At Ohio Marijuana Card, we recently surveyed over 3,500 Ohioans in the medical marijuana program and asked them to rank their favorite marijuana format. You can see in the chart below that cannabis flower was the most popular format for our participants!
Flower is the raw marijuana form that is traditionally smoked, vaped or used in oils and edibles. Flower is available for sale at your local dispensary as long as you have a medical marijuana card!
You can stay up to date on everything marijuana in Ohio by following our blog and you can register for your medical marijuana card with us if you have a qualifying medical condition. Call us or schedule an appointment online today!
With flower being available to purchase, this brings about the age old question… does marijuana go bad?
In short, yes but don’t worry one bit, the life of flower can be prolonged! Today we will fill you in on all you need to know about proper storage, the best ways to keep your flower fresh and how you can get flower in Ohio for yourself.
Threats to Proper Storage
Moisture:
Moisture is the top threat to marijuana flower. Moisture can cause your flower to develop mold or mildew overtime. If moldy or mildewy flower is consumed, it can lead to very dangerous health issues.
In order to avoid this, your flower should be stored in a place with less than 65% humidity. If over that, you can risk having moldy or mildewy flower.
While too much moisture can make flower go bad, flower can also become too dry. If flower loses too much of its moisture, it becomes brittle and will lose its potency, terpene profile and effectiveness to treat your medical condition.
There is good news though! This is not totally on you! Finding the right balance between moist and dry flower starts before you even purchase it at your local dispensary.
Cultivators who process flower dry it out first and then put it through a curing process. If the flower is properly cured, the moisture in the flower will slowly dissipate without compromising any of its cannabinoids and terpenes.
The moisture levels will lower to around 6-9% before it is placed into packaging that will keep it safe from excess oxygen. Once you take it out of the package, it is up to you to maintain that balance so you can get the most out of your flower!
Temperature:
The next biggest threat to your cannabis flower is temperature. The best temperature to store your flower at is around 70 degree Fahrenheit.
Temperature is the evil sidekick of the moisture enemy. High temperatures in combination with high humidity is the disastrous recipe for flower growing with mold or mildew. On the other hand, high temps alone can also dry out the flower too and cause the terpene profile to completely evaporate.
The best thing to do is to keep your flower in a cool, dry place such as your pantry, closet or drawer!
Light:
Exposure to light is, in fact, the largest contributor to the loss of cannabinoids and terpenes in flower. If you are able to store your flower in a dark, temperature controlled environment, it can last 1-2 years!
It is super common to see people store their flower in mason jars around the house. Although this is aesthetically pleasing and a sort of marijuana tradition, UV light can still get in since the mason jar is clear. The best thing to do is to store your flower in a container that is opaque since it will filter out the UV rays.
Fun fact, this is why beer bottles are brown and not clear. Brewers know that brown containers will filter out UV making their beer keep its integrity. You can apply this same concept to your flower storage!
Make sure that these opaque containers are also tightly sealed. Exposure to oxygen can make your flower lose its flavor, cannabinoids and terpenes profile which ultimately makes it less effective for your qualifying condition.
Also keep in mind to reduce the oxygen in the storage container itself by reducing the empty space. In other words, don’t have a large jar for a few buds instead have a small jar with the buds filled high in the jar. Obviously, it is impossible to get all the air out of your container, but minimizing it to the best of your ability can make your flower last!
Best Practices of Marijuana Flower Storage
When you are able to keep in mind that moisture, temperature and light all affect the integrity of marijuana flower, you will be able to keep your flower fresh and effective for a long time!
Although keeping flower in mason jars or sandwich bags are some of the most popular ways to store marijuana, it is also one of the worst ways.
Just remember that once the flower is in your hands, it is up to you to extend its life so that you can best treat your medical condition. All you have to do is keep your flower in a cool, dark place in an opaque container that is as airtight as possible!
Accessing Marijuana Flower in Ohio
You can purchase marijuana flower in Ohio at any dispensary around the state! With Ohio Marijuana Card, the process of getting your medical marijuana card in order to purchase is easy!
All you have to do is have proof of residency in the state, be 18 years or older, be diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition and meet with a certified marijuana doctor.
We can help you with all of this!
You deserve relief. Don’t wait another day! Call us at (866) 457-5559 or schedule an appointment online today.
Doctors Who Care. Relief You Can Trust.
Here at Ohio Marijuana Card, our goal is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
If you have any questions, call us at (866) 457-5559, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting relief you can trust today!
Check out Ohio Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the medical marijuana conversation in Ohio.