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
“If stored in a cool, dry and dark place”, what temp is considered cool?
yes, this is great news for my new method of decarbing lightly handled flowers and storing in quart jars under vacuum at 62rh.
when the flowers have hung for a few days, i cut and drop them directly in the nova.
turn the unit upside down, because these fresh flowers have more humidity, that might harm the electronics down below.
when i need medicine, i’ll squash and make ready to consume rosin.
i think storing the trichomes on the flowers until needed, is the easiest for me.
glad to see these lab results.
i’d still love to see the lab results of rosin made from decarbed flowers vs alcohol extracted cannabis oil.
I decarbed OG Kush like two years ago. Have had it hidden away in a sealed mason jar in a zero light environment and It is Still potent. I cannot test it in any other way than practical and it is still “good”. It was decarbed the old fashion way in the oven. It smelled sooo strong that I did a large batch in order to avoid having to worry about the lingering smell…this Ardent is a WELCOME addition to my treatment plan !
Great information! Not only is the machine awesome but you always provide go information.
Its a great machine!
Thank you for the info. I was wondering if decarbed cannabis needed to be used right away. Love your product! I can only get a half ounce at a time in your machine. Would like a larger one to avoid 6 hrs on 2 oz for the butter machine. Please!