October 21, 2022

Jeff Johnson

Cannabis, Hemp Flower

What’s The Best Way to Store Cannabis & Hemp Flower?

What is Cannabis & Hemp Flower?

Cannabis and Hemp flower are one and the same when it comes to storage. Marijuana is considered cannabis but the big difference between hemp and marijuana is hemp contains 0.3 percent or less THC.  Some people refer to hemp flower as CBD flowers. Hemp flower refers to the female hemp plant, where the buds are grown. Once the cannabis plant has grown the buds and flower is harvested groomed, it is cured, and then dried.  The hemp flower contains a full spectrum of cannabinoids and terpenes. Hemp buds or hemp flowers do not produce a psychoactive effect like marijuana. Marijuana contains Delta-9 THC, which gives users their desired experience. ATLRx also has hemp-derived Delta 9 THC gummies for sale. 

ATLRx sells CBD or hemp flowers in many forms, such as the flower itself, pre-rolls, and even moon rocks.  From cannabis and hemp flower, CBD is extracted and can be used to make a variety of products such as CBD hemp oils, CBD Gummies, CBD topicals, and many more. 

Table of contents:

• Key Takeaways
• How To Store Your Flower
• Ideal Conditions to Store Cannabis
• Does Cannabis Or Hemp Flower Expire?
• What Happens to Cannabis As It Ages?
• How Long Will Cannabis Store?
• What Cannabis Products Store the Longest?
• How Do You Know if Your Cannabis Flower Has Gone Bad or is Old?
• How Can I Check my Cannabis for Mold of Mildew?
• Conclusion

Key Takeaways

• Optimal Storage Conditions: Preserve cannabis quality by storing it in airtight glass containers away from light, moisture, and heat, ideally between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit, to prevent degradation and mold formation.
• Avoiding Degradation: Protect your cannabis from losing potency over time by minimizing exposure to oxygen, humidity, and extreme temperatures, which accelerate the breakdown of cannabinoids and terpenes.
• Shelf Life Variability: Cannabis flower’s shelf life is influenced by storage conditions and quality of processing, typically lasting up to 18 months to 2 years when stored correctly, although some products, like concentrates, can last longer.
• Health and Safety Precautions: Regularly inspect cannabis for mold or mildew and ensure it is stored correctly to avoid health risks, especially for those with compromised immune systems, emphasizing safe consumption.

How To Store Your Flower

Hemp flower or cannabis flower is an herb that should be dry and moist at the same time. There are many different types of ways to store hemp flower, like vacuum-sealed bags but the best way to store your hemp flower is to keep it in an airtight glass container. 

You will always want to avoid plastic or metal containers, they are better for short-term storage. Plastic and metal containers tend to affect the flavor and aroma of the flower over time by degrading the trichomes and crystals which give the cannabis its potency.

It is highly recommended to store hemp flowers in airtight glass containers. Keep the flower in the dark, cool, and clean environment. Always avoid moisture and humidity with hemp flowers to keep the flower from getting any kind of mold or mildew. Another tip is to pack the container making sure your stash is snug inside the container leaving little space for oxygen to be trapped inside. Oxygen exposure is one the biggest enemies to extending the life of your cannabis. Also, another great benefit of using an airtight glass container is that it is smell-proof and it’ll keep those nosey people out of your business. CBD pre-rolls can also be preserved when put in airtight glass containers.

Storing cannabis in the refrigerator or freezer to preserve the freshness, despite what you heard, can compromise the quality of the cannabis. If it is not stored in an airtight container at the correct temperature.

Don’t waste your hard-earned money and risk your precious cannabis; store your stash the right way! 

Ideal Conditions to Store Cannabis

There is a  golden rule for storing cannabis which is a cool, dark, and dry place. 

Let’s take a  look at the sweet spot when it comes to what elements affect your cannabis.

Temperature

When it comes to temperature this will affect the terpenes and the flavor of the cannabis. High heat will degrade your flower and vice versa if the temperature is too low this will cause degradation of terpenes and cannabinoid content.

