After months of growing, the last thing you want is to ruin your medical cannabis after harvest. Many patients underestimate how easily cannabis can lose its potency, flavour, and safety once it’s dried. Heat, light, and humidity are your biggest enemies—and even small mistakes can destroy months of work.

Overexposure to light causes cannabinoids like THC and CBD to degrade. Excess heat dries out the trichomes—the tiny resin glands that hold your medicine’s therapeutic compounds—while too much humidity can lead to mould and bacteria growth. Once contamination starts, your cannabis is no longer safe to use or compliant with Health Canada’s standards.

The ideal environment for storing cannabis is cool, dark, and stable, between 15°C and 21°C, with humidity between 55% and 62%. That’s why humidity packs are essential—they balance moisture automatically and prevent over-drying or mould. Replace them every few months to keep your medicine fresh.

If your cannabis has already become too dry, there’s a simple fix. Place a small piece of carrot, orange peel, or lettuce in the jar for 6–12 hours to gently rehydrate the buds. Check periodically, and remove it as soon as the flower regains its softness and aroma. Then, seal the jar again with a fresh humidity pack. Avoid using water or misting—those methods can introduce bacteria.

Whether you’re growing under an ACMPR personal grow licence in Canada or managing a small medical crop, proper curing, humidity control, and careful handling are just as important as cultivation. These steps protect potency, prevent mould, and ensure your medicine meets Health Canada’s safety standards.

For veterans and patients using cannabis to manage chronic pain or PTSD, consistency matters. GrowLegally’s medical cannabis for veterans program offers free support and education to help you access and maintain your medicine safely.

If you’re ready to learn how to preserve your medical cannabis properly, connect with our medical cannabis clinic in Toronto or anywhere in Canada. GrowLegally’s patient educators and cannabis doctors are here to help you grow, store, and care for your medicine safely and effectively.

FAQ: Best Practices for Cannabis Storage

1. What’s the best way to store medical cannabis at home?
Use airtight, dark glass jars with rubber seals and store them in a cool, dark place. Avoid plastic containers, which create static and strip trichomes from the buds.

2. Should I store cannabis in the fridge or freezer?
Fridges can work only if humidity is tightly controlled. Freezers should be avoided—frozen trichomes become brittle and break off, reducing potency.

3. How long does cannabis stay fresh?
Properly cured and sealed cannabis can remain potent for 6–12 months. Over time, THC slowly degrades into CBN, which reduces its strength but not its safety.

4. What humidity should cannabis be stored at?
Keep relative humidity between 55% and 62%. Humidity packs are the easiest way to maintain that balance.

5. Can I rehydrate dry cannabis safely?
Yes. Add a small carrot, orange peel, or lettuce leaf to the jar for a few hours. Remove it once the buds regain flexibility, then add a humidity pack to maintain freshness. Never spray water directly on cannabis.