How Long Does Weed Stay Good for and How to Keep It Fresh

Suppose you have a stash of weed lying around the house and your busy schedule has held you back from smoking it. Now once you finally have time on your hands to relax and unwind, you find yourself asking ‘How long does weed stay good for?’

If you expect to learn that marijuana has magical properties and that the long-forgotten weed stash from your college days is as fresh as a daisy, then you are in for a disappointment. Weed is organic matter, and like all things natural, it has a shelf life after which it is no longer fit to consume.

The good news is that most marijuana varieties will last long enough for you to not worry about it going bad. Assuming that your baggie of the flower has been grown, harvested, dried, and cured using the appropriate methods, you can expect your weed to last anywhere from six months to one year.

You need to stay highly informed on how long weed stays good for and how to store it!

What happens to marijuana as it ages?

It is worth noting that different cannabis strains have different shelf lives. However, all marijuana flowers age according to the same scientific principle of biodegradation.

Marijuana is made from plant material, which means that it is an organic compound that breaks down and decomposes with time. As terpenes in weed break down, your bud starts to lose flavor, fragrance and potency.

If you smoke your bud months after you attained it, then you will notice a sharp difference in odor, the high that you experience, and the overall smoking experience.

As soon as your weed plant is harvested, there is a finite timer on its freshness and potency. The longer you wait before you smoke it, the less impactful the experience will be.

This happens because your weed plant is no longer attached to a network of roots, so there is no way for it to feed on new nutrients and replenish itself. Plus, the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathways have been disturbed, which means that CBD content and terpenes in your marijuana flower are actively transforming into other compounds which do not have the same mind-altering and psychoactive properties.

Why does weed go bad?

Are you wondering why weed goes bad in the first place?

Here’s why:

Temperature

Cannabis is relatively temperature-sensitive as certain temperatures can allow bacteria to flourish and attract mold, which is bad news for pot!

It is recommended that you store your cannabis at temperatures that do not exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures higher than this limit weaken the quality of your bud because cannabinoids begin to decarboxylate and break down to release carbon dioxide in the process.

At first THCA (the inactive compound found within the trichomes of living cannabis plants) begins to convert into THC. At higher temperatures, this process has a different stage where this compound degrades into CBN, which is a non-intoxicating compound that is the result of aging THC.

Humidity

Moisture content is another enemy that threatens the quality of your marijuana flower. If your weed is stored in a humid environment, then the air carrying water vapor is likely to reintroduce moisture to your weed stash.

This interaction is particularly dangerous because moisture content provides the ideal environment for fungal diseases such as a mold to take over your cannabis.

Meanwhile, too little moisture in the environment is not suitable for weed either. The lack of moisture will inhibit adequate air circulation and change the flavor and structure of your bud by causing it to become ammoniated and brittle.

Sunlight exposure

Most forms of light do not pose a threat to the quality of your marijuana flower. If you have a fluorescent bulb or grow lights in your storage room, then you need not worry much.

The problem arises with the fraction of the light spectrum that is sufficiently energized enough to knock electrons off atoms and cause ionization. UV rays from the sun belong to this radiation category that can accelerate the breakdown of THC content in your flower.

Note that extended exposure to UV radiation can cause the worst degradation to your weed. To avoid this rapid breakdown, you need to limit sunlight exposure.

How to store my weed and keep it fresh?

Now that you know what causes degradation of weed, you will have formulated some form of understanding for what to avoid when it comes to temperature, humidity, and sunlight exposure.

Next, let us look at how to store weed and keep it fresh!

Air-tight containers

Store your cannabis in air-tight containers or ceramic jars to avoid moisture from interacting with your bud. Doing so will also reduce oxygen exposure and minimize the chances of oxidation which can degrade your marijuana flower.

If you do not have such containers, then ensure that it is stored in a dry but well-ventilated space.

Temperature-controlled environment

You will want to keep the storage temperature to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Avoid storing your weed in a refrigerator or freezer because doing so will cause fluctuations in temperature, which can increase chances for mold and mildew.

Cold buds try to seek water from the air, which can cause them to lose flavor and weaken their potency.

Avoid plastic bags

Plastic containers threaten the quality of your buds because static can attract trichomes. Plus, plastic can get heated quicker than organic material and stick to your marijuana flowers.

You may use plastic bags and containers to temporarily store your weed, but do not leave it in there for weeks.

However, it goes without saying that the best way to store weed is to quickly consume it!