Whether your state has a medical marijuana program, legal adult-use weed, or both, cannabis packaging has come a long way in recent years. These days, marijuana products are likely to have a harvest date on them, but very rarely does flower come with an expiration date. So even with packaging improvements, you're probably still left with the age-old questions: how long does weed last and how can you keep weed fresh?

In this article, we'll review why it's important to store your weed properly, how to keep your weed fresh, and how long weed lasts in ideal conditions.

weed storage Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps

Why proper cannabis storage is so important

Moisture is the biggest threat to the shelf life of cannabis. Overly moist cannabis can also have serious health consequences, namely by encouraging the growth of mold and mildew. These risks are so serious that the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), which develops technical standards across many industries, published the “Standard Specification for Maintaining Acceptable Water Activity (aw) Range (0.55 to 0.65) for Dry Cannabis Flower” in May 2018.

The ATSM defines water activity as “the (quantitative) capability of the cannabis flower in a sealed container to affect the humidity of the container's headspace air.” Headspace is the air that surrounds the flower. Water activity measures vapor pressure against pure water. If water activity is 0.55, it is 55% water.

A relative humidity level anywhere above 65% can significantly increase the likelihood that your weed will end up growing mold. According to the American Herbal Products Association, the drying process will dehydrate cannabis until it has a moisture content of less than 15%, and the curing process is where the remaining moisture is slowly removed to retain the volatile oils.

So, too much moisture is bad, but lose too much and it can change the integrity of your flower. For example, your flower could become brittle and lose essential terpenes that affect potency and taste.

Luckily, the process of striking the perfect balance starts way before you buy weed. While no two cultivators dry their flowers in the same way, all cultivators dry their flowers and then put them through a process called curing.

When cannabis is properly cured, it allows the moisture that is trapped inside the bud to slowly dissipate from the flower without damaging the cannabinoids and terpenes. Once the flower has the perfect moisture content (typically between 6% and 9%), it is placed into packaging from which excess oxygen has been removed. When you take it home, it's important to try to maintain that balance.

Proper storage involves keeping the water activity of your cannabis within a range of 0.55 and 0.65. Water activity increases with temperature, which is why light and temperature control go hand-in-hand as best practices for keeping buds fresh. 

Bottom line: Make sure your weed doesn't get too moist and succumb to mold.

The best temperature to store your cannabis

The ideal temperature to store your weed is right around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). Why? High temperatures combined with high relative humidity can lead to mold and mildew — the nemeses of safe and healthy cannabis. 

High temperatures can also dry out your flower and evaporate sensitive terpenes, but this should only concern you if you plan on using a flower vape with precise temperature control. After all, lighting up a joint with a flame is going to destroy most of them anyway.

Bottom line: Store your weed in a cool place such as a closet or pantry. 

devils lettuce Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
Devil's lettuce might be happy in extreme heat, but store-bought cannabis is happier in milder temperatures. 

How light and oxygen affect cured cannabis

Exposing your weed to light is the fastest way to age it. This has been known since at least 1976 when a study published in the journal Pharmacy and Pharmacology explored what happens to the stability of cannabis under various conditions. It concluded that light is the single largest contributor to loss and deterioration of cannabinoids and suggested that “carefully prepared herbal or resin cannabis or extracts are reasonably stable for 1 to 2 years if stored in the dark at room temperature.”

Ultraviolet (UV) light degrades weed. So, even though glass Mason jars may look appealing, they won't protect your purchase the way an opaque container will. If you really like to look at your marijuana, a brown container will filter out visible UV rays. Fun fact: that's why brewers use them to bottle beer. Green containers will also block out roughly 30 percent of UV rays.

Prolonged exposure to light and air will gradually convert THCA into THC and THC into CBN, a cannabinoid that does not create the intoxicating properties that THC delivers. In addition to playing a role in the conversion of cannabinoids, oxygen can also oxidize essential terpenes and give flower a grassy, haylike smell.

Bottom line: To reduce exposure to air, make sure to always store your weed in an air-tight container. Don't use very large containers to store small quantities of weed, as this leaves too much air inside the container with your herb. It's inevitable that some amount of oxygen will get into your sealed package once it is open, but you can keep the number of times you open your jars to a minimum.

weed container sunlight Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
Save your canning jars for canning since UV rays love to degrade your weed. 

The best way to store weed

Once you understand all of the factors explained above, how to keep weed fresh and store weed properly becomes much more intuitive. Among the worst ways to store your bud are on a tray exposed to oxygen and light, in a plastic sandwich bag, or in a clear glass jar or similar large glass container.

