How to store cannabis
When storing cannabis, the two most important factors are heat and humidity. If the cannabis is stored in too high of a heat (or too much humidity), mold/mildew can form. Heat can also dry the essential oils and trichomes to make the weed brittle and harsher to smoke.
It’s also important to store in the shade as opposed to direct sunlight, as the UV rays will dry out the trichomes and flower as well.
Cannabis should be stored in a cool (5C-20C or 41F-68F), dry (below 60% humidity) environment, out of direct sunlight and away from strong smells. For best flavor results, keep individual strains separated as well.
The best way to do this is with hermetic glass or ceramic jars. Metal and plastic aren’t recommended as they’ll affect the flavor of the weed (think canned soda vs glass bottles). The static electricity in the plastic will also pull trichomes off the buds.
Mason jars work for small stashes (under an ounce). Although the lid is metal, it’s coated on the bottom, so the buds won’t touch the metal. Mason jars are the easiest to open, though the seal is easy to pop.
Just one step above the mason jar is a wire bale jar, which has the lid attached via a wire clip. The clip and added rubber gasket on the lid forms a much stronger airtight seal.
Wood (which is used in tobacco humidifiers) isn’t recommended, as the wood (typically cedar) contains oils that will affect the flavor of your pot stash.
Though vacuum sealing does work for shipping marijuana without smell leaks that could get the package checked and intercepted by authorities, the static in the plastic will rob the stash of precious trichomes.
Regardless of where you store marijuana, it’s recommended to use a Boveda packet to regulate the RH (relative humidity) level within the sealed environment.
Boveda Medium 8 Gram Humidipak 62% – 12 Pack
Boveda used to be called Humidipack, and they manufacture humidity-control packets similar to those found in beef jerky. The difference is these packets are formulated to both add and subtract humidity to keep the RH at the humidity listed on the packet.
The above packets are set for 62 RH, which is perfect for cannabis, though other RH levels are created for other markets, such as cigar and pipe tobacco humidors.
With these packets sitting with your weed in an airtight jar stored in a cool place (not the fridge or freezer) will optimize your marijuana storage, allowing it to last as long as possible.
The longer you store the cannabis, the more THCA decarboxylates into THC and the more THC degrades into CBN. After approximately three months, the levels of THC in the weed will be diminished to such low percentages that you’ll receive much less of the psychoactive benefits, but the weed could last for 6 months to a year theoretically (though I’ve yet to be able to hold on to any long enough to know for sure).