Marijuana Packaging: How to Keep Cannabis Fresh

Marijuana packaging has developed significantly in recent years, whether your state has a medical marijuana program or both. In recent years, marijuana packaging has advanced considerably, with harvest dates becoming increasingly common on marijuana goods. Even though packaging improvements have improved the longevity of marijuana products and how to keep them fresh, you’re almost certainly still left with age-old concerns: how long does weed last and how can you keep it fresh?

In this post, we’ll look at why it’s critical to store your marijuana correctly, how to maintain it fresh, and how long marijuana lasts in ideal circumstances.

Why proper cannabis storage is so important

The greatest threat to cannabis shelf life is moisture. Cannabis that is too wet has the potential to cause significant health issues, including mold and mildew formation. These hazards are so serious that in May 2018, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which creates technical standards for a variety of sectors, published the “Standard Specification for Maintaining Acceptable Water Activity (aw) Range (0.55 to 0.65) for Dry Cannabis Flower.”

Water activity is a measure of the amount of moisture in the headspace air surrounding a sealed container of cannabis flowers. The headspace air is the air that surrounds the flower. Vapor pressure is compared to pure water when assessing water activity. If it’s 0.55, it means 55% water activity

Higher humidity levels, especially ones that are near or above 65%, will almost certainly result in mold growing on your cannabis. Cannabis should be dried until it has a moisture level of less than 15% during the drying process and the remaining moisture is eliminated during the curing procedure to preserve the volatile oils, according to the American Herbal Products Association.

It’s important to get the proper balance of moisture in your grow operation. Excess humidity, on the other hand, might harm your bloom. Your bloom, for example, may become brittle and lose important terpenes that impact potency and flavor if you allow too much moisture to evaporate.

Fortunately, the process of achieving the ideal blend does not begin until much later. While no two cultivators dry their flowers in the same manner, all cultivators cure their crops before selling them.

Cannabis is fully dried when the trapped moisture within the bud dissipates gradually without damaging the cannabinoids and terpenes. The flower is wrapped in tissue once it has a suitable moisture level (usually between 6% and 9%). It’s critical to maintain that equilibrium when you bring it home.

Proper storage entails keeping the water activity of your cannabis at a range of 0.55 and 0.65, which is known as the “critical wet-storage” range. Water activity rises with temperature, so light and temperature regulation are inextricably linked as best practices for preserving buds freshness.

Bottom line: Make sure your marijuana doesn’t get too wet and mold grows.

The best temperature to store your cannabis

The optimum temperature for storing marijuana is approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). Why? Mold and mildew, the foes of secure and healthy cannabis, thrive in high temperatures with high relative humidity.

Extreme temperatures, even if the weather is nice, can harm your flower and remove essential terpenes. This should only concern you if you intend to use a flower vape with precise temperature control. After all, lighting a joint with a flame will leave few if any remaining.

Bottom line: Keep your marijuana in a cool spot, such as a closet or pantry.

How light and oxygen affect cured cannabis

T

he quickest way to age your marijuana is to expose it to light. This has been acknowledged since at least 1976, when a research published in the journal Pharmacy and Pharmacology investigated what happens to cannabis stability under various circumstances. It found that light is the most significant factor in cannabinoid loss and deterioration, suggesting that “carefully prepared herbal or resin cannabis or extracts are reasonably stable for 1-2 years if kept in the dark at room temperature.”

Weed is harmed by ultraviolet (UV) light. Even though Mason jars may appear attractive, they won’t protect your goods as effectively as an opaque container would. If you want to look at your marijuana, a brown container will filter out visible UV radiation. That’s why brewers use them to package beer; green containers also block out around 30% of UV rays.

Sunlight and air are efficient in breaking down THCA into THC and CBN, a cannabinoid that does not produce the intoxicating effects that THC does. Oxygen has the ability to oxidize important terpenes as well as give flowers a grassy, haylike odor by acting as an oxidant.

Bottom line: Make sure to store your cannabis in an air-tight container when possible to reduce exposure to the atmosphere. Don’t use huge containers for small amounts of marijuana since they allow too much air inside the container with your herb. Once a package is opened, some amount of oxygen will enter it, but you can limit how many times you open your jars.

