How to Store Your Stash

Proper storage is crucial for preserving the freshness, potency and flavor of your cannabis. Since cannabinoids and terpenes are sensitive to environmental conditions such as oxygen, heat, light, and humidity, it is essential to store it in an airtight container and keep it somewhere cool, dark, and dry. In this blog post, we will take a look at all the different factors that can affect the chemical composition of your cannabis, and provide some tips for optimal storage conditions.

It’s no secret that cannabis loses some of its potency as it ages. Over time, when exposed to oxygen, light and heat, Δ⁹-THCA (the acidic form of Δ⁹-THC present in dried, unheated cannabis flower) is degraded to CBN via chemical reactions known as decarboxylation and oxidation. 

Chemical reactions involved in cannabinoid and terpene degradation:

• Decarboxylation: Decarboxylation is a process that naturally occurs with the passage of time, but can be accelerated when exposed to heat (eg. when cannabis is smoked / vaped). During this process, acidic cannabinoids (eg. Δ⁹-THCA) are converted to their biologically active counterparts (eg. Δ⁹-THC, the main psychoactive compound found in cannabis).
• Oxidation: When cannabis is exposed to oxygen in the air, cannabinoids such as Δ⁹-THCA and Δ⁹-THC undergo oxidative degradation to CBNA and CBN, respectively. Exposure to light, humidity, and certain microorganisms can accelerate oxidation.
• Photodegradation: Exposure to light, especially UV light, can break down cannabinoids and terpenes and cause reductions in potency, flavor and aroma. 
• Evaporation: Due to their volatile nature, cannabis terpenes are extremely susceptible to evaporation. Exposure to high temperatures and oxygen (eg. poorly sealed containers) can accelerate evaporation.
• Isomerization: When exposed to light and heat, cannabinoids such as Δ⁹-THC can undergo structural rearrangements to form isomers (eg. Δ⁸-THC and Δ¹⁰-THC), which have different physiological effects. 

To minimize cannabinoid and terpene degradation:

• Store your cannabis in airtight glass containers to minimize oxygen exposure.
• Ensure that your containers are appropriately sized for the amount of cannabis you want to store. If the jars are too big, it can increase the risk of oxidative degradation & evaporation.
• Store your containers in a cool, dark and dry place (eg. inside a cupboard or drawer), away from direct sunlight and heat. 
• Use humidity packs (eg. Boveda) to maintain moisture levels around 55-62%.

• Wash your hands before handling the flower, to minimize the risk of microbial contamination.
• Don’t pre-grind your cannabis in advance, as it can lead to oxidation and evaporation of cannabinoids and terpenes.

Unfortunately, even under ideal storage conditions, your cannabis flower will lose around 16.6% of its original THC content within the first year post harvest. As can be seen in Figure I below, the percentage loss in THC is proportional to storage time, and after a period of four years, ± 40% of the THC content will be lost (Ross 1999). Since THC naturally degrades to CBN over time, the ratio between CBN:THC can be used to estimate the age of any given cannabis sample (Figure II). As a general rule, the higher the amount of CBN, the older the cannabis. Since CBN is reported to help with sleep (Bonn-Miller 2023), it is probably best to keep your older stash for night time use. 

By learning how to store weed correctly, you can ensure that your bud stays fresh, flavorful, and potent for as long as possible. Just like it’s essential to reseal food to prevent it from going stale, proper cannabis storage is key to maintaining its potency and quality.