The basics of keeping weed fresh

If you want to get your money’s worth, proper cannabis storage is key. Some people seem to forget that weed is a perishable product. It has to be kept safe, clean and dry when you’re not using it, or it will spoil. And sure, you could just use the bag or jar it came in…but why miss this opportunity to show off your personal aesthetic?

What do you use to store cannabis?

An airtight jar is always a great starting point. It can be brand new or recycled, as long as the inside is clean and dry. Any non-porous material is fine (plastic, metal, glass) but a lid is key.

By using a jar to contain your weed, you’re keeping it a) contained in one place, so all the bits that fall off don’t get everywhere, and b) safe from the elements. The jar keeps out water and air that can degrade your flower.

You can buy specially-made “stash jars” almost anywhere weed is sold, but a good old mason jar is fine. Don’t try and cram too much in – you’ll just end up breaking up big fat nugs before their time. Your flower should have enough room in the jar to rest comfortably without crushing other nugs.

What environment should weed be kept in?

Weed needs to be in a cool, dark storage area to stay fresh. Look for places where it won’t get wet or dried out.

Keep your weed in temperatures above freezing, but below 77 degrees F. Mold grows between 77 and 86 degrees F. If you freeze weed, the trichomes, or kief, are easier to knock off the flower. That can be useful if you’re trying to collect kief, but lowers the potency of the flower overall.

Leaving your jar out in the sun can inadvertently heat up all your flower, so store away from sunlight. You should only be applying heat to your flower if you’re getting ready to smoke it or cook it.

What to do with wet weed?

So, your weed got wet. Like, absolutely soaked. It happens to the best of us. Thankfully, it’s not the end of the world.

First resort: pat dry with paper towels to get as much moisture out as you can. If your weed is still in nugget form, place the nugs overnight in uncooked rice, just like you would to a smart phone with water damage. If your ground flower got wet, try laying it out near a dehumidifier or an open, well-ventilated area until dry.

Final piece of advice: get a rolling tray to catch all your shake. There’s no use in crying over spilled weed, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.