Summer is almost here, which means plenty of opportunities to while away hours at the park, work on a tan at the beach, and enjoy the occasional joint while you’re at it.
However, the summer months can be hard on a cannabis stash. If you aren’t careful, the heat, humidity (or lack thereof), and intense UV rays can degrade the lovely cannabinoids and terpenes in your weed. Essentially, you want your stash to resemble summer’s blossoming flowers – not the dead leaves on the ground.
In this article, learn how to store your stash in the hot summer months for flavorful, potent cannabis.
Keep Your Stash Clear of Direct Sunlight
Several studies have tracked the degradative effects of UV rays on cannabis. And they all tell the same story: direct sunlight severely affects weed’s potency.
To counter these effects, you have a few options. One is to store your stash in a reliably dark part of the home, like a closet, cabinet or drawer. Another is to invest in a fully opaque storage jar, which you can find at most cannabis supply shops. Lastly, you can buy a UV-resistant cannabis storage bag online.
Employ a 2-Way Humidity Control Pack
Next, control the humidity. Depending on your locale, summers might either be overly humid or overly arid. In the former’s case, high humidity can foster mold production, rendering your stash un-smokeable. In the latter case, low-RH (relative humidity) environments dry out your cannabis, sacrificing those beneficial terpenes in the process.
Luckily, it’s a fast fix. You can keep your weed fresh with Boveda 2-way humidity control packs that dial in the RH to a precise, ideal percentage between 58% and 62%. Just pop the pack in your container and replace it periodically.
Find a Cool Part of the Home for Your Airtight Container
Heat and air also have adverse effects on cannabis potency, as evidenced by this (incredibly technical) Frontiers in Chemistry study. Both fresh air and heat act fast on cannabinoids, degrading THC and CBD by upwards of 50% over a short period.
Here, you have two takeaways: find a tightly sealed, airtight container; and keep it in a cool part of your home. Ideally, keep your stash in an environment between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum potency retention (attics and basements work particularly well).
No, the Refrigerator Is Not an Effective Storage Container
Lastly, a note about what not to do: Do not store your cannabis in the fridge. It might sound intuitive enough – cool it off in the hot weather – but refrigerators are non-ideal atmospheres for cannabis.
Not only are they too humid and cold to begin with, but refrigerators also experience swinging fluctuations in temperature and humidity whenever you open the door. As such, pretty much all experts recommend against using it for cannabis storage.
Following these steps should help your delicate stash withstand the summer weather. If you’re hosting friends or family this summer, that’s another story; consider investing in smell-proof containers for discreet storage.
