Before you buy your premium flower, it’s important to know how to store it right to get the most out of that expensive bud. The same rules for that top-shelf mairjuana apply to more budget friendly options too, like shake and popcorn. Storing your marijuana flower can make all the difference in both the longevity of your cannabis and its potency.

In this guide, we’re going to teach you all about how to preserve and store your marijuana flower, answering questions that include:

• Why Do You Need to Store Marijuana Flower Properly?
• What Affects The Freshness Of Cannabis Flower?
• What Are The Best Containers For Cannabis Storage?
• Where Should Cannabis Flower Be Stored?
• What Are The Dos For Storing Cannabis?
• What Are The Don’ts For Storing Cannabis?
• How Do You Know If Marijuana Has Gone Bad?
• Answering Flower Storage FAQs
  
  

Before it gets to you, your marijuana flower undergoes a variety of processes - drying, curing, etc. - that makes it the high-quality product you expect. To preserve that quality, you need to store your cannabis correctly at home. Things like heat and light can both degrade your cannabis, drying it out and reducing the potency of the flower as the THC is converted to a much less potent CBN.

The preservation of your marijuana by storing it properly is about more than just the quality, though. When your marijuana is stored in a container that’s exposed to heat or light, it can change the humidity within the container as the tiny bit of moisture left in the dried and cured bud evaporates. This process can easily grow mold and turn your cannabis into a safety hazard.

Prefer edibles? Learn how to store edibles too in our guide.

There are four environmental factors that can affect the freshness of cannabis flower:

• Air
• Heat
• Light
• Humidity

Heat and light can dry out your cannabis and reduce the potency of your marijuana as THC turns into a much less potent CBN. Air and humidity can affect your cannabis in two ways—too moist and your marijuana will grow mold, and too dry and your marijuana will lose its flavor and potency. All of which will ultimately reduce your overall enjoyment.

The good news about storing cannabis properly is that it’s easy. You may even have the container you need in your house already: a sealable glass jar, like a mason jar. Sealable glass jars prevent the flavor of your marijuana from changing (like with a metal container) and keep the trichome-destroying static away from your flower (which plastic containers simply don’t). While you can get fancy and purchase UV-proof glass containers, you can also tuck your marijuana flower into a store-bought jar and seal it. 

When choosing a jar, the key is to pick one that matches the amount of marijuana flower you have. You don’t want a giant, wide-mouthed jar with only a small amount of cannabis sitting in the bottom. This is because the oxygen in the jar will naturally degrade that cannabis. Some cannabis enthusiasts even opt to have a couple different sizes of jars, so as they consume their marijuana, they can move their bud to a new, more snugly fit jar.

When looking for a good place in your house to keep marijuana fresh, there are a couple factors to consider. First, your priority should always be keeping your marijuana away from where a child or pet could get ahold of it. Your second priority should be to look for a place in your house that’s cool (room temperature or a pinch cooler), dry (don’t store it in your bathroom), and away from heat and light (keep it off the windowsills and counters). Most cannabis enthusiasts opt for a high shelf in a cabinet or closet.

If you’re looking to store your cannabis for the long-term, the same rules apply, but instead of using a jar, you can try vacuum sealing your bud. Just don’t pop it into your freezer or refrigerator after it’s sealed—both can introduce extra moisture. Instead, put your sealed flower in a cool, dry, dark spot.

When it comes to storing cannabis, there are four must-dos to ensure you preserve your marijuana as long as possible:

• Invest in good storage like a sealable glass jar.
• Opt for a paper bag in a pinch if you don’t have a jar handy.
• Vacuum seal your marijuana if you’re looking to keep it fresher longer.
• Always store it in a cool, dry, dark spot in your house.

Of course, there are also things you shouldn’t do…

You know you need to avoid heat, light, and humidity, but what else? Here are the don’ts for storing cannabis:

• Don’t store your cannabis in the fridge or freezer.
• Don’t use plastic anything—containers or bags.
• Don’t store your cannabis where it can be reached by kids or pets.

As long as you avoid these three things, you’re already doing a great job of keeping your marijuana safe and fresh. 

Did you know you can freeze some concentrates? Learn more in our guide “Best Way to Store Concentrates.”  

No matter how well you store it, marijuana can and will go bad—like any other natural product. Fortunately, there are ways to tell if your cannabis is past its prime:

1. Smell it: Even particularly skunky strains have a fresh smell to them. If you give your cannabis a sniff and notice it smells a little musty or doesn’t have a scent at all, you should probably toss it. 
   
   
2. Touch it: Your marijuana flower needs to be in a sweet spot of not too moist and not too dry. If you grab your marijuana and it feels squishy or even wet, throw it away. It’s not even worth trying and risking consuming mold. If you hold your marijuana, and it’s disintegrating in your hand, pitch it. It’s too dry, and you’re not going to enjoy any part of consuming it.
   
   
3. Look at it: Sometimes, you can tell by looking at your marijuana that it’s gone bad. The bud may lose some of its luster and color when it’s too old. You may notice a paler color on the bud than when you first purchased it, and it doesn’t look like trichomes. Likely, it’s mold, and you don’t want that in your lungs. If you see either of these things, the alarm bells should be going off, and you should ditch your marijuana. 
   
   

Both cannabis newbies and seasoned cannaconnoisseurs have questions about storing flower. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions and their answers:

What is the best temperature to store your cannabis?
The best temperature to store your cannabis is around 70°F/21°C. If you’re worried your storage spot isn’t the right temperature, just purchase a cheap thermometer and toss it on your shelf. Let it sit for a couple hours, and you’ll be able to tell if that spot you picked out is suitable for your best bud.

How long does marijuana stay good?
If you store your marijuana properly, in pristine conditions, it can last anywhere from six months to a full year. After that, its THC levels start dropping—16% in one year, 26% in two, 34% in three, and 41% in four, and so on.

If you have questions about storing marijuana flower, or you want to purchase high-quality marijuana flower for yourself, visit one of your local dispensaries. You can talk to cannabis experts who can help you find the perfect product for you.