When it comes to buying cannabis, nobody likes getting shorted on weight. Unfortunately, it’s a growing trend. Is it carelessness? Or is some other factor affecting flower before it even reaches the consumer?
IT TURNS OUT THAT FLOWER LOSES ITS WEIGHT AT AN ALARMING RATE BECAUSE OF OVERALL MOISTURE LOSS
Moisture loss can occur along any part of the supply chain—from cultivator and processor to distributor and retailer. Once you find the root cause, you can correct the problem. After all, every gram lost in transit is equal to money that your business is losing.
Boveda is a leader in the cannabis space and is as dedicated to preserving flower quality as you are. That’s why for the last few years, we have been studying water activity in buds.
We took our talents (and our patented 2-way humidity control) to Colorado and Nevada’s maturing herbal markets. Through testing, we tracked the weight of several different batches of flower–from harvest to retail.
What Boveda has learned about moisture loss is vital information for cannabis professionals. Just check out last year’s crucial findings to see what we mean:
- 67% of flower (prepackaged) sold in Colorado was underweight
- 75% of flower at a single chain was underweight
- The average container was light by 22%
- The worst offender was light by 40%
PRESERVING PROFIT IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
Water activity is a factor at every level of cannabis production and sale. Without proper humidity control, water in the buds naturally evaporates over time. At a fairly constant rate, growers, processors, manufacturers, distributors and retailers are losing profit into thin air.
Losing valuable flower weight is a huge and mostly unnoticed loss in the cannabis industry. From the date of packaging, many manufacturers place a one-year shelf life on their product. Because of evaporation, many cannabis enthusiasts aren’t getting the flower weight they paid for.
Cultivators and retailers try many different strategies to build customer loyalty–from touting organic growing techniques to creating exclusive branded cultivars for a customized high. However, the ultimate tactical approach is to control the water activity in product. Keeping flower fresh preserves its potency, which benefits both cannabis patients and rec consumers–while leading to happy, repeat customers.
If you’re a dispensary owner looking to raise profits without adding more work, you can start by adding humidity control to your jars and prepackaged flower. With a precise humidity control system, like a Boveda, you can easily give your buyers more for their money and keep your margins high for the long term. It’s a win-win.
GROWING QUALITY CANNABIS THEN KEEPING IT THAT WAY
The cannabis industry is facing a massive push for quality improvement. As the product makes the transition from the streets to industrial status, the cultivation techniques are evolving to become more high-tech and efficient, producing the maximum amount of flower in shorter amounts of time.
Unfortunately, over the years, many cannabis buyers have grown used to consuming substandard product due to the popularity of mass-produced flowers.
When consumers are used to poor quality, it’s much harder for craft growers to price their flower at a premium. Dispensary customers, accustomed to dried-out buds, often can’t distinguish a quality strain from one that has lost its basic contents since harvesting. We can do better.
Let’s strive to:
- Improve product quality across the board
- Educate cannabis consumers about properly storing flower
- Standardize humidity control for curing and merchandising cannabis
Worldwide, policies are changing and markets are growing. As consumers begin to identify high-quality flower, they’ll want more, which in turn will push industry standards even higher.
CONTROLLING MOISTURE IN CANNABIS FROM CURE TO SALE TO USE
Heavier nugs are always better for the bottom line—and the consumer.
- Growers can sell bulk harvest for much more–a must in today’s heavily taxed environment.
- Retailers can price more advantageously since properly moist flower holds its weight much longer than dried out bud.
- Customers can get what they pay for–accurately weighed flower with enhanced flavors, aromas and psychoactive effects.
Boveda offers wholesale pricing for cannabis professionals. Boveda is formulated in 58% RH and 62% RH levels for cannabis. Our patented 2-way humidity control uses natural salts and pure water to add and absorb moisture. Cure, store and package with Boveda to see the difference for yourself. Higher quality, better preserved flower is possible with Boveda.
We’ve learned so much already, but we won’t stop there.
Boveda is rolling out its water activity research into a longitudinal study, which will continue over several years and expand to additional legal cannabis markets.
We will make our data accessible to cannabis growers, medical cannabis providers, retailers and anyone else interested in promoting the highest quality flower.
– Roni Stetter
Roni Stetter is a professional in the cannabis industry who has been touched personally by the plant. She has used it as part of a healthy pain management routine since 2010, and since that day has worked hard to educate the world about the positive physical, mental and societal effects of legalized cannabis.
