In the world of cannabis, there are several factors that affect your weed and its potency. One such factor is time. Whether you’ve been storing it for months or years, the amount of THC in your stash will change over time and not always for the better! To find out how much this may affect your weed’s potency, read on to learn about how time affects weed and what can be done to combat these effects.

1. Time Leads to Oxidation making your Weed Less Potent

THC is converted to cannabinol (CBN), a by-product of oxidation, which has a significantly less psychoactive effect, thus rendering your marijuana with less potency by the day. If you plan on storing your weed for an extended period, it’s best to put it in an air-tight container with as little air remaining inside as possible.

2. Time Reduces the Quality of Your Weed

Marijuana, like other plants and flowers, uses photosynthesis to produce energy and grow towards the sun. THC is produced during this process within the leaves and buds of your plant; as time passes, however, these beautiful trichomes containing said THC begin to break down and degrade. As a result, the overall quality of your bud will decrease with time, and ultimately you’ll end up with a less potent product-so smoke it quick!

3. Time May Result in Dry Out Weed

Whether you’re storing your weed in a jar or vacuum seal bag, without moisture, your bud will dry out over time, and the older it gets, the less potent it will become. Keeping this in mind, you can purchase a water attachment vaporizer to avoid such an issue. As the water begins to evaporate, your bud will become more dry, taking on a crumbly texture. This results in an increased chance of combustion-and smoking are NOT good for your weed! To avoid this, make sure you keep it stored away from any moisture or humidity.

4. Time May Result in Mold or Mildew Growing on Your Weed

Due to the excessive humidity or moisture, your bud can potentially become home to mold or mildew. This is due to the water content within your stash turning into an ideal breeding ground for these spores-which are microscopic organisms that grow anywhere between 40°F and 110°F. If you plan on storing your weed for an extended period, make sure you avoid any excess moisture or deterioration that may come with it.

5. Time May Change the Smell of Your Weed

Much like all things, time can change the way your weed smells. As oxidation occurs over time, the intensity of your marijuana’s aroma may become weaker or stronger depending on your environment. For example, if you smoke in a ventilated area with plenty of airflows, then it’ll have the opposite effect.

6. Time May Make Your Weed Taste Strange

In a similar fashion as to how time may change the smell of your weed, it also has the potential to alter its taste. However, unlike the change in aroma where both aspects are equally affected, only one aspect will be altered when it comes to changes in taste. If you notice that your weed tastes strange after long periods of storage, there’s no need to worry; this is all perfectly normal! Smoking your bud with one of these glass pipes could help alter the flavor profile and give you a little more wiggle room for shelf life.

7. Inherently Dried Buds Lose Potency

Inherently dried-out buds that have not been properly cured less potent produce weed. When the plant matter has been allowed to dry out before removing the flowers, THC is converted to CBN, and you’ll notice a dramatic decrease in your weed’s potency. When it comes time for storage, make sure to store dried bud properly by placing it in an air-tight container and limiting its exposure to air and light (by keeping it inside).

8. Potency Increases with Humidity

Not all environments offer ideal circumstances for storing marijuana. This is why it’s important to understand just how humidity levels in your storage environment can actually affect the potency of your bud over time. When exposed to a humid environment, cannabinoids tend to bind to water molecules, which results in a potent product. In fact, at 70% humidity levels, cannabinoids are able to bind with more water molecules and produce an even more effective product-yay! On the other hand, at lower humidity levels (around 35%), cannabinoids will begin to lose their effectiveness, and your weed’s potency will decrease.

The Bottom Line

As briefly mentioned above, the longer you store your marijuana, the greater chance its potency will begin to decrease. This can be attributed to many things, including increased drying out of your bud or an increase in cannabinol content. Most people are unaware of cannabinol-but, basically, it’s what gives your weed that crappy taste and makes you feel extremely tired after smoking.

If you plan on storing your precious bud for an extended period, make sure the container it’s in is as air-tight as possible. If you notice any degradation or discoloration, immediately put the stash somewhere dark and cool; by doing this, you will halt such deterioration and maintain the quality of your weed as well as its potency.