How to Store Cannabis: Keep Your Weed Fresh

Growing cannabis is a science in itself. From selecting the seeds and choosing the grow space, to picking one fertilizer over another, plus all the care it requires (and all the care it doesn’t), all the way to harvesting, drying, and curing—home growers invest a good deal of time and effort to ensure everything goes smoothly and they finally obtain their well-deserved reward: perfect, high-quality buds that are quite aromatic and resin-rich.

It would be a shame, after so much work, not to know how to store cannabis and preserve it properly. That’s why we’re going to share the best tips to make sure your harvest is stored in top condition. Whether you’re an occasional consumer or run a legal cannabis business, the same principle applies: it’s all about oxidation, decarboxylation, and the degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes.

If you don’t know how to store cannabis or how to preserve it, much of its magic is lost. The aromas fade and flatten, the flavor dulls, and the effects weaken. The experience of rolling a joint is ruined by a poorly stored bud: you either need to twist your grinder endlessly because it’s too moist or it instantly crumbles to dust from being overly dry.

If you also have questions about how long weed stays in good condition, keep reading, because this article will make it clear regarding what you should and shouldn’t do.

Why Is Proper Cannabis Storage Important?

It’s crucial to store cannabis properly in order to maintain its potency, flavor, and therapeutic effects. There isn’t a lot of scientific literature on the topic, so it’s not easy to find peer-reviewed studies specifically addressing how to store cannabis.

However, with the legalization we’re seeing in countries like the U.S. alongside its therapeutic use and the booming legal cannabis market, reliable reports are starting to emerge focusing on cannabis degradation and preservation.

According to some of the studies featured on this page, cannabinoids and terpenes go through a slow decarboxylation process over time. They suffer a gradual loss of terpenes and phytocannabinoids, which, in addition to reacting to temperature and humidity, can also respond to light, potentially evaporating in extreme cases or after extended periods of poor storage.

These studies have shown that cannabis flowers and their derivatives (such as extracts) should be stored in a dark place at a temperature of 4 °C (39 °F) to slow aging and preserve the cannabinoids and terpene profile. Higher or lower temperatures resulted in significant loss, even when stored in suitable containers. The most unfavorable temperature range starts between 15–25 °C (59–77 °F). Experienced growers already know this very well.

A study of this kind suggests that the degradation rate doubles with every 10 °C increase in temperature, or, conversely, is cut in half with every 10 °C decrease. It also concluded that cannabis material stored in olive oil at 4 °C yielded the best results. This method is suitable for cannabis used in cooking or topical applications.

What Factors Affect Cannabis Quality?

All home growers know that over time, as their harvest dwindles, the last buds are not as fresh and aromatic as they were in the first few months. In fact, the best time to enjoy peak flavor and the most potent effects is between the first and third month after curing. After that, degradation becomes constant and exponential, depending on how well it has been stored.

We already know that environmental factors like light, humidity, temperature, and air can affect the quality and shelf life of stored cannabis. Additionally, you should never grind your weed before storing it, as this would accelerate degradation.

Knowing how to store cannabis is essential to avoid losing its qualities, so here are some key tips:

Light

Don’t store your harvest in a sunny room. Use a cabinet or box to keep it shielded from sunlight. If it’s exposed to light, your weed will degrade faster, with noticeable loss of color and quality.

Humidity

Try to keep your buds at an optimal humidity level. If they’re too dry, oxidation increases and the loss of aroma, flavor, and effects becomes very noticeable. Take a look at this article if that’s your issue.

On the other hand, if your harvest is stored in a spot that’s too humid, your buds may be ruined by opportunistic mold, such as Botrytis. To maintain the right humidity level inside the jars where you store your cannabis, you can use hydrogel packs that keep the buds between 58% and 62% (the ideal range).

Air

Air is mostly composed of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, and other gases. Among the gases in air, the one that affects your buds the most is oxygen, since it reacts with the weed and causes oxidation.

To prevent this, store your flowers in an airtight container (ideally vacuum-sealed). This helps delay their deterioration.

Temperature

Here we have one of the main factors contributing to loss of quality: temperature. Keeping a steady temperature below 15 °C (59 °F) helps slow down the degradation process. If you have space in the fridge, store your sealed jars there to nearly stop the loss of aromas and cannabinoids like THC or CBD. The savviest consumers use small fridges, like those used to store fine wines.

Storage Options for Cannabis

Now that we’ve covered all the basics, let’s look at different methods and tools for storing cannabis, so everything is as clear as possible.

