What’s the Best Way to Store Medical Marijuana?
June 9, 2020 • • General
Properly storing medical marijuana is key to ensuring that it remains effective and continues to provide the relief patients need. When it comes to medical marijuana, there are a wide range of types and varieties. For instance, patients looking for calming anxiety relief can choose from a number of indica strains, while patients interested in more stimulating options can explore sativa strains. These different options allow patients to discover what kinds of marijuana work best for managing their symptoms without disrupting their lives. However, maintaining the potency and quality of marijuana flowers over time comes down to proper storage. Here are a few tips for keeping your medical marijuana fresh in the long-term. Dos and Don’ts of Storing Marijuana Cannabis does best in cool, dark places, so we recommend storing your medication in basements, cellars, or other places where the flowers will be shielded from light and heat. UV rays cause organic material to degrade over time, which results in a breakdown of the resin glands of the cannabis flowers and reduces the potency of the cannabinoids and terpenes that bring relief. Storing cannabis in dark-colored glass containers will help keep the flowers fresher for longer, but a dark room is most effective. Heat is another thing to avoid. Temperatures above 70 degrees can contribute to the development of mildew or dry out the cannabis flowers, both of which break down the cannabinoids. You should also avoid storing medical marijuana in temperatures that are too cold — this means no refrigerating or freezing the flowers! Cold also dries out the resin glands and can even cause the trichomes (the fine hairs you’ll see if you examine the flowers closely) to freeze and break off. The best way to avoid all these factors is to store your cannabis in a place that’s just below room temperature. Humidity, on the other hand, isn’t as much of a concern, as a properly stored container will likely protect the flowers from excess moisture. Minimizing the buds’ exposure to oxygen is also important for maintaining potency. Plastic bags should be avoided because they don’t prevent moisture build-up and can actually generate static that breaks apart the flowers. Airtight glass jars are ideal for storage because they keep air and moisture out and the scent of marijuana in (which can be useful for patients who live with children or someone who shouldn’t have access to cannabis). Experts recommend dark jars that can handle a tumble in case the jar is accidentally dropped. Having multiple jars allows patients to store different flower strains with ease. You should also try to avoid touching the cannabis flowers too much, as this causes the trichomes to break off and ultimately damages the buds. Lastly, if you’re storing edibles rather than marijuana flowers, you’ll want to make sure that they are clearly labeled and kept locked away, to prevent anyone other than yourself from accidentally having one. Your Ohio-based Medical Marijuana Solution At Lakewood Medical Clinic, we specialize in helping each of our patients find the care and right course of treatment that matches their lifestyle. Medical marijuana is a versatile drug that can be used to manage health conditions ranging from epilepsy and chronic pain to AIDS and even dementia. If you’re curious whether cannabis is right for you, schedule an appointment today. Our specialists and medical marijuana-certified doctors are committed to helping you get the relief you need.