MOLT (Moisture, Oxygen, Temperature, Light) - The Enemies of Long Term Cannabis Storage

A common question that we often are asked is how long marijuana can be stored. The problem with this question is that there is not just one answer. It depends on a few factors. Those factors are moisture, oxygen, temperature, and light.

Moisture
Moisture is a difficult factor to estimate because it depends on your product and the environment it is in. For example, if you live in the desert, you probably will not have very much humidity in your environment. However, if you live anywhere else, you will have at least some humidity in your environment during part of the year.

It is important to note that your marijuana flower should be properly cured. If your weed is properly cured, the moisture inside it will not change the chemicals inside it. Once it has the ideal moisture content (between 6 % and 9%), the excess oxygen is removed from the packaging.

However, once you transport it, you must maintain the same balance. If the moisture is decreased too much, your marijuana will dry up. This will affect the taste and the potency of your flower. Conversely, if the humidity level is above 65%, your marijuana investment will grow mold.

Oxygen
Oxygen is a factor because it changes the smell of cannabis. This happens when oxygen oxidizes the chemicals in the weed. It results in a smell similar to hay.

The best defense to reduce oxygen exposure is to make sure your container has no air pockets in it. The easiest way to do this is to use an airtight Mylar Bag. You will additionally want to make sure that you don’t store small amounts of weed in a large container. This will leave too much air inside the container. We do realize that it is impossible to make sure that no air gets inside your sealed package once it has been opened. However, you can limit the amount of time it is open. Another option is to store cannabis in vacuum-sealed bags.

Light
Light is another enemy of dry marijuana flower storage. UV light always destroys dry marijuana flower. This happens even if it is stored in glass jars. This is why you need opaque containers to store weed. Unfortunately, if marijuana flower is exposed to light for a prolonged amount of time, it converts THCA into THC. Then the THC converts to CBN. Therefore, you will not have the same reaction you have with THC.

Hot Temperatures
Generally, if the temperature is too high, you don’t need to be as concerned as much as if it is too low. However, if temperatures reach over 30°C, the weed will begin to grow slower. This is because the high temperature will inhibit the enzymes from properly reaching photosynthesis.

Another effect of too much heat is that pests and diseases are attracted to the marijuana flower.  When hot conditions are present, insects tend to be present as well. Additionally, hot conditions will also cause water to evaporate. This means you will need to water the plants more frequently. It also can damage the roots of your plants. Keep in mind that high temperatures can combine with high humidity. This exposes the flower to a variety of additional issues. Plants that grow within these conditions tend to develop rot and mold. This can cause a lot of stress on the plant which can eventually destroy it.

Cold Temperatures
Cold temperatures are a bigger threat to cannabis. In fact, extremely cold temperatures can shock plants or even completely kill them.

Generally, marijuana growers should avoid growing in temperatures below 15°C (59°F). Temperatures this cold will make your marijuana plant have a hard time growing. It will eventually die. 

Additionally, cold temperatures can affect photosynthesis just like hot temperatures. This is because the enzymes involved in the photosynthesis process are not as active at low temperatures. This means your plant will grow at much slower rates or not at all.

Furthermore, lower temperatures can also create mold. There are different kinds of mold. Some prefer cold and damp places. They can form on roots, leaves or buds once the temperatures fall below a certain range.

Now that you know all of the factors that are enemies of cannabis marijuana storage, we hope that you will use them to your advantage. Hopefully, we have provided some tips that will help you to grow and maintain your business.

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