The adage “smoke it if you got it” is a testament to the free-wheeling nature of cannabis appreciation. Most people in the cannabis community (even casual enjoyers) don’t care how you enjoy your stash – as long as you’re respectful, easy-going and generous with the passing.
But that’s not to say there are no rules when it comes to cannabis. To enjoy a long-lasting, fresh, flavourful stash, you need to follow a few best practices.
In this post, let’s cycle through some “dos” and “don’ts” of storing your flower, debunking a couple of prevalent myths and offering concrete suggestions for an enjoyable cannabis experience.
Do Choose the Right Storage Container
Your storage container matters. Back in the wild west days of illegal cannabis, you might be forgiven for toting your stash in a hole-ridden zip-top bag or old coffee canister. But times have changed, and so should your method of preservation.
Luckily, you don’t need to get too fancy. Choose a glass or metal container with a tight-fitting lid, like a mason jar or dedicated aluminum storage container. Most experts will tell you to avoid plastic since the material’s static charge can mess with the trichomes (those twinkly “hairs” on the flower). However, plastic will work in a pinch, especially if you follow the advice below.
Don’t Put It in Direct Light
“Vampire rules” apply when storing cannabis. Keep your flower out of direct sunlight, which can degrade the THC and CBD (i.e., the active cannabinoids), costing your flower precious potency.
Better yet, choose an opaque storage container. That way, even in transport, your cannabis stays free from the sunlight.
Do Control Humidity and Temperature
Humidity plays a pivotal role in keeping your cannabis fresh, potent and flavourful. If the relative humidity (RH) in your container is too low, the terpenes suffer, the THC degrades, and you’re left with a brittle, fast-burning husk of a once-sticky bud. Conversely, overly high humidity can lead to mould and spoilage.
There are very few “consensus opinions” in the cannabis community, but here’s one: invest in some inexpensive Boveda packets. These two-way humidity control packets keep your flower at precisely the correct RH (between 58% and 62%) so you can enjoy perfectly plump, sticky cannabis every single time. Simply pop the packet in your container along with your bud, replacing the pack every couple of months or so.
Don’t Stick Your Flower in the Freezer or Fridge
Don’t do it! For whatever reason, this myth has persisted throughout the generations. Refrigerators are cold, dry environments, inhospitable for cannabis. Moreover, the repeated action of closing and opening the door creates intense temperature and humidity shifts that can spoil your smoke.
Do Separate the Strains
Each strain is like a snowflake: perfect and unique in its own way. Mixing strains together in a container muddles the aromas, leaving you with a blanketed, one-note experience, whichever bud you reach for.
The growers, botanists, curers and distributors worked hard to present you with a distinctive product. Your job is to keep that product distinct. If you’re buying several strains at once, invest in a few containers and Boveda packets to house them all.
Don’t Store Your Cannabis with Any Other “Bold” Flavours
This forewarning harks back to our previous section on refrigerators. At least one person we know has stored their bud in a loose container in the vegetable crisper – next to some green onions. Lo and behold, the flower had an unmistakable oniony taste. It’s great in a stir-fry but not-so-great in a joint.
Follow these straightforward dos and don’ts the next time you store cannabis. With a tight-fitting container, compartmentalized strains, low sunlight and some Boveda packets, you’ll enjoy fresh cannabis for months.
