To safeguard the quality, flavor, and strength of your cannabis for a prolonged duration, you must take steps to avoid mold while keeping it. If you don’t make an effort to prevent elements such as heat, air and moisture from making contact with your cannabis when stowing it away then its value will rapidly decrease. Cannabis that has already grown mildew is even more damaging.
To ensure that your marijuana remains in the highest quality and is free from any dangerous mold growth, take a look at this comprehensive guide to learn how to store cannabis for both short-term and long-term usage. With these easy steps you can keep not just the potency of your flower intact, but also its flavor—and most importantly stay safe while consuming!
What Does Mold Do To Cannabis?
To ensure your cannabis is safe to use, it’s critical that you keep mold away. Poorly stored or overly exposed to humidity herbe oftentimes harbors the growth of mildew and mold, which not only reduces its quality but also renders it dangerous for consumption.
When your marijuana has been corrupted by mold, it will rapidly become tasteless and lose its potency. The cannabinoids and terpenes that make cannabis so special are ruined; this means all you’ll be left with is stale, rancid smelling weed. On top of the unpleasant taste and smell, consuming contaminated buds can actually cause sickness – making them not only undesirable but dangerous too!
Cannabis can be prone to two primary molds – Botrytis cinerea and Aspergillus. Both of these unwelcome guests are a hazard for your buds, as the former will lead to rot while reducing potency, and the latter presents health risks should you consume it. Therefore, ensure that any cannabis showing signs of mold is safely discarded right away in order to avoid potential harm!
How To Prevent Mold While Storing Cannabis
To safeguard against the detrimental effects of mold, it is paramount to arm yourself with knowledge on how and where to store cannabis. Fortunately, by making sure your weed crop stays in an environment free from excessive heat, air or moisture levels, you can easily prevent its growth and destruction.
To ensure that mold doesn’t form on your cannabis, it’s best to store them in a dark and cool place. This means placing them away from direct light exposure; as such, drawers or cupboards are ideal spots since they provide the perfect combination of darkness and temperature (77°F to 86°F). Storing marijuana this way helps guarantee maximum freshness for longer periods!
The vessel you store your cannabis in is of utmost importance – never keep it in plastic packaging for prolonged periods as this can significantly diminish the quality. For optimal preservation, use clean and air-tight glass jars such as Mason jars: fill them up completely to prevent any oxygen from entering.
To preserve its potency and flavor, it is essential to keep your cannabis dry and away from any moisture. Make sure that the buds are completely dried before you store them in an airtight container. Furthermore, ensure that no other items, especially liquids or water-based products, come into contact with your cannabis as this could damage it significantly. By keeping your cannabis secure in a cool place on its own, you will be able extend the shelf life of your product for longer periods of time!
Long-Term Cannabis Storage
To ensure your cannabis stays fresh, it’s important to store it in a secure and dry location that is devoid of too much light, heat, air or moisture. The kind of vessel you use plays an integral role in how well the weed preserves its potency as well.
If you want to ensure your cannabis stays fresh and fragrant, the most reliable way is to store it in an airtight container. Mason jars are a popular choice due to their availability and tight-sealing lid, which prevents light, temperature fluctuations, and moisture from ruining your stash. For the ultimate protection against these elements – as well as maintaining relative humidity at 59-63% – include some humidity packs inside each jar for optimal preservation of your beloved buds!
To keep your weed fresh, you need to invest in a Cannabis Humidor. These specially made boxes contain glass containers which will ensure the joint remains viable for an extended period of time. Make sure theHumidor is specifically designed for cannabis storage and not cigars; because although cigar humidors are attractive, they won’t necessarily preserve marijuana well!
To ensure the longevity of your cannabis, it is important that when you store it in a container, the receptacle must be completely dry. If there’s even a hint of moisture present on your stash then mold will start to form and ruin everything! For optimal results keep all containers containing weed in an area with low humidity levels and at a cool temperature.
Smoking Moldy Weed – Symptoms, Smell, Detection, and Prevention
As we progress into 2022, marijuana smokers must remain mindful of the potential risks associated with smoking moldy weed. With even a small amount of moisture present in cannabis buds, anyone who partakes in their fair share of pot use is likely to have inhaled mold spores at least once. So be sure to check your stash carefully and never smoke anything that looks or smells suspicious!