Mold and mildew thrive in temperatures above 74 degrees, so we recommend that cannabis needs to be stored below this temperature. The optimal temperature for cannabis storage is between 55 degrees Fahrenheit and 65 degrees. 

Refrigerators for wine are a good idea as it has temperature control for storing your cannabis.

Light Exposure

Minimizing light exposure will extend the lifespan of your cannabis. UV light rays will degrade and break down your flower quicker than anything. To avoid losing terpenes and cannabinoid content, it is highly recommended to store your stash away from direct sunlight. So place your airtight container in the pantry or anywhere in your house from sunlight. A trick to storing your stash from the harmful UV light rays, if you cannot find a dark environment, it is best to use opaque containers or use some sort of wrapping paper or stickers to cover your glass container.

Air and Humidity

One frequently asked question is “Does cannabis lose its potency if it dries out?” The simple answer is yes.  High levels of oxygen can accelerate the degradation of terpenes and cannabinoids. When cannabis is exposed to air, it begins to dry out, and the oxygen will begin to degrade the cannabinoids, terpenes, and other phytonutrients that are in the plant material. Remember, oxygen is the enemy to extending your cannabis life. This is why we always recommend using airtight containers, preferably glass.

Humidity is very vital to storing cannabis. If the humidity is too high this can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew and if the humidity is too low this will dry out your flower which will cause degradation of terpenes and cannabinoids.  The relative humidity (RH) needs to be between 54 and 63%. Using humidity packs that are placed directly into your container will help keep your cannabis at the right moisture level.

Does Cannabis Or Hemp Flower Expire?

Yes and no, the answer to this is complex. The shelf life of cannabis flower has many variables and factors like how well it was cured and the quality of where it was farmed and processed. In other words, it comes down to if the product is properly dried, cured, and kept in proper storage under optimal conditions. If the flower is too dry it will degrade faster if it is not dried enough this could cause problems like mold and mildew.  

Some say cannabis or hemp flower can last up to 18 months or 2 years, losing its potency around six to nine months. In other expert opinions, cannabis flower can last up to ten years. With such a wide range of opinions, experts suggest thinking about dried cannabis flower expiration date more like a “best before date.”

What Happens to Cannabis As It Ages?

Cannabis is unlike wine or whisky it does not get better with time, it does not continually improve the longer it has been cured. As cannabis ages, the buds that we enjoy in its prime sticky freshness will lose flavor, aroma and texture. Over an extended timeframe like all plants it will degrade with time and that goes for cannabis as well, losing its potency over time. Make sure to check the date of the cannabis as every batch sold should have a harvest date, sell-by date or date of manufacture. 

Here’s something to consider, according to research done by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the following has been determined:

• Cannabis loses approximately 16% of its potency after one year.
• After two years it will lose up to 26% of its potency.
• Within three year 34% of the potency will be lost
• Up to four years in storage, 41% of its potency will be forfeited.

How Long Will Cannabis Store?

How long cannabis will store depends on the conditions it is kept. If kept in poor conditions and is expose to heat, light, and moisture, it won’t last long. When kept in optimal conditions, in an airtight glass container away from light, heat, and moisture. For example, cannabis flowers can be stored anywhere from 18 months to 2 years.

 Different cannabis products will depend on their shelf life and how long they can be stored. Cannabis can have a long shelf life when properly stored. So its important to buy cannabis from trusted vendors where it has been properly taken care of, like ATLRx.

What Cannabis Products Store the Longest?

Out of all cannabis products, cannabis flower has the least longevity among other products like tinctures, oils, concentrates, and edibles like gummies.

HHC (hexahydrocannabinol) dabs have the longest shelf life, upwards of 5 years. You can keep dabs in parchment paper for a short period but the best is always an airtight container in a dark and cool place. Please check out ATLRx’s HHC dabs.

