Quick Guide: How to Properly Store Cannabis
It’s a common question that cannabis consumers have likely asked themselves at one point or another: how long will my weed last? Maybe we find some flower that we forgot about, or maybe we are brand new to the world of marijuana and need as many answers as we can get. Cannabis is similar to a fine wine in that it is best preserved for long periods in places where it’s as cool and as dark as possible.
Unlike food, cannabis flower doesn’t have a set expiration date. However, as long as the flower is dried and cured correctly, it can last up to a full year. When you purchase from a reputable Toronto marijuana dispensary, you can rest assured that your flower will last the maximum date while maintaining its maximum flavor and smoothness. If you find some that you’re not sure how old it is, it’s probably best to be safe and just throw it away.
How to Store Your Cannabis Flower
While the general rule of thumb is that you will want to consume your cannabis flower within six months or so, other aspects will factor into how long your product stays fresh. Just like keeping a long-term food storage pantry, the biggest enemies of your cannabis flower are light, humidity, and temperature. The containers you store your flower in long term are also important. Here are some pointers to optimize your flower’s freshness for as long as possible.
Humidity, Temperature, and Light
Light and humidity will break down the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other organic materials in your flower - not to mention, possibly cause mold and mildew to form. This is why we recommend controlling your humidity as much as you can to store your cannabis flower. Temperatures exceeding approximately 24°C can lead to the formation of mold on your flower, so keeping it below that temperature in a dark place will help it last.
Maintaining a suitable relative humidity level (RH) for your cannabis flower is a bit trickier than managing proper temperature levels. A Toronto marijuana dispensary would recommend controlling the humidity of your cannabis flower at around 60-65%, and not exceeding that if at all possible. An RH of 60% will help ensure that your flower maintains its cannabinoid content, flavor, aroma, and so on. However, letting the humidity fall too low - around 35% RH runs the risk of drying out the trichomes, resulting in brittle flower that can be harsh when consumed.
Containers for Storing Cannabis Long-Term
During the growing process, cannabis plants require the right amount of oxygen to produce the best possible buds. When storing properly dried and cured flower, less air is required, but preserving the freshness still needs a bit of air. Not enough air can impact the RH of your buds, but too much oxygen will reduce the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. The wrong RH levels can cause your flower to go from lasting up to a year to sometimes six months. While RH levels do impact the quality of your buds, storing your flower out of direct sunlight and heat is the best thing you can do to ensure they stay fresher longer.
Your favorite Toronto marijuana dispensary likely recommends using glass mason jars for storage. You will want to avoid storage material like plastic - as plastic can create static charges that degrade the quality of cannabis flower. Vacuum-sealed glass jars are a great option if you want to store your flower for up to a year. Labeling the names of your cultivars is also a good idea if you are storing more than one variety of flower.
Concentrates and Edibles
We focused mainly on flower in this article, but similar rules of thumb apply for your marijuana concentrates. While flower will usually lose freshness in six to twelve months, concentrates and alcohol-based infused tinctures can last twice as long or more. Like flower, concentrates also degrade over time and if they are exposed to light and heat. Keep your concentrates and tinctures sealed tightly and store them in an area that is cool, dark, and dry. Ask your budtender at your Toronto marijuana dispensary if your concentrates need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Similar to the shelf life of food, cannabis-infused edibles and beverages will likely have an expiration date. Be sure to consume any edibles by the date on the package. Your Toronto marijuana dispensary is dedicated to offering products with sustainable packaging and reducing waste. While this handy quick guide to storing cannabis will be helpful, dispensary associates are always happy to answer any storage and freshness questions you have.