It can often be difficult to recognize, as well as avoid, certain types of mold. However, by the time you finish reading this article, it will become obvious which signals to look out for and how to successfully keep your weed free from any form of contamination.
Effects of Smoking Moldy Weed
Consuming moldy cannabis can be a potential health hazard, especially for those with weakened immune systems, asthma or respiratory problems. It is essential to note that the severity of effects from smoking bad weed will vary depending on both the number and kind of fungus present in it. Generally speaking, here are some impacts you may experience when consuming unhealthy marijuana:
- Increased trouble breathing
- Heart palpitations
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Aspergilloma – Mold growth in the lungs
- Pneumonitis – Inflammation of the walls of the alveoli in the lungs
Detecting Moldy Weed
If you’re looking to detect mold-infested marijuana, a magnifying glass or the 420 scope will be your best bet. If the infestation has progressed significantly, try using a black light as well; under this kind of light source, mold emits an unmistakable tinge of yellow and greenish-yellow. Don’t take any chances with compromised cannabis – use one (or both) of these methods to ensure safety!
The most common types of mold you need to be aware of are Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Mucor. They all have different appearances and smells. I’ve listed their characteristics below for your reference.
The Look
- Black Spots / Spores
- White to Brown Fuzz
- White or Black Web-like Material
The Smell
- Musty
- Urine
- Lavender
- Locker Room Smell
Causes of Moldy Weed
Excess humidity in the air is usually responsible for moldy cannabis, particularly when it was harvested recently and not cured correctly. Airtight containers are capable of trapping humid air which can be a great environment for mold to thrive. Although some people use orange or lemon peels as an additional source of moisture, this strategy has the potential to backfire if too much water is added and blue citrus mold takes over instead.
In an effort to increase their profits, some growers and dealers may attempt to add water (and consequently weight) to the weed.
Some cultivators attempt to raise the potency of their crop by using moldy cultivation practices, but this merely results in tainted marijuana. Mold spores are often present in outdoor growing conditions that lack proper care.
Preventing Moldy Weed
Moisture levels above 15%, combined with relative humidity of 55% or higher, create the ideal conditions for mold growth. The best way to measure moisture in the air is through testing; a hygrometer (often used to maintain cigar humidor temperature and humidity) or a more specialized relative humidity monitor (ideal if you’re growing marijuana plants) are both great options.
To ensure your buds stay fresh, open your airtight weed container for 15 minutes each day to allow warm air inside. Doing this will prevent mold from forming and keep the weed at a desirable moisture level. If you find that it’s too dry, use a cigar humidifier as an easy way of adding just enough moisture without any hassle.
Smoking Moldy Weed
If you’re in a jam and can’t avoid smoking moldy weed, consider using a bong or baking the weed at 200°F for 10 minutes to reduce contamination risk. Although these methods will not entirely remove all of the spores, they may significantly decrease your chances of developing flu-like symptoms caused by inhaling mold particulates into your lungs.
Short-Term Cannabis Storage
To keep your cannabis safe and fresh, it’s essential to understand the correct methods of short-term storage. Retail dispensaries must make sure that their products won’t become moldy, so investing in glass containers or a humidor is ideal for long-term security. However, there are other options available when storing your cannabis securely in the interim.
Lock in the freshness of your cannabis with Exit and Mylar bags! Not only are they effective at keeping heat and moisture out, but can even be designed with custom branding that allows companies to proudly promote their products. Additionally, these sealable bags provide a temperature-stable environment for storing marijuana in the short term. With robust leak-proof capabilities, you never have to worry about unwanted humidity impacting your goods again!
Stash Bags are the ideal solution for individuals who need to store their cannabis for a brief period of time. Whether you’re taking it with you or bringing it over to your friend’s place, there is no need to drag along an inconvenient mason jar – Stash Bags will keep your weed fresh while being entirely scent and water-resistant!
Conclusion
It’s essential to take precautionary measures to protect your cannabis from mold and guarantee its freshness and potency. Any black spores or white mold on the weed should be discarded promptly, as not only does it reduce the quality of your product but can also cause health issues if ingested.
The good news is, it’s quite straightforward to prevent mold from growing on your cannabis. Keep your weed in clean containers and keep them away from too much heat, light, or moisture – most notably humidity. Mylar bags and stash bags may work well for temporary storage but sealed glass jars or humidors can be the best option for long-term preservation.