To maintain your cannabis’ potency, flavor, and quality for as long as possible, you must avoid mold while storing it. If you don’t take measures to prevent elements such as heat, air, and moisture from coming into contact with your cannabis when you store it away then the quality will quickly degrade. Cannabis that has already grown mold is even worse.
When your cannabis grows mold, it ruins the quality of weed and can even make you sick if inhaled. Make sure to take the right steps in order to prevent this from happening by reading this guide on how to store cannabis both short-term and long-term without encountering mold growth.
What Does Mold Do To Cannabis?
If you want to keep your cannabis safe to use, it’s important that you avoid mold growth. If your weed is stored improperly or exposed to excessive moisture, it can start to grow mold and mildew. Not only will the quality of your weed degrade, but it will also be unsafe for consumption.
When your cannabis is contaminated with mold, it’ll rapidly lose its potency. The cannabinoids and terpenes will be destroyed, leaving you bleak weed that smells terrible. However, what’s even worse is that consuming this weed can make you sick.
There are two types of mold that commonly grow on cannabis plants. Botrytis cinerea is a grayish-white mold that can rot your buds and reduce the potency of your weed. Aspergillus is another type of mold that can grow on your buds. These spores can cause health problems if consumed, so it’s important to avoid using any cannabis with visible mold growth.
How To Prevent Mold While Storing Cannabis
If you’re not careful, mold can entirely destroy your weed crop, so it’s crucial to take some preventative steps. Luckily, avoiding mold growth is relatively straightforward if you know where to store cannabis to keep it away from damaging heat, air or moisture levels.
Usually, mold grows best in climates of 77°F to 86°F. So, when you’re not using it, store your cannabis in a cool and dark area. Also, make sure there is little to no light exposure; that’s why a drawer or cupboard works well for storing marijuana.
The type of container you store your cannabis in also matters. You should not keep your cannabis in plastic packaging for a long time because the plastic can ruin the quality of your weed. It is best to put your weed into clean, sealable glass jars like Mason jars. Make sure to fill up these types of containers as much as possible so there is no excess air inside.
Your cannabis should always be kept away from moisture to avoid ruining the buds. Store them in a clean and dry container, making sure they are properly dried first. It’s also important not to store your cannabis with anything else, especially liquid products. By keeping it stored safely on its own in a cool place, you will help maintain its potency and flavor for much longer.
Long-Term Cannabis Storage
You should always store your cannabis in a safe place, away from excessive heat, air, light or moisture. The type of container you use and where you keep it can also affect the weed.
Storing cannabis long-term in an airtight container is the best way to keep it fresh. A lot of people use mason jars because they’re readily available and come with a sealing lid. This prevents light, heat, and moisture from ruining your stash. You can also store humidity packs inside the jars to make sure the relative humidity stays at 59-63%.
If you want to maintain your weed’s freshness, Try using a Cannabis Humidor. These are boxes filled with glass containers that help preserve the joint for an extended period of time. Make sure theHumidor is for cannabis and not cigars- they aren’t made to store weed properly.
Before storing your weed in any container, make sure that the storage is completely dry. Otherwise, moisture will develop on your weed and mold will form, destroying your entire stash. For best results keep containers in a cool and dry place.
Smoking Moldy Weed – Symptoms, Smell, Detection, and Prevention
In 2022, smoking moldy weed will be a more significant issue than most people anticipate. If there’s enough moisture present, it can happen at any time – even to those who have only smoked cannabis a couple of times. In all likelihood, everyone who regularly smokes weed has inhaled mold spores at least once.
Some types of mold are difficult to both detect and prevent. However, by the end of this article, you will know the signs to look for as well as how to Keep Your Weed Mold-Free.
Effects of Smoking Moldy Weed
Smoking weed that is moldy can be dangerous and, in severe situations, even fatal. People who have compromised immune systems, asthma, or respiratory issues are most at risk. The effects of smoking moldy weed depend on both the type and amount of mold present. Some of the more common effects associated with smoking moldy weed include:
- Increased trouble breathing
- Heart palpitations
- Coughing
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Aspergilloma – Mold growth in the lungs
- Pneumonitis – Inflammation of the walls of the alveoli in the lungs
Detecting Moldy Weed
To detect moldy weed, you can use a magnifying glass or the 420 scope. If the mold has spread, you may be able to use a black light to look for it. While under a black light, mold will glow yellow to greenish-yellow.
The most common types of mold you need to be aware of are Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Mucor. They all have different appearances and smells. I’ve listed their characteristics below for your reference.
The Look
- Black Spots / Spores
- White to Brown Fuzz
- White or Black Web-like Material
The Smell
- Musty
- Urine
- Lavender
- Locker Room Smell
Causes of Moldy Weed
Moisture in the air is often to blame for moldy weed, especially if the buds were harvested recently and not cured properly. Airtight containers trap humid air, leading to an ideal environment for mold spores to thrivel. Some people like add orange or lemon peels to their dry buds as a source of moisture, but this can backfire by adding too much water and inviting blue citrus mold instead.
Growers and dealers may try to add to their profits by adding water, thus weight, to the weed.
Some growers use moldy cultivation methods to try and raise the potency of their product, but this only results in contaminated weed. Poor growing conditions outdoors are a common source of mold spores.
Preventing Moldy Weed
Mold thrives in moist environments with a weed moisture content above 15% and will start to breed at 55% relative humidity. The only way to accurately measure the amount of moisture in the air is by testing it. You can use a hygrometer, which is normally used for measuring cigar humidor conditions, or if you are growing marijuana plants you may want to get a relative humidity monitor.
Make sure to “burp” your airtight weed container daily by opening it for at least 15 minutes. This will allow fresh air to reach your buds and prevent mold from growing. If you notice that your weed is getting too dry, use a cigar humidifier so that you don’t add too much moisture at once.
Smoking Moldy Weed
If you’re in a bind, there are ways to reduce the risk of smoking moldy weed. You can use a bong, but that will only filter out about 15% of the spores. Baking the weed for 10 mins at 200 degrees fahrenheit will kill most of the mold and prevent it from growing, but it still might cause flu-like symptoms and the mold particulates will still be in your lungs.
Short-Term Cannabis Storage
The best way to store cannabis long-term is by using glass containers or a humidor, but it’s also important to know how to properly store cannabis in the short term. This is especially crucial for retail dispensaries who need to make sure that their products don’t develop mold.
Exit and Mylar Bags are excellent for storing cannabis short-term. These sealable bags protect weed from heat and moisture, keeping it fresh. The heat is sealed inside the bag so that the temperature stays moderate, and the bags are also leak-proof, ensuring that no moisture gets in. Cannabis companies can even get custom-branded Exit and Mylar bags to promote their business.
Stash Bags are perfect for when you need to store your weed for a short amount of time. maybe you’re taking it on the go or bringing it to a friend’s house–either way, you don’t want to lug around a mason jar. Stash Bags keep your weed fresh andThey’re also smell proof and waterproof!
Conclusion
If you want to maintain your cannabis’ freshness and potency, be sure to take some basic measures to prevent mold while storing it. If you see any black spores or white mold on your weed, get rid of it immediately. Not only does mold damage the quality of your weed, but consuming it can also lead to health problems.
Fortunately, preventing mold from growing on your cannabis is quite simple. Store your weed in clean containers and keep them away from excessive heat, light, and moisture – especially humidity. Mylar bags and stash bags can work well for short-term storage, but sealed glass containers or even a humidor will be best for long-term preservation.