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
I have found no sign Iva this degradation of decarbed THC that I have stored in my root cellar with a mean temperature of 55F & a relative humidity of ~70%. The buds were stored in a ventilated container where the bud was free to breath the ambient air in the root cellar for up to 1 year. The one change I did note was that the chlorophyll level dropped over time making the bud less harsh. This aging process has been gaining popularity in Europe. I started ‚curing‚Äù all of my bud in this manner. Dry, decant, cure for at least 6 months.
I have also found that oils made with decarbed bud can be stored in sealed mason jars stored in my root cellar with no loss of potency.
This is very interesting. I’lll be curious about the non-decarbed rate of decrease in THC as well. If you could have a set of non-decarbed if the same cannabis, stores in the same conditions to compare side-by-side. It will help answering the question whether it preserve the cannabinoids better:- decarbed or not decarbed. Thanks
Never have weed long enough to worry about degradation.but great info in case
I assumed decarbing was also a preservative measure because it removes the moisture and from what I know of After 50 years of consuming cannabis and all the new things I’ve learned from the great folks at ardent I would have guessed 6 months but I try to turn it into oil butter or tincture within 30 days then that extends the shelf like and potency considerably longer periods. Once again Thank You all the fine smart peoples at ARDENT
that’s good info indeed. I kind of did my own tests as well and found no noticeable degradation of potency. Cool, dark storage is key I love the Onyx stainless containers Light proof and airtight.
I have stored toasted nugs for months. Every now and again I eat one as is…… a little dry. earth, toasted, canna nugs
Thanks for proving it with science yo !!‚ùÔ∏è