How To Store Cannabis At Home for Quality and Safety

Storing your cannabis products properly ensures they stay fresh for months to come. But more importantly, storing them correctly keeps them out of the hands of people and pets who shouldn’t access your weed. Here’s what you need to know once you bring your cannabis home.

The importance of storing cannabis properly

Is it worth it to store cannabis properly? Absolutely. Properly preserved cannabis products can sit long-term and maintain their level of potency and flavor, stretching your investment. Conversely, poorly storing your cannabis products can make them go “bad” (meaning stale, tough, harsh, or moldy) faster.

If you live with adults, proper storage is key to preserving product quality (and keeping other people’s hands off your stash). But if you live with kids or pets, proper storage is even more important. Kids, dogs, cats — every mammal has an endocannabinoid system, which means that cannabis (even CBD) will affect their system. Plus, there may be ingredients in your products that are toxic to animals. Properly storing cannabis out of reach and locked away helps keep everyone safe from unintentional consumption.

3 reasons to store your cannabis properly

Safety

No one wants to get high accidentally. Keeping cannabis products tucked away is the best way to ensure that no one except you can access your products. For keeping cannabis away from pets, placing it in a cabinet overhead is typically enough of a deterrent. But if you live with kids (or nosy roommates), you’ll want to invest in a locking stash box to ensure that you and only you get to enjoy your adult goodies.

Freshness

Cannabis loses its potency over time. Stale cannabis flower loses its rich aroma and much of the stickiness of the trichomes, diminishing the experience along with the THC content. Properly stored cannabis will stay flavorful much longer than products left on a countertop or coffee table.

Potency

Cannabinoids, especially THC, are not shelf-stable and degrade over time. Exposure to light, heat, or humid conditions will speed up this aging process and slowly (or quickly) degrade your THC, dry out your flower, and let your precious trichomes fall to the bottom of the bag.

What affects cannabis freshness?

There are four main factors that affect cannabis freshness and degradation.

Light. Ultraviolet light is invisible to our eyes, but it can have a big impact on cannabis. Leaving your products exposed to UV light from the sun’s rays is the fastest way to break down the product and reduce its potency.

Heat. Not too hot, not too cold: Just like Goldilocks, cannabis has to be kept at just the right temperature. A range of 65°F to 73°F is ideal. Any warmer, and bacteria can start to grow. Too-cold temperatures can encourage mold growth, too.

Humidity. High humidity levels introduce moisture to cannabis products, and this moisture can quickly encourage mold and mildew development. But too little humidity, and your cannabis flower can dry out to a brittle crisp, creating a harsh consumption experience.

Airflow. Oxygen can and will degrade cannabis over time. It causes oxidation reactions that convert cannabinoids to non-cannabinoids, lessening your product’s potency.

How to store cannabis to keep it fresh

Take these steps to counter each environmental factor that reduces cannabis’ freshness.

Store cannabis in a dark area that blocks UV light exposure, instantly preventing light from degrading your cannabis.

Cannabis’ ideal temperature range is, give or take, room temperature. Keep your cannabis out of your fridge or freezer and move it somewhere unlikely to experience temperature fluctuations. (Two exceptions: Homemade edibles do better in the fridge or freezer, and some cannabis lovers say the same about concentrates.)

If you’re storing your cannabis at room temperature inside your home and you have central HVAC, you’re already doing most of what’s necessary. Storing your cannabis alongside a humidity pack is even better — you’ll keep your stash in just the right condition for unforgettable travels.

Keeping your products in an airtight container is crucial for their longevity. For an even more blissful trip to your ideal destination, choose the right airtight container.

The best containers for storing cannabis

When it comes to trichome preservation — that’s the part of the plant where most cannabinoids and terpenes live — an airtight glass container is the gold standard.

Best: Glass

Glass is the best material to store cannabis products in. Glass mason jars make great cannabis storage containers because they’re airtight, have screw-on lids, and won’t let scents in or out. The best mason jars are the ones with tinted glass to keep out light along with moisture, but clear glass containers work fine tooas long as they’re stored away from light.

Good: Silicone

Silicone containers are becoming increasingly popular for concentrate storage. Always use food-grade silicone to ensure there’s no contamination of your product, and keep the silicone in a cool, dry place. Plus, unlike glass, silicone is also shatter-proof.

Good: Humidors

Cigars are best preserved in humidors, and cannabis can benefit from humidors too. Cannabis humidors are remarkably similar to cigars and offer the same protection and preservation. Some stash boxes double as locking humidors for protection on multiple levels.

Okay: Plastic

Plastic is a common way of storing cannabis products, but it’s not ideal for the long term. Use glass over plastic whenever possible, but if you have to use plastic, opt for a thicker plastic, like a food storage container rather than a plastic bag.

Plastic containers like Tupperware are airtight, and you can add a humidity control pack to combat temperature fluctuations. Plastic baggies, however, don’t lock in aromas and may contaminate anything kept near them with the scent of weed. Bags can also encourage moisture build-up that leads to mold.

Avoid: Metal

Metal is not a great option for long-term storage. If you’re keeping your cannabis products in a metal container, opt for a strong metal like titanium or food-safe stainless steel. Weaker metals like aluminum can affect the taste of your cannabis products over time. Many grinders are made of metal and work well for short-term storage of ground flower, but don’t leave your flower in there for too long, or it will start to degrade.

What do you need to store cannabis?

The best way to store cannabis products is in an airtight container, in a cool, dark, dry place that is fairly temperature stable. In these conditions, cannabis products can hold onto their potency for months to come.

