Ganja Guides

How Long Does Weed Stay Good For?

bud in glass weed jar

When it comes to how long weed will stay good for, there are many different factors that come into play. Above all, proper storage is crucial to preserving the quality, potency and flavor. For instance, leaving your herb out on a rolling tray will cause it to dry out, burn up faster and produce a harsh hit. But thankfully you can extend its shelf life and freshness with by sealing it up in a baggy, jar, or container in a cool, dark place.

Photo: Pexels

How Long Does Weed Stay Good in a Bag?

bag of weed
Bag of weed (Photo: Unsplash)

Weed will stay good in a bag for a few weeks if you seal it well. And it’s a great, easy way to help preserve its freshness. Of course, how old your weed is when you get it will determine in part how long it’s going to last. Assuming you get a properly cured batch, you can expect it to stay good in a rolled-up sandwich bag for several weeks without losing any flavor, potency, or drying out. Even so, a rolled-up sandwich bag is not airtight. This means that air will eventually make its way to your herb. And when this happens, it will begin to lose its quality.

How Long Can Weed Last in a Ziploc Bag?

If you’re going to store your weed in a bag you might as well store it in a Ziploc. A Ziploc bag will help keep excess air from making its way into your stash of grass. What’s more, the thickness of a Ziplock bag offers an extra layer of protection against moisture and potential breakage. When stored in a Ziploc with all air removed, buds can stay good for several weeks or even months.

You can even create a kind of vacuum seal. As you’re closing the Ziploc, leave a small corner of the bag open. Using your mouth, suck the air out to remove the excess air, that way it’s not exposed to air which naturally reduces its potency over time.

How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Weed Stay Good For?

When you properly vacuum seal weed it stays fresh for much longer. Assuming it is stored in a cool dark place you can expect a properly vacuum-sealed bag to stay good for a year or longer. Often, people storing herb for a long period of time will use a turkey bag inside of a vacuum sealed bag as an extra layer of protection from the elements. Moreover, it is very important to make sure that the seal on your vacuum bag is properly done. In short, this will prevent air seepage which can degrade the quality of your cannabis.

Airtight Glass Jars

spoon pipe and jar of weed
Weed jar (Photo: Pexels)

Storing your weed in a jar is a great way to preserve flavor and potency. By storing weed in a jar with an airtight lid you can make it last months or even years. What’s more, you can even use black paint or tape along the outside to protect your bud from light. The combination of no light and an airtight seal can help your cannabis even last a few years. Plus, glass is often preferred because unlike plastic, it does not absorb any of your resin, trichomes, flavor, or aroma profiles.

How Long are Carts Good for?

Carts have become a very popular way for people to enjoy cannabis. Sometimes you might find one in your drawer or refrigerator and wonder if it’s still good. When stored properly, weed carts are good for an estimated 18 months. However, if exposed to sunlight, high humidity, or heat, the expiration date will arrive much sooner. More specifically, exposure to these elements can cut the lifespan of your cannabis carts from 18 months down to 6 months or less.

cannbutter in bowl
Cannabutter (Photo: Wikipedia Commons)

How Long Does Weed Butter Last?

Cannabutter is another great way to enjoy cannabis these days. And it can be made relatively easy at home. But how long does weed butter stay good? As a rule of thumb, cannabutter should stay good for about 2 weeks when it’s kept in the refrigerator and even longer in the freezer. When stored properly in the freezer it can last around 6 months.

But since weed butter is made using real butter, not margarine, you’ll want to play it safe. Taste your butter to know what it tastes like when it’s fresh. If something tastes off or looks off to you and it’s been a while, it’s best not to risk it. Also, keep a time and date on your butter and you can avoid wondering just how old it is.

The Science

Using one of these methods you can extend the shelf life of your weed significantly. But if you’re curious to learn how much potency your weed loses over time, check out our chart on on the loss of potency. That way, you can keep this in mind so you can enjoy your bud to the fullest.