it, most of us want our cannabis products to have a certain effect on our minds and bodies, and with only a few exceptions, we want that effect to last as long as possible. Only by storing these products properly from the very beginning are we able to control the effect that we’re aiming for when using cannabis products.
Storing all types of cannabis products isn’t confusing or complicated if you follow these simple rules. Just know what you’re buying and ask questions to be sure. If the quality of the product is degraded because you did something wrong, it won’t hurt you. It’ll just reduce the effectiveness of the product and the results you were hoping to achieve.
Conclusion
Cannabis products include flowers, vape cartridges, tinctures, salves, and of course, edibles, and each of them has a different shelf life. All of them, however, need to be stored properly in order for them to last, and this involves three things: no direct light, no humid or moist location, and a container that offers a very tight closure.
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