How to Store Sativa Weed

Proper storage is pivotal in ensuring that your cannabis remains fresh and tastes the same no matter if you consume it after a week or two months. Unfortunately, many of those who are just getting into this world are making the mistake of just storing it wherever, which can cause the cannabis to dry out, become damp, or just overall lose its flavor and potency.

If you, too, don’t know how to properly store sativa weed (which is why you’re here), we’ve got you covered. In this article, we will talk about how to store weed properly so that it stays fresh for as long as possible.

What To Consider When Storing Sativa Weed

There are four main things you should consider when deciding where to store your sativa weed. Those things are: 

• Temperature – In order to best protect your cannabis, it should be stored somewhere where the temperature oscillates around 70° F (21º C). Lower temperatures are fine, but you should avoid going above, as it can cause cannabinoids to start degrading. What’s more, if you store it in high temperatures for an extended period, it might lead to bacteria growth and mold, resulting in you having to throw away your cannabis. 
• Humidity – An ideal humidity range for storing cannabis sativa is between 55% and 65%. If the humidity is too high, you risk moisture and mold getting into your cannabis, while if it’s too low, your cannabis can dry out. 
• Oxygen – You should avoid exposing your cannabis to oxygen for extended periods of time, as it might cause oxidation, which will, in turn, lower the quality of your cannabis. 
• Light – While growing cannabis plants does require them to have access to lighting (thus growth lights being a piece of essential growth equipment), cannabis flowers and joints actually do not like light, whether it’s natural or artificial. That’s why it’s best to keep them in a dark place with sparse access to light. 

Why are they important? Because getting them right will extend the shelf life of your cannabis. Improper storage conditions can lead to the deterioration and evaporation of cannabinoids and terpenes, responsible for the effects and flavor of your cannabis. If they’re gone, your cannabis will not only not have the best taste, but it will most likely also not give you the desired effects. 

Can I Store Cannabis in a Plastic Container?

Although it might sound surprising, storing your cannabis in a plastic container is a no-go. While they are fine for a little bit, when talking about long-term storage, both plastic and metal should be avoided. Your best bet would be to use a glass jar – glass containers are airtight and do not contain any harmful chemicals, contrary to plastic containers. 

How Should Weed Be Stored – Best Way to Store Cannabis

The best cannabis sativa storage method is pretty similar regardless of what form your cannabis comes in – whether that be flowers, joints, concentrates, oils, or others.

As you can see, you need to carefully select where you’ll store your cannabis, as it can be quite demanding in terms of the environment – the best places would be cupboards, drawers, and other places where there isn’t constant access to light. Place your cannabis, especially cannabis flowers and joints, in a glass jar (ideally a UV-resistant one) before putting them away.

When choosing what container to place your cannabis in, you should also remember to pick the right size. Although it might seem like a minor thing, choosing a container that is too big compared to the amount of cannabis stored can result in its oxidation, which, as we already established, can be detrimental to its quality. On the other hand, storing them in too small of a container is not beneficial either, so ideally, you should aim for a jar or other container that will be about ⅔ full after you put in your cannabis.

When deciding how to store marijuana, you might be tempted to place it in the fridge or freezer, but this is not the best idea. Your cannabis might be exposed to too much moisture in the fridge, causing it to mold, while the freezer might dry it out. The only exception where storing your cannabis in a fridge is fine is when talking about cannabis extracts, edibles (with the exception of hard candies, which are prone to absorbing moisture), or concentrates – those should be fine in there. 

How Do You Know If Your Cannabis Has Gone Bad? 

There are a few signs that your cannabis might not be of the same quality as when you first bought it. First of all, the aroma – cannabis that has gone bad will either have an off smell or will not have it all.

Another sign is the texture – you might notice that your cannabis is dryer or has more moisture than when you first stored it. Both of those are a sign that something is wrong with it. If you have cannabis flowers, the ones that have gone bad might have dark spots.

How Long Can Cannabis Last in Storage?

It is believed that when stored properly, cannabis is good for anywhere between six months to a year. After a year, it might lose some of its potency. According to an older study published on the website of the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime:

On average, the concentration of THC in the plant material decreased by 16.6% ±7.4 of its original value after one year and 26.8% ±7.3, 34.5% ±7.6 and 41.4% ±6.5 after two, three and four years, respectively.

How to Store Cannabis – The Bottom Line

With the ongoing legalization of cannabis sativa in more places around the world, there are many people who are just getting into the world of marijuana – and one of the things they will need to learn is how to store their cannabis properly so that it doesn’t go bad.

Hopefully, however, after reading this, proper storage of cannabis becomes an easy fit – as long as you store it in an airtight glass container somewhere in your drawers or cupboards, your cannabis should be more than fine.