Lots of cannabis users have no idea how much potency, aroma, and flavor they’re losing by storing their cannabis incorrectly. Although it might sound ridiculous, the way you store your products is crucial to the effectiveness of your product, not only the shelf life. Bud, edibles, tinctures, and even lotions all have specific ways to ensure your product is as effective as the day you bought it.
Starting off with the most widely used cannabis product: bud (flower) is probably the easiest to mess up. Lots of people store their stash in bags. Instead of a bag, try an airtight jar. You’ll want to store your jars in a cool dry place. Mold thrives in temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees F. You might be thinking the fridge is the perfect place, but unfortunately you have to consider humidity as well, and the fridge is much to humid. The ideal humidity for bud is 65%. You can buy little humidity regulators for inside your jar at a smoke shop or online.
Edibles are a little more tricky to conserve. They’re always going to be best fresh, so limiting your quantity to what you’ll use within the week is always smart. But for extra protection vacuum sealing is ideal. Similar to bud, a cool dark place is the best way to store. Freezing certain types of edibles like cookies and brownies also works quite well for long term storage.
Tinctures and salves or lotions also benefit from cool, dry, and dark placements. The way you seal your product after each use is also critical. A tight seal will ensure the purity of your product. Your fridge is an ideal place for these types of products. However if you have anything in a clear bottle, make sure to either transfer it to a dark bottle, or cover it with dark paper or cloth to let less light in while storing.
I can guarantee with these storage practices, you’ll see a difference in the quality of your products over time. You won’t be dealing with mold, loss of potency, or staleness nearly as quickly. And if you like buying in bulk like I do, now you have the tools to do so safely and effectively.
