Things have come a long way from the days of having to keep a bud in a plastic film container. While this is the case, some patients still wonder what they should do to store their medical marijuana flower. Because both veteran users, and MMJ patients can benefit from some tips on the proper storage of weed, the information here may provide useful. By implementing these tips, you can preserve the aroma, flavor, and potency of your bud.
What’s so Important About Proper Weed Storage?
Cannabis, just like any other type of herb, needs to be stored appropriately to make sure it stays fresh. This process begins before a marijuana flower is even purchased and soon after a crop has been harvested. This is when the cultivators start the curing process and when the plant is dried out to remove the moisture. The curing process ensures the small, crystal-like trichome in the buds and leaves of the plants are preserved. These are what produce the terpenes, flavonoids and many cannabinoids that create the amazing flavor and the potency of your very favorite MMJ strains.
To make sure the flower remains fresh as time passes, proper storage it is a must. Even though there is no technical expiration date on the bud, because it is a dried herb it may lose some of its effectiveness or pungency as time passes, similar to the oregano jar in your pantry. If the marijuana is handled and then stored properly, the cannabis will remain potent and fresh for several years after it is purchased from the dispensary. However, you won’t have it around that long, in most cases. While this is true, it’s still vital to use smart storage solutions while you have it.
Separate the Strains
Every marijuana strain has a specific flavor profile and provides a unique type of therapeutic effect. To make sure the individual characteristics of the strain are preserved, it’s necessary to store each strain in its own individual container, away from any others.
Avoid Manhandling the Bud
Keep in mind the trichomes mentioned above are pretty sensitive. This means that if they are handled roughly, this can cause them to dislodge and reduce the weed’s potency. It’s a good idea to use a cannabis grinder to break the bud up into smaller pieces before wrapping it in rolling papers or before putting it in a pipe. Unlike breaking the plant in your hands, the grinder will make sure the kief (another way to describe the trichomes) is preserved and that they don’t go to waste.
Avoid Using Plastic Bags
While a plastic bag is fine to use for a short period of time, they aren’t a friend to your fresh marijuana flower. To begin with, there is the risk that you may crush your buds. This is something you want to avoid. After all, this would wind up crushing the trichomes and affecting the bud’s potency. Baggies can’t hold odor either, which means discretion isn’t possible.
By using the tips here, you can ensure that your weed remains fresh for as long as possible.