The best way to store weed and marijuana packaging

How to Keep Weed Fresh and Store It Properly After You Understand All of the Considerations Above Keeping cannabis fresh and storing it correctly are both common issues among marijuana users. The following is a brief outline of several factors that might impact how long your cannabis lasts:

Traditionally, growers have gone to great lengths to ensure that your flower is packed with the appropriate amount of moisture, generally in opaque packaging to keep light out. Some firms have even begun replacing the oxygen in their packaged blooms with nitrogen to help maintain freshness. So you might be wondering why some dispensaries continue to use transparent containers. The simple answer is that traditional habits die hard. When it comes to deciding what thing to buy, many people still rely on seeing and smelling the goods on the shelf.

For individuals who don’t care as much about seeing or smelling the product before purchasing it, pre-packaged cannabis is a wonderful option.

Bottom line: In an air-tight container, keep cannabis in a cool, dark place with as little air as possible.

Extending the shelf life of weed

Cannabis can last for up to two years if kept correctly. Even if you don’t plan on keeping your cannabis that long, knowing how to store it properly may help you get the most out of your experience. Ultimately, minimizing exposure to the elements is the key to extending weed shelf life. Avoid hot or dry locations as well as windy or ventilated areas when opening your container. Don’t allow it sit open for too long and avoid high-temperature zones.

To keep the correct degree of moisture, use a salt-based control sachet, also known as humidity packs, to keep the ideal relative humidity levels.

You may also keep your cannabis in a marijuana humidor box, which has been created to maintain the humidity of your plants. Several types are available on the market presently.

Whether you’re growing weed at home or in a commercial facility, keep it away from cigarettes and cigars. Cigar humidors are frequently lined with cedarwood. The oils in the wood enhance the flavor of cigars, but they can also harm marijuana. Similarly, cigar humidors that create humidity levels suitable for tobacco but far too high for cannabis often use sponges or propylene glycol.

People used to add an orange peel to their marijuana bags to keep the moisture level up, but this greatly increases the chance of mold growth. Furthermore, the water activity of orange peels is unknown, and their scent may alter the flavor and aroma of your cannabis.

Bottom line: Use the same humidity packs, such as Boveda pouches, to rehydrate the mix if it is excessively dry. This will not restore terpenes that were lost but it will prevent you from having a harsh smoking experience.

Because light, dampness, air, and extreme temperatures will all destroy your marijuana as quickly as possible, take great precautions to avoid them.

Bottom line

The precious trichomes on your marijuana buds, like almost everything else, will not last indefinitely. With heat, light, and moisture exposure, the molecular structure of your marijuana buds changes over time.

When cannabinoids and terpenes come in contact with extreme temperatures, humidity, air, or UV light, chemical changes occur and the flower’s potency degrades. These aspects may also have an effect on the flavor and mouthfeel of your cannabis. Keep an eye on the harvest date on the package and take appropriate precautions to avoid being exposed to the elements listed above to keep your marijuana in excellent condition as long as possible.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best smell-proof container for weed?

The simplest approach to keep your stash odor-free is to pack it in a sealed airtight container. Some cannabis users store their drugs in large medicine bottles to avoid stinking up their living rooms. Online vendors also provide a variety of odor-proof containers for storing marijuana.

Is refrigerating or freezing weed bad?

It’s far better to store marijuana in a fridge or freezer rather than keeping it in an excessively hot or humid place. It’s also feasible that trichomes would be brittle and break off more readily, though storing your stash in an opaque, sealed container in a cool, dark location with little light is the most effective method for long-term storage while retaining quality.

Can you store weed in plastic bags?

Storing weed in sealed bags isn’t advised, but it’s perfectly feasible with a few extra precautions. Remove as much air as possible before sealing your marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags. For a huge stash, vacuum-sealing cannabis may be a relatively dependable, long-term storage option.

If you go this way, follow these instructions to avoid damaging your cannabis:

• To keep your marijuana safe, don’t vacuum-seal it in BPA-containing plastic (BPA). This chemical is present in many types of plastics, but it has been linked to adverse health effects in people. Additionally, if you store your cannabis in plastic containing BPA, some of those hazardous chemicals may leak into the product.
• Handle your marijuana carefully. Static charges can attract valuable trichomes from your buds, which is why plastic attracts them. The cannabinoid- and terpene-rich hairlike glands all over cannabis flowers are known as trichomes, so you’ll want to be careful not to smash them.

If you’re going to freeze your vacuum-sealed marijuana, keep in mind that trichomes will become brittle due on freezing.