Cultivators go to great lengths to ensure your flower is packaged with optimal moisture content, usually in opaque packaging to keep light out. Some companies have even started replacing the oxygen in their packaged flowers with nitrogen to help maintain freshness. So you might be wondering why some dispensaries still feature clear containers. The short answer is old habits die hard. The practice of seeing and smelling the product on the shelf is still a key component for many people when it comes to deciding what to purchase. 

For those who don't care as much about seeing and smelling the product before buying it, it's wise to buy smaller amounts of pre-packaged cannabis.

Bottom line: Store cannabis in a cool, dark place in an air-tight container with as little air in the container as possible.

cannabis and joint container Photo by: Gina Coleman/Weedmaps
This is a prime example of how you should not store weed.

Extending the shelf life of weed

When stored properly, weed can maintain freshness for up to 2 years. But even if you don't intend on preserving your cannabis for that long, knowing how to store weed properly will help you get the most out of your cannabis experience. Ultimately, the key to extending marijuana shelf life is all about limiting exposure to the elements. When it's time to open your container, pull out your flower and immediately close your package. Don't let it sit open, and avoid windy or highly ventilated areas.

To maintain the right level of moisture, use a salt-based control sachet — also known as humidity packs — to maintain the ideal relative humidity levels. 

Additionally, you can store your marijuana in a cannabis humidor box, which has been designed to maintain the humidity for marijuana. There are currently several models available on the market.

Whatever you do, be sure you don't use a cigar or tobacco humidor to store your weed. Cigar humidors are typically lined with cedarwood. The oils in the wood help enhance the taste of cigars, but those same oils tend to harm cannabis. Similarly, humidors for cigars often use sponges or propylene glycol to create humidity levels that are ideal for tobacco but much too high for cannabis.

In the past, to remedy dry weed, people would add an orange peel to their bags to keep the moisture content, but this greatly increases the likelihood that mold would be introduced. In addition, the water activity of orange peels is unknown and the aroma of the peel could alter the flavor and aroma of your marijuana.

Bottom line: Use the same humidity packs, such as Boveda packs, to reintroduce moisture if it is too dehydrated. This will not reintroduce terpenes that were lost, but it will ensure that you don't have a harsh smoking experience.

To keep your weed in tip-top shape as long as possible, take careful steps to avoid exposure to light, moisture, oxygen, and extreme temperatures.

Bottom line

Like almost everything else, the precious trichomes on your marijuana buds aren't going to last forever. Over time, changes to the molecular structure occur with exposure to heat, light, and moisture.

When cannabinoids and terpenes experience extreme temperatures, too much moisture, too much air, or too many UV rays, chemical changes occur and degrade the potency of the flower. These factors can also affect the taste and mouthfeel. To keep your weed in tip-top shape as long as possible, keep an eye on the harvest date on the packaging and take careful steps to avoid exposure to the elements listed above.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best smell-proof container for weed?

The simplest way to keep your stash smell-proof is to make sure it's stored in a solid air-tight container with a sealable top. Some cannabis consumers also use large medicine bottles to keep their stash from stinking up their living space. Online retailers also offer a variety of odor-proof containers designed specifically for weed storage. 

Is refrigerating or freezing weed bad?

Refrigerating or freezing weed is definitely preferable to storing it in an area that's too hot or humid. And though some cannabis consumers report successful long-term weed storage through freezing, it's more than possible to lose freshness and potency to icy temperatures, as trichomes may become brittle and break off more easily. Storing your stash in an opaque, sealed container in a relatively cool, dark place with minimal sunlight is your best bet for long-term storage with minimal degradation. 

Can you store weed in plastic bags?

It's not recommended, but you can with a few extra precautions. If you must store your weed in sealed bags, remove as much air as possible before sealing. Vacuum-sealing weed can also be a relatively reliable, long-term storage solution for a large stash. 

If you go this route, be sure you follow these tips to avoid inadvertently damaging your weed:

  • Avoid vacuum-sealing your marijuana in plastic that contains bisphenol A (BPA). This chemical is a key ingredient in many types of plastic, but it has proven to be harmful to humans. And unfortunately, if you store your weed in plastic containing BPA, some of those dangerous chemicals could leach into your marijuana.
  • Handle your weed delicately. Plastic easily builds up static charges that can pull precious trichomes off your buds. Trichomes are the cannabinoid- and terpene-rich hairlike glands all over cannabis flowers, so you'll want to avoid damaging them.

If you plan on storing your vacuum-sealed weed in the freezer, know that freezing will also make your trichomes vulnerable to damage, as they will become brittle. 

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The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. This page was last updated on October 14, 2021.