One of the most obvious questions that comes up when you are activating cannabis to use for various products or to smoke or vape is “how long does cannabis stay fresh after decarb?” To help save time and money, people in our community want the best options for long term cannabis storage. As with most marijuana inquiries, there are many different opinions on how long you can store weed after decarboxylating before THC and CBD degrade/how long cannabis will stay potent after activation, but only the science provides reliable proof.
The results below show two different strains, one THC dominant and the other CBD, both decarbed in the NOVA and then stored in a plastic bag in a cool, dark drawer for a little under six months. Check out the results and let us know in the comments if they match your hypothesis or not!
THC
We decarbed some Sour Apple back in June, and tested a portion of it immediately after. Analysis of the remaining batch tested six months later in early January showed no significant loss of THC during the storage period. In fact, aside from a tiny amount of CBN (a degraded form of THC that can make you groggy/helps with sleep), the two samples are nearly identical with over 19% THC (190mg of THC per gram of cannabis).
Test Results
CBD
Lilly Hill was our strain of choice for a CBD test. After 6 months, we found mild CBD degradation - a reduction of about 30 mg per gram - from 18.5% CBD in the fresh sample (185 CBD mg per gram) to 15.84% CBD (158 mg CBD per gram) in the 6 month post-decarb sample. Despite this bit of loss, there is still significant CBD in the decarbed cannabis that was stored for 6 months.
The Best Way To Store Decarbed Weed: Our Conclusion
In summary, while we recommend consuming freshly decarbed cannabis, especially when it is so easy to decarb anytime or anywhere with Ardent's decarboxylators, these latest results indicate fresh doesn’t necessarily mean best. No more wondering in worry if weed goes bad - if stored in a cool, dry and dark place, decarbed cannabis can have a more than adequate shelf life. And just like flower, you can store decarboxylated kief as well!
You may be wondering, when do you need to decarboxylate weed and then store it for awhile? Since you'll need to decarb your flower before infusing, storing your decarbed flower makes infusions on the fly even easier. Simply decarb what you'll need for the next few infusions to have it at the ready for, well... anytime!
Let us know in the comments below if the results above are consistent with your experience, and what your favorite method is for planning out your cannabis prep and intake.
49 comments
Also, if you store in glass rather than plastic bag, I wonder if glass container would make a difference.
I decarb about an 1/8th at a time to smoke within the following two days storing it in a dark small container. Easy to decarb a fresh batch anytime for my occasional projects like infusions etc where I require a larger quantity. Honestly flower doesn’t last in my house longer than a few days! =)
This is is an awesome report. Now i know I can store my candies and not have to worry that they are stale and duds. THANKS TO THE PEOPLE AT ARDENT..YOU GUYS ROCK!!
This would be good info if I could ever save it for 6 months :{
On the topic of aging, I’ve conducted numerous tests infusing cannabis into wine. I’m a winemaker by trade. My objective was to resolve a personal sleep disorder. I was able to create a blend which one to two ounces before bed offered much appreciated relief. HOWEVER, after 6 months of aging, the effects totally changed. One portion still assisted with sleep but serious head spins occurred 14 hours after consuming. This repeated on two subsequent trials. As a consequence, I have lost all interest in the potential of this because potency when mixed with alcohol appears to change drastically after aging. Now … I just use olive oil.