Glass Jars and Airtight Containers

Something everyone has at home that’s both convenient and affordable are jam or preserve jars. It’s important that these have an airtight seal to prevent air or moisture from getting in and to help preserve all those aromas. It’s better to use medium-sized jars, trying not to leave too much empty space when filling them. Don’t crush the buds, but aim for a Tetris-like fit, where each bud nests nicely with the others.

As we mentioned earlier, don’t store ground-up weed or small pieces, as it won’t preserve the qualities as well. Once the jars are full, seal them carefully and store them in a cool, dark place. If that place is the fridge, even better. Just remember that when you open the fridge after a smoke session looking for something to eat, you don’t accidentally cook your stash… although, that might not be such a bad idea!

Using Vacuum-Sealed Bags

Vacuum sealers are great allies when it comes to preserving your cannabis. You can use vacuum bags to store your buds, and the vacuum sealing technique also helps prevent your home from smelling like weed.

It’s important to make sure there are no sharp stems left inside that could puncture the bag under pressure.

The downside to this method is that vacuum sealing puts a lot of pressure on the buds, which can crush them and damage the resin glands. Try to find the right balance: no air left, but not so much pressure that it squashes the buds.

If you have vacuum sealing machines that work with jars, that’s the ideal option, since they won’t flatten your buds.

Wooden Boxes

A classic option is wooden boxes. Cedar boxes in particular are commonly used because of their porous nature. A cigar box can work well to store buds for a while.

Some old-school growers do a “pre-cure” in these boxes for a few weeks, claiming that buds cured this way pick up subtle woody aromas that pair well with the cannabis. Plus, if any buds are still slightly damp, they can finish drying inside.

The key is to make sure the box closes well and is kept in a dry, dark location. On the downside, cannabis stored in wooden boxes doesn’t stay fresh for long, so after a few weeks, it’s best to transfer the buds to jars.

How to Prepare Your Cannabis for Storage

Now that we know how to store cannabis properly, there are a few important details to take care of beforehand.

The Proper Curing Process

We won’t go too deep into this since every grower—beginner or expert—knows that cannabis needs to be properly dried and then cured so it reaches its full potential, concentrating its aroma, losing excess chlorophyll, and achieving the right texture and stability. It’s just like aging fine wine or cured cheese.

The curing process is just as important as every other step in cannabis growing. Cannabinoids gradually transform into their acidic forms, and the aromas develop to enhance the full sensory experience of consumption.

It’s crucial to make sure your buds are dry before starting this phase, as too much moisture can ruin the entire harvest. Monitor the jars, open them daily, make sure everything is in order, and close them again after about 15 minutes.

After a month, your flowers will be ready to consume. Ideally, wait at least 30 to 90 days.

Pre-Storage Preparation

We’re almost ready, but it’s worth covering a few final tips before you use your best container to store cannabis:

• Clean or sterilize the jars you’ll be using to prevent any leftover organic material from triggering mold spores. Also, if any lingering odors remain, they’ll cling to your buds.

• If you’re going to use a box to store the jars, choose one tall enough to close completely—this keeps light out and hides your stash from prying eyes. You can always say it’s a box of books (about cannabis, of course) or your stash box (bongs, rosin press, water hash bags, etc.).

Advanced Cannabis Storage Techniques

In large-scale legal cannabis grows, more sophisticated techniques are used, such as refrigerated storage units or modified atmosphere systems, ideal for those who need to store large quantities of cannabis for extended periods.

Tips for Monitoring and Maintaining Quality Over Time

Finally, don’t forget to regularly check on your stored cannabis. If you notice any signs of mold or degradation, discard the affected parts, remove all the buds, and transfer them into a new sterilized jar. In the days that follow, keep a close eye on them to ensure it doesn’t spread.

How long can cannabis stay fresh? As a general rule, cannabis loses much of its original aroma, texture, and potency after about a year. It also becomes harsher on the palate. Our recommendation is not to store it for more than one year.

If you feel like you have too much weed and it’s starting to go bad, the best thing you can do is use it to make an extract. Extracts hold up better over time and take up much less space.

Get the Best Cannabis Seeds at Sweet Seeds®

To wrap up this article, we invite you to check out the collection from Sweet Seeds®, where you’ll find a wide selection of top-quality autoflowering seeds, photoperiod-dependent strains, F1 Fast Version® seeds, purple cannabis genetics from The Red Family, and “Super Strong” American-descended strains.

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Sweet Seeds S.L. is not responsible for any misuse of the information provided in this article. Growing Cannabis may constitute a criminal offense or administrative infraction; please check the Cannabis legislation applicable in your place of residence. Sweet Seeds S.L. does not, under any circumstances, intend to promote illegal practices.