Our second ever weekly discussion brings us to the topic of cartridge storage. If you haven’t already read the first installment of our three-part mini-series on cannabis flower, cartridge, and concentrate storage, click here to learn about the ideal environment for cannabis flower and the four factors to consider. This week’s discussion follows the same format in which we start off with the best storage environment followed by factors to consider. This may be a post you return to in the future as your taste and preferences change, you experiment with different products, or whatever may be the case.

The ideal environment
Cartridges are best stored in cool, dry places. They differ from flower since cartridge oil is affected by half the factors: temperature and light.

Temperature control
The optimal temperature for storage is 70 F, or room temperature. A hot environment can cause a reduction of flavor, aroma, and potency. At the same time, increase the chances of leakage. Too cold of a temperature can lead to moisture issues. Being in California, leaving items in a car’s center console creates a sauna like environment in warmer weather. Heat exposure could also alter the flavor and smoothness of a hit.

Light protection
Light exposure can cause oxidation. This means electrons or compounds within the oil are lost and changed. For cartridge oil, this means a darker color and potentially lost potency. The change in potency may be small and the darker oil remains safe to consume. The same altered flavor and smoothness risk exists from light exposure.

At a glance
Storage can be as simple as placing the upright cartridge in a drawer, bag, or even a refrigerator; however, never in a freezer or in direct sunlight. There may be some internal combustion issues when storing disposable pens or batteries in the fridge.

What do you think of our short and sweet discussion on cartridge storage? Do you think we left anything out, is there anything you do differently, do you have any thoughts on future discussion topics or how we can improve Bento Delivery? Please email us your thoughts to peter@bentodelivery.com or comment below to further the discussion. We enjoy listening and replying to what you have to say as it helps us better serve our growing community of Bentonians. If you'd like to tell us in person stop by our Hempcon booth at the Cow Palace in Daly City from September 13-15, 2019.  There will be interactive challenges and low priced items on some of your favorites!

One of the things we, at Bento, strive to provide our community is a quality experience with our products and services. We believe information can change lives for the better. In a new industry like cannabis, people will try to make a quick buck anyway they can. That sort of thinking can hurt a lot of people. We hope our weekly discussions can empower Bentonians to identify the right products and companies for them. Taking a look at Bento and the California market as a whole, the majority of sales come from flower, cartridges, and concentrates.

What better way to kick off our blog then to discuss storage options for maximum effect in a three-part mini-series. Weekly discussion will be posted every Monday. We’ll first start off with flower, then cartridges, and end with concentrates. Each discussion will start off with the best storage conditions followed by factors to consider. This may be a post you return to in the future as your taste and preferences change, you experiment with different products, or whatever may be the case. 

                                                                                                           Flower Conditions
Flower is best kept in cold, dark places. There are 4 factors that affect the quality of cannabis bud: temperature, light, humidity, and air. If you’re storing multiple strains, keep each strain in their own container.

                                                                                                                Temperature
Room temperature (72 to 76 degrees Fahrenheit) or below is ideal. Storing flower between 77 to 86 degrees can cause mildew and/or other mold production. Likewise, hot temperatures can dry out the essential oils of the plant leaving less potent and aromatic nugs. This can cause a harsh hit and irritate your throat. A low temperature can cause the cannabinoid producer and container, trichomes, to break apart easily. Although, a study found cannabinoids (chemical compounds of the plant) can remain stable up to 2 years if cured and stored properly. A freezer can do the trick while using vacuum sealed or air tight glass jars hidden from any light source. Opaque glass jars are recommended because light doesn’t penetrate when the freezer door opens. When it’s time for use, let the nugs slowly return to room temperature before handling as they may be fragile and break apart easily. If you don’t want to store it for that long, a cold, dark place is ideal. 

                                                                                                                         Light
Light is the most influential factor when it comes to preserving cannabinoids. Keeping bud out of the light slows its decarboxylation process. If left in direct sunlight, the THC converts into cannabinol (CBN) which is equivalent to stale THC. Effects could range from grogginess to confusion. While CBN has benefits such as a sleep aid, leaving flower in sunlight to create CBN isn’t a recommended process.

                                                                                                                   Humidity
When it comes to humidity, keeping flower in a cold, dark place creates a relative humidity level between 59% to 63%. Too high of a humidity can cause mildew or other fungi to form. Too low of a humidity level can dry out the essential oils and cause the white, crystal trichomes to break apart easily. If you’re like me and don’t understand humidity levels, companies like Boveda and Integra sell two-way humidity packs to control the relative humidity in your containers. With that said, storing in a cold, dark place shouldn’t cause humidity problems. 

                                                                                                                         Air
The last factor for proper flower storage is air control. The perfect air level keeps the bud fresh and maintains its form. There should be a small gap between the nugs and the lid. Containers shouldn’t be filled to the top nor should they be half way filled. Not enough air can affect the relative humidity, while too much air speeds up the decarboxylation process. Vacuum sealing jars can help with air control and glass jars make great storage containers since they have a neutral charge.

We hope our first blog post was helpful to you. Did we miss anything, do you have a different storage method, is there any other product you’d like us to cover? We’d love to hear your thoughts and further the conversation. If you have any questions or suggestions for future posts feel free to email us at peter@bentodelivery.com so we can provide the most relevant and highest quality content for our growing community. Alternatively, we'll be at Hempcon Cup at the Cow Palace in Daly City September 13-15, 2019. If you'll be in the area come say high, pick up some goodies, and have a great time!