Proper cannabis storage is important for a variety of reasons. If not taken care of correctly, cannabis can become unsmokeable, poor tasting and even dangerous. Below are several tips to ensure that your “stash” is ready to smoke when you are.
- Don’t freeze. Freezing is not necessary, especially for storage shorter than one year. When your marijuana is frozen, the cell walls begin to break down.
- Keep buds dry. If not stored dry, mold can form on cannabis. The best way to keep your product dry is by putting it in a paper bag, out of direct sunlight and in a drawer. Using a rapid drying technique such as placing it on top of a radiator or microwave can cause a bad taste as well the loss of some THC.
- Keep buds large. Don’t break off the stalk or stem as long as the buds are dry. If you do, the decomposition process will happen faster and the plant will begin losing THC crystals.
- Avoid extended use of orange peel. Cannabis users often use orange, apple, tissue or wet cotton wool to moisten cannabis when it becomes too dry. However, if used for more than 24 hours, the extra moisture can cause cannabis to mold.
Following these proper techniques will help maintain the quality of your cannabis while it’s being stored.