Keeping weed fresh is important to all consumers, but it’s especially crucial for medical patients. Preserving medical cannabis helps ensure patients have a consistent experience, offering the full spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, and other active ingredients every time. But what does it mean to preserve your medical marijuana?
If medical cannabis products are not properly stored, a number of things can go wrong. One of the most serious problems happens when conditions are too humid, resulting in mold growth. If flower becomes too dry, it may lead to staleness, loss of terpenes, and lowered potency (not to mention a harsh and unpleasant smoking experience). All of these risks are concerning, particularly for immunocompromised patients that rely on their medical cannabis to soothe their symptoms.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep weed fresh, make sure it’s safe, and protect the flavor, aroma, and effects. It all comes down to using the right storage solutions, and keeping it stored with a terpene shield.
Boveda creates a literal protective shield around cannabis flower with its all-natural saturated salt solution. Water molecules surround the milky crystals, locking active compounds like terpenes in place until it’s time for the flower to be consumed.
5 Common Questions About Preserving Medical Cannabis with Nikki Lawley
While that may seem easy enough, there are still lots of questions about preserving medical cannabis. We sifted through some of the queries and answered the top ones here—read on to see what we found out (and check out the video above where we chatted with medical patient and advocate Nikki Lawley of Nikki and the Plant!).
How do I keep my medical marijuana from drying out?
The best way to prevent weed from overdrying is proper storage along with a terpene shield. But what exactly does that look like?
Glass jars are a go-to for many for storing their weed, and that works as long as the jar is airtight. Cannabis flower degrades when exposed to UV rays, so opaque containers like the Boveda CVault (found here) are ideal, but mason jars are also good options. Always store your cannabis in a cool, dark place.
Prior to sealing the container, place a terpene shield inside—they’re available in sizes to suit any size stash. You can protect anywhere from an 8th all the way up to five pounds. For more on which size to choose, click here.
Should I refrigerate my medical marijuana?
Storing weed in the refrigerator is not a good idea. Sure it’s true that you want to keep it in a cool, dark place, but the fridge is not the spot.
Boveda is capable of keeping your weed fresh, so putting the stash in the refrigerator or freezer is unnecessary. Instead, place the container in a cupboard or other safe space away from the sun.
How does the storage of my medical cannabis affect its quality and effectiveness?
Medical cannabis patients need a consistent experience, consuming to help ease a wide variety of ailments. For many, it’s the difference between suffering and thriving.
Without proper storage and protection with Boveda, medical marijuana is at risk of trichome damage and terpene evaporation. In other words, it can dry out and lose its effects, causing a huge issue for medical patients.
Imagine if one of the main ingredients from aspirin were left out. It wouldn’t work. The same concept applies when terpenes disappear or trichomes fall off. Medical marijuana just isn’t the same without these crucial compounds.
What is the best humidity for storing medical marijuana?
ASTM International, a trusted standards resource that makes recommendations for a wide variety of industries, is the authority on safe cannabis storage. Their experts recommend keeping relative humidity between 55% and 65% in order to prevent mold and mildew as well as overdrying.
The best way to achieve this humidity sweet spot? A Boveda terpene shield, of course! They’re available in two relative humidity (RH) options: 58% and 62%. Both will bring the cannabis to the right humidity level in a quick and precise manner. Just drop one in your medical cannabis container and forget about it until it becomes crunchy or hard. It’s the most convenient way to keep your weed fresh.
Will my medical marijuana expire? Will my Boveda expire?
Medical marijuana is usually given a shelf life of one year. Weed technically does not “go bad” unless it develops mold—but that won’t happen if you keep it at the right relative humidity in the right container.
What’s more common with long-term storage of cannabis is oxidation. When exposed to air and light for long periods of time, the THC in cannabis flower converts to another cannabinoid called CBN. This cannabinoid is similar to THC since it’s a direct descendent, but is nowhere near as potent.
Using proper storage along with Boveda is the best way to extend the shelf-life of medical marijuana to keep it within that crucial 55% and 65% RH range that experts recommend. A Boveda pack in your container keeps cannabis as fresh as the day it was packaged, even if that was ages ago!
A Boveda pack does not last forever, so it’s important to check them every so often. Simply touch the packet—if it’s still squishy, it’s good to go. When the pack becomes stiff and crunchy, it’s time to replace it with a fresh one. And with our convenient Subscribe & Save option, you’ll always have a new pack, ready to go. Click here for more details.
Have additional questions about preserving medical cannabis with Boveda? Check out these Boveda FAQs for more information!
