How to Keep Weed Fresh
Freshly harvested flower is trimmed, dried, and cured to optimize its flavor, aroma, potency, and shelf life. Most medical and recreational consumers can expect their weed to retain its optimal flavor and potency for up to a year—possibly longer—depending on how it’s packaged and stored.
Although storing your weed in its original packaging is tempting, your bud will degrade much faster than you bargained for if it’s sold in an ordinary glass jar or resealable pouch. Of course, the cannabis experts at Green Sativa are happy to explain the finer points of weed storage when we see you in person. In the meantime, we thought you’d appreciate knowing how to avoid common mishaps.
Weed Storage 101: Understanding the Enemies of Freshness
Consumers 21+ purchasing recreational weed in Colorado can buy up to an ounce (28g) of bud (or its equivalent) per day and keep a stash of up to two ounces at home. Although many shoppers asking our budtenders how to store weed assume optimal preservation is complicated, it’s pretty simple. If you enjoy keeping a variety of strains or product types on hand, understanding the following enemies of freshness could keep you from losing an unfortunate amount of weed unnecessarily.
Light
Cannabis requires natural sunlight or growth lights to thrive. Once mature buds are harvested, however, exposure to natural or artificial light speeds up the conversion of THCA to THC and the conversion of THC to CBN (cannabinol), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid known for its sleep-promoting potential. Applying heat (such as a lighter) also processes this change, so it is best to keep your stash away from light and heat until it’s time to pack one up!
Oxygen
Cannabis flower is typically dried in a climate-controlled environment equipped with a fan. Although air circulation is essential for preserving the flavor, aroma, and potency of your favorite strains as they dry, oxygen exposure during storage causes unwanted oxidation that diminishes the quality of your bud.
Heat & Humidity
Like any other plant matter, cannabis flower is also heat-sensitive. You can optimize its shelf life by storing your bud at temperatures between 60°and 68°F with humidity levels between 59% and 64%. Excessive heat compromises potency, flavor, and texture. High humidity increases the risk of mold.
Creating the Perfect Weed Sanctuary
Cannabis that loses too much moisture, on the other hand, turns brown and brittle. Its smoke is harsh, flavorless, and potentially irritating. Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis enthusiast or contemplating your first purchase, maintaining optimal freshness by creating the perfect weed sanctuary can go a long way toward protecting your investment. There are three crucial components.
Storage Containers
The best weed storage containers protect your stash from the elements. Of the many options available, amber-colored glass jars top the list. They’re airtight, provide UV protection, and keep the aroma of your bud contained. Once you know how to keep weed fresh, they’re great for short-term and long-term use.
Location, Location, Location
Experts recommend placing storage containers in a cool, dark, dry location to help keep weed fresh. Keep your cannabis stored somewhere other than a cupboard above your stove or bathroom cabinet. Refrigeration is not ideal because the condensation that collects as your bud warms encourages mold.
Humidity Control
The easiest way to optimize humidity levels is to invest in inexpensive humidity control packs and resist any temptation to stash your stash in a bag. How long does weed last in Ziploc? Just weeks. The plastic is too porous for humidity control, and friction-induced static can dislodge the trichomes from your bud.
Freshness Through Innovation: Green Sativa’s Canned Flower
Once you understand the importance of creating the ideal environment for optimal freshness, it’s natural to question why so many growers and product manufacturers continue to package weed in clear glass jars and resealable pouches—materials less likely to provide the level of protection needed for long-term storage. At Green Sativa, we’ve taken a different approach.
Green Sativa cannabis products are grown, manufactured, and packaged at our state-of-the-art facility in Denver, Colorado. We provide optimal freshness through innovation by sealing our expertly cultivated, hand-trimmed flower in cans. When you pop open a can of Green Sativa flower, you can count on unparalleled flavor because our bud is protected from oxygen, light, and fluctuating humidity.
Long-Term Love: Store Smart, Smoke Fresh with Green Sativa
The best way to ensure the long-term love of your favorite strains requires purchasing products packaged for freshness and creating the perfect weed sanctuary. Once you understand how to keep weed fresh, it’s easy to see why you’ll get the most mileage from your investment by storing your stash in light-bocking, airtight containers secured in a cool, dry location. For long-term storage, consider investing in amber-colored glass jars and humidity control packs.
If you have questions about how to store weed that we haven’t covered, submit a contact form or swing by one of our convenient Colorado locations. You’ll find us on Pecos Street in Federal Heights, just south of Evans on S Federal Blvd in Denver, and just south of W Exposition Ave on S Federal Blvd in Denver. Your Green Sativa budtender is standing by to help you navigate our impressive assortment of premium cannabis flower, pre-rolls, edibles, topicals, concentrates, and vapes. We open daily at 9AM.