When you store cannabis in a cool, dry place, there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy its freshness for at least a year, if not longer. However, improper storage practices and keeping your weed for too long before smoking it might have you questioning whether it’s gone bad.
Not only can time and poor storage lead to reduced flavor and strength, but cannabis can even develop mold, which might be harmful to your health. The more you know about identifying old cannabis, the more proactive you might be in choosing high-quality cannabis from reputable suppliers, paying attention to what you buy, and storing it somewhere suitable.
Performing the Eye Test
Understanding what fresh cannabis looks like might help you while shopping at the best cannabis store in your area. You can also visit this site for a list of dispensaries in Scarborough. When you can tell the difference between new and old weed, you might stand a better chance of purchasing some that provides a memorable smoking experience for all the right reasons.
Generally, fresh cannabis has a vibrant green color and, sometimes, even hints of purple. The fine hairs are often orange in color and might appear a little washed out in some varieties. A tell-tale sign that your weed has gone bad is when the vibrant green coloring turns to yellow or brown. If you’ve noticed that your weed has taken on that dull, dry appearance, it might be time to throw it away and purchase a fresh supply.
Tasting and Smelling It
You might not always be able to tell whether cannabis is fresh by looking at it. Fortunately, you can rely on your other senses like taste and smell. Terpenes and flavonoids in cannabis give it its intense fragrance and flavor during the curing process, and these are at their strongest when the cannabis is fresh.
However, time isn’t kind to cannabis, regardless of the quality. If you notice that it has no smell or little to no taste, your weed is likely off or old. At this point, it might not even provide you with the high you were seeking.
Performing the Feel Test
While you likely won’t be able to feel the cannabis offerings at your local dispensary, you can perform the feel test on your own supply. The goal of pressing your fingers into the bud is to determine if it has any moisture.
Fresh cannabis buds tend to be quite spongy and are unlikely to be dry. However, with age and improper storage, they can become brittle. By pressing your fingers into them, you might even notice that buds crumble off the stems and leave behind a mess.
Looking for Mold
Just as you might look for mold on any food you’re unsure about, you can do the same with weed to ensure its freshness. Fortunately, mold is easy to spot, so you may not have any issues identifying it.
It might appear like powdery mildew, a light fuzz, or irregular dark spots that don’t look like they should be there. If you suspect mold but don’t see any, perform the smell test. The smell of sourness or aridity might indicate that your weed is far from fresh.
As inhaling mold might not be a comfortable or pleasant experience, with some people experiencing nausea and diarrhea, throwing away your old cannabis and purchasing fresh buds might be a wise decision.
Factors Affecting Your Cannabis Quality
Many people purchase their cannabis and cannabis products from reputable suppliers to ensure their quality and be confident in their origins. However, once you’ve purchased your weed and taken it home, many factors can contribute to whether or not you have a pleasant smoking experience in the days ahead.
Temperature
You may not think that your home’s temperature matters a great deal regarding cannabis quality, but it can. Mold can thrive in temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and even higher temperatures may cause your cannabis to dry out.
However, if your home is too cold, you might find that the THC in your cannabis degrades to CBN, potentially resulting in different effects than what you wanted. Aim for a storage temperature of between 60 and 68 degrees to keep your marijuana in excellent condition for longer.
Light
You may have noticed that many cannabis products are sold in dark packaging. This might have something to do with studies showing that light is the primary factor in cannabinoid degradation. The more light your cannabis is exposed to, the faster it might degrade.
Keep your buds out of direct sunlight and consider storing them in a dark container that protects them from UV rays. Storage in a cupboard or drawer away from heat and light might also help your cannabis stay fresher for longer.
Oxygen
Oxygen is good and bad for cannabis. Airflow during the cultivation process might increase yield and prevent mold. However, after cultivation, it might speed up the degradation process.
Storage in an air-tight jar that you infrequently open to let in a small amount of air might help your marijuana remain in excellent condition for longer.
Humidity
Humidity can lead to mold growth, which is why controlling humidity around your cannabis stock can be important. A humidity level of between 59% and 64% is often ideal for retaining the smell, taste, strength, and color of dried flower. Beyond 65%, your cannabis might be at risk of mold growth.
Storage Materials
You might assume that any dark container will be suitable for the safe and secure storage of your cannabis. However, some materials are better than others.
Glass has no negative impact on cannabis, making it one of the best options to keep your cannabis from going bad. In contrast, plastic can attract trichomes due to its status charge. Most reputable cannabis suppliers sell storage containers as well as high-quality marijuana so that you don’t have to shop at more than one location to get what you need.
You might not immediately know how to differentiate between fresh and old cannabis. However, with some of this information above, you might be able to purchase fresh buds with more confidence and keep them fresher for longer in your own home.
