Maximum Yield Cannabis USA December 2017 / January 2018 | Page 82

enjoy
the jar too tightly, leaving a bit of space between buds, while
others believe cramming it full pushes out air, the enemy of
freshness. The negative to cramming is that it squeezes the
buds. The call is yours to make.
COLD, HARD STASH
Freezing marijuana to preserve it is another urban myth.
Freezing does just what the word implies but with negative
results when it comes to pot. Trichomes are the resin glands
that contain the THC and CBD, along with other psychoactive
properties. When trichomes are frozen, they tend to break
off and fall away with each handling, essentially reducing
the potency of your bud over time while drying it out. There
is also the possibility of mold when the pot sweats from
being frozen and then thawed.
Bottom line: avoid freezing.
BUD WAIT... THERE’S MORE!
Another trick to keeping your product fresh is don’t break up
the buds until you’re ready to use them. They naturally remain
fresher longer when left intact.
THE DOPE ON HUMIDORS
Proper humidity is paramount when you’re serious about
keeping your herb fresh. Humidors are an excellent way to
maintain proper humidity levels. Not all humidors, however,
are created equal. Humidors designed for tobacco aren’t
recommended for marijuana, as the humidity level best suited
for tobacco is different from weed. Optimal relative humidity
(RH) levels for tobacco are between 70 and 72 per cent,
whereas marijuana stores best in a lower
humidity range of 50-65 per cent RH.
Additionally, many tobacco
humidors are constructed using
cedar wood, which has a
distinct woody smell that
could potentially alter
the smell and/or taste of
your weed. There are
cannabis humidors
created expressly
for the preservation
of marijuana
available online.
THIS METHOD
SUCKS
“ESSENTIALLY, THERE ARE
FIVE SWORN ENEMIES OF
HARVESTED MARIJUANA;
AIR, HUMIDITY, LIGHT, MOLD,
AND FOR SOME, DETECTION.”
For improved
shelf life, many
smokers are
turning to home
vacuum-sealing
machines. Vacuum-
sealing is an
excellent method of
keeping your weed
fresh. This practice
is generally used for
larger amounts that
need to be stored over a
longer period. With vacuum
seal bags, you simply place
your product into the tear- and
puncture-resistant plastic bag and
line up the edges to the vacuum machine.
At the push of a button, all the air is extracted
from the bag and a heat seal ensures that no air will seep
in, thus preserving your dank over the long haul. Vacuum
sealing also controls odor.
Removing all the air from the bag this way will tend to
flatten your buds. Additionally, even though the bags are
made of a heavier plastic, you’ll still need to store them in
a cool, dark place.
Alan Ray has written five books and is a New York Times
bestselling author. Additionally, he is a multi-award winning
songwriter with awards from BMI and ASCAP. Alan lives in
Tennessee with his wife and two dogs: a South African Boerboel
and a Pomeranian/Wolverine mix.
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