ATLRx CBD concentrates like shatter and wax are highly resistant to mold but can be prone to oxidation and can last up to 3 years if properly stored in airtight glass containers. We recommend placing your concentrates in the refrigerator in an airtight glass container to preserve their consistency, flavor, and potency. A study in 2019 showed that when THC in concentrated form was stored in the freezer it was preserved better. If you cannot refrigerate your concentrate, place it in a dark and cool place.

CBD oils pending on the ingredients and how it’s stored can last upwards of 2 years. CBD oil is one of the most shelf-stable cannabis products. Store your oils/tinctures in a cool and dark environment in their original airtight container. ATLRx CBD oils use the best quality ingredients.

ATLRx CBD gummies‘ shelf life is a maximum of 2 years if properly stored in a refrigerator. CBD Gummies are typically safe to store in their original packaging for short periods. However, to retain its flavor and consistency, a dark, cool, and airtight environment are best.

Cannabis flower rule of thumb is to store it properly in an airtight glass container in a dark and cool place. This can make your flower last up to 18 months to 2 years. ATLRx has many different types of cannabis flower, check them out!

How Do You Know if Your Cannabis Flower Has Gone Bad or is Old?

Some users have different outlooks on what “gone bad” looks like when it comes to cannabis flowers. For some, as soon as the flower degrades in quality, the loss of cannabinoid potency, and the loss of terpenes it has “gone bad”. Typically you can tell if your flower has bit the dust by feel and smell.

With smell it is easy to tell if your cannabis has gone bad, the smell will be entirely different from when you initially purchased the cannabis. 

Other signs are the cannabis flower is dry, becomes dusty, moldy, and develops mildew, or it has been stored for several years in a non-airtight container like plastic bags. These are all signs that your cannabis flower has gone bad, so it’s time to toss out the old and in with the new.

Tips for determining the freshness of your flower:

1. Smell it – Fresh flower has very strong smell, whereas dry weed has a faint herbaceous smell.
2. Touch it – Hold the flower and pinch it with your fingers. Does the flower feel sticky? If it does, it most likely is moist enough. Dry flower won’t have that sticky feeling.
3. Grind it – When grinding fresh flower you will notice that it falls into loose little clumps. Dry flower when grinded will look like dried herb flakes similar to oregano or other pantry herbs.

When purchasing your cannabis it will probably come in some sort of airtight container, but if it happens to come in a plastic bag, transfer your flower to better storage as soon as you can. All the tips above can be applied to Delta-8 flower as well.

How Can I Check my Cannabis for Mold of Mildew?

When you are searching for mold or mildew, you must be very careful as it can be hard to see. Using a magnifying glass and good lighting can help you take a closer look.  Notice how your cannabis looks when you first get it then take a good close look at cannabis. You will see small, white fuzzy spots that will have a powdery feel when you look closely. Mold also has a musty smell that some say reminds them of hay.

Cannabis doesn’t have to be old for it to produce mold and mildew. Improperly stored cannabis can develop mold and mildew, so it is advisable to do a mold inspection of your cannabis stash every now and then.  Mold spores can pretty much survive anything, so NO you cannot kill the spores with fire. Generally, if your cannabis starts smelling off or bad, it is a good time to throw it away. Never use cannabis that has mold.

Using cannabis with mold can be very dangerous to your health and well-being, especially for people with compromised or weak immune systems.

Conclusion

With the proper storage like an airtight glass container that is non-porous avoiding light, moisture, and heat you can extend your cannabis life and enjoy it for a long time. So take what you have learned here and apply it to your cannabis. At ATLRx we assure you that you are getting top-notch quality. On our website, you can find many of our different cannabis and hemp products. We carry many different strains of flowers of all different types. We also have a great selection of potent concentrates, oils, topicals, and edibles that will satisfy your desired destination. Check out our website and the products we carry! 

As a disclaimer, we want to state that this content is for informational purposes only. This has not been approved by the food and drug administration. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or ailment or to claim any health benefits. It should not be interpreted as instruction or medical advice to displace the advice of your doctor or other medical professionals. We recommend talking to your doctor to prepare a treatment plan for any diseases or ailments.