But if you want to go above and beyond, consider using these:

Boveda packs. These humidity packs are common in the cannabis world because of the way they control humidity in sealed containers. With Boveda packs, cannabis lasts longer, retains more terpenes and cannabinoids, and stays sticky. Boveda helps combat humidity build-up from temperature fluctuations and can keep your bud from growing mold.

Lockable stash box. Whether you’ve got curious kids, roommates with sticky fingers, or a big desire to keep your stash secret, a lockable stash box ensures that no one but yourself has access to your products.

How to tell if your cannabis has gone bad

Reaching your ideal destination is much harder with bad cannabis. Here’s how to tell whether your flower, vape carts, concentrates, or edibles have gone bad.

How to tell if flower has gone bad

Flower has more obvious signs of going bad than other types of cannabis products. These include:

Unusual odors. Flower’s aroma is truly one of a kind. If your product smells like something else, it’s probably bad. Musty, foul odors suggest the presence of mold, which should never be smoked. Cannabis that lacks any aroma has also lost its freshness.

Color changes. Beyond flower’s classic green color, you might see some minor purple hues or orange streaks if you look closely. You definitely shouldn’t see yellow or brown spots — these are signs of degradation.

Mold or mildew growth. Look at the trichomes: Are they cloudy and sticky like usual, or do they look dirty or powdery (or have fuzzy dark spots)? If the latter, your flower is likely growing mold or mildew. To confirm, gently pull apart some stems, leaves, or buds. If the stems or leaves are dry, fragile, or brown, that’s mold or mildew. Gray, dry buds that look like cotton are another giveaway.

Dryness (or wetness). Cannabis that’s especially dry — it’s crumbly, it’s dusty, it falls apart when you apply pressure — has gone bad. On the opposite side of things, when your buds are mushy or overly moist (you’ll know it when you feel it), that’s a sign of mold.

No more snap. When you tear a flower stem in two, you’ll hear that signature snap and get two clean pieces. Anything else means your cannabis has gotten so old that it’s dried out or grown mold.

Poor experience. Overly harsh smoke that leads to a coughing fit or irritates your throat means your cannabis is past its prime. And if your cannabis just lacks that classic aroma and taste, you’ll know something is up. Travel carefully.

How to tell if vape carts have gone bad

There are two key things to look out for when checking whether your vape carts are still good:

Color changes. Although vape carts come in different colors, the color you see when you open the packaging should stay the same forever. Color changes mean your cart has gone bad.

Flavor changes. If your Fernway Mandarin Orange all-in-one vape stops tasting like orange and starts tasting unsavory, toss your vape cart.

Somewhat related: Fake vape carts are bad from the moment you buy them. Our guide on how to spot a fake vape cart can keep these dangerous products out of your travel plans.

How to tell if concentrates have gone bad

As with vape carts, changes to concentrates’ color and flavor are obvious tells that the product has gone bad. Additionally, odor changes are a giveaway that your concentrates are no longer safe. Ditch your expired concentrates for a safer, more reliable passageway to bliss.

How to tell if edibles have gone bad

If you see any of the usual signs of expired or bad food — mold, unpleasant smells, changes in taste — toss your edibles. Unsavory gummies, brownies, and the like don’t make for pleasant shifts in perspective.

Tips for storing cannabis flower

How well you store your cannabis flower has a direct effect on how potent it stays. Flower should be stored in an airtight container. Keep your flower somewhere dark and temperature stable. One of the easiest places to store in the home is in a cabinet (or in a locked boxif you don’t live alone).

Keeping your flower somewhere like the car, where temperatures fluctuate often, is a recipe for cannabinoid degradation and mold growth.

Larger amounts of flower will need more care to remain fresh, so we recommend adding Boveda humidity control packs to large flower quantities.

Keep pre-rolls and joints in a “doob tube” to preserve potency.

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Tips for storing vape cartridges

Keep your vape cartridges upright in a cool, dark place. Leaving the cartridge upright when it’s not in use minimizes the risk of leaks, clogs, or spills. Don’t leave your vape cart out in the sun, either, as light and heat can degrade the potency of your cannabis oil faster than you may think.

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Tips for storing concentrates

Cannabis concentrates need to be stored much like flower, in an airtight container in a dark, cool, dry space. Glass is the best type of container for concentrates to keep air, mold, and mildew out. Medical-grade silicone containers also work well.

While most cannabis should not be kept in the fridge, some cannabis connoisseurs swear by keeping concentrates in the freezer because the low temperature preserves the high THC concentrations. Just be sure to put the concentrates back in the freezer when you’re done so they don’t warm up and attract mold.

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Tips for storing edibles

Cannabis edibles are the products that present the biggest risk for accidental ingestion. Gummies, chocolates, beverages, taffies: Edibles can be confused for a sweet treat or refreshing drink, even with all the childproof packaging and markings on the product.

If you have kids or pets, keep your edibles high out of reach, away from prying eyes, and consider using a locked container. If you live with adults, make sure your edibles are clearly labeled if they’re in a common area.

Edibles should be tightly and individually wrapped for the best protection. If you’re dealing with homemade edibles like cannabutter, follow food safety best practices and store them in the fridge or freezer.

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Proper cannabis storage puts safety first

Storing cannabis properly keeps your products safe in more than one sense of the word. First, proper storage keeps cannabis out of curious hands and ensures that you’re the only person who can access the products you buy. Proper storage also preserves your product quality and makes the money you spend on cannabis products go further.

Need help choosing the right containers? The Travel Agency can help. The budtenders at our four locations can help you choose the right container for the stash you’re bringing home. Happy travels.