In the words of Nelly Furtado, all good things must come to an end. She was probably talking about relationships in that song but the same goes for weed. We hate to break it to you: weed seeds and marijuana flower go bad over time if stored improperly. Your hard-earned dollars might as well get flushed down the toilet at that point. To prevent that from happening for as long as possible, we’ll teach you how to properly store weed.

Heat, Humidity, and Light

One of the top contributing factors of spoiled weed is temperature. More specifically, the temperature of your home or apartment. Mildew and other molds thrive in temperatures between 77° and 86° F, which could directly affect your stash. Ideally, your apartment thermostat should be set for lower than 77 degrees in the summer and winter. We can’t imagine that you’d like to set your thermostat for above 86 at any time of year. In our home, we like to keep it between 67 and 72 for a comfortable range throughout the year.

Why is the temperature so important?

Excessive heat can dry out the cannabinoids and terpenes in weed that typically take months to develop. When these oils get too dry, the smoke becomes harsher to the user—less smooth on the inhale, which may result in coughing. Warm air also holds more moisture than cold air and is merely likely to result in mold.

As for too low of temperatures, the cold climate can slow the process of decarboxylation of cannabinoids. This process is what converts THCA into THC, which then leads to the psychoactive effects we know and love. If this process were to slow down, users might not get the same mental “high” from their smoke.

Direct Sunlight vs. Shade

To keep your weed fresh and efficient for as long as possible, store it in a cool, dark, and dry place away from direct sunlight and moisture. For example, the bathroom would be a bad place to store it as it gets humid from hot showers. The same goes for the kitchen when you cook hot meals. If you have a desk drawer in your living room or bedroom, that would be the best place to store weed as it’s also out of sight from children and dogs.

A study conducted at the University of London in the 1970s concluded that light was the single biggest factor in the degradation of cannabinoids. When you store weed properly, its cannabinoids can last for up to two years! Mind you, this also depends on the level of humidity within your home and how diligent you are with putting your leftover weed away. Don’t let it sit out while you smoke.

How To Store Weed: The Dos and Donts

Do – store out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place
Do – store in a vacuum-sealed container or mason jars
Do – separate your strains to maintain their flavor/aroma
Don’t – store in the refrigerator
Don’t – store in the freezer
Don’t – store in the humid/hot kitchen or bathroom
Don’t – store in cheap plastic bags or containers

What About Edibles?

Any and all products that contain cannabinoids should be stored in a similar manner, which includes edibles. However, edibles also have perishable ingredients that may go “bad” quicker than weed alone. Food found in edibles may only last a few days as opposed to marijuana flower than can remain effective for up to two years if stored correctly. In most cases, your edible products might degrade in a week due to heat, light, and humidity. Store weed and edibles in a cool, dark, dry place.