Degradation and Storage of Therapeutic Cannabis
- Proper Storage of Medical cannabis Prescription is very important to maintain the healing properties and freshness of your herbs.
Cannabis it has, like all other crops, limited durability. Inevitably, there will be a time when your highly valued supply of fresh herbs will expire and will lose its pungent aroma and rich green hue after the fruit-smelling, bright green bud. In addition, over time, your canes will lose all their wetness and fluffy, leaving only a dry, crunchy and generally unsatisfactory product. Such is the process of degradation and your cannabis is playing the same rules as other crops.
Fortunately, however, the factors are cannabis flower degradation is easy to understand and easy to control.
Freshness after harvest
Once the plant is harvested and ceases to take nutrients from its root system, the cannabinoid biosynthetic pathways are disrupted and the degradation process begins. In this process, cannabinoids and terpenes break down into other substances and consequently alter their psychoactive properties. For example,higher temperatures have the ability to decarboxylate THCA to psychoactive THC and over time temperature and light can degrade THC to CBN . (See "Therapeutic Cannabinoids 2: CBN")
If the hemp is properly harvested, dried and stored in the final containers, a period of optimum freshness and product readiness will occur at some point, which can only be prolonged by careful control of the temperature, relative humidity, UV radiation and ambient oxygen.
Influence of temperature on cannabis degradation
Temperature can affect cannabis degradation in several ways. The ideal temperature for storing prescription medical cannabis should not exceed 21 ° C. Temperatures above 21 degrees will create an environment conducive to bacterial and fungal growth in your canes. In addition, unstable monoterpenes begin to polymerize at a surprisingly low temperature rise, which can affect the smell and taste of your flowers. Further, for prolonged exposure to high temperatures, cannabinoids start to decarboxylate and / or degrade. THCA first loses its carboxylic acids and thus becomes THC, which can eventually degrade to CBN through prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures.
Conversely, when storing cannabis, for example, in a freezer, too low temperatures can increase the relative humidity in the surroundings to such an extent that moisture is forced out of the sticks and subsequently destroyed by the trichomes.
Effect of moisture on cannabis degradation
Relative humidity alone can affect cannabis degradation by increasing the moisture inside the buds. During the drying and final storage phase, the fluid transfer is rapidly decelerated in the harvested hemp. Increased moisture in the sticks prevents airflow, thereby increasing the risk of mold and smell. On the other hand, too low moisture will accelerate degradation by drying the leaves and sticks, which will then be brittle and crumbly.
Optimally, cannabis should be stored in relatihumidity from 59% - 63%to prevent degradation in both directions.
Influence of UV radiation and oxidation on cannabis degradation
Temperature and humidity have a significant impact on cannabis degradation, but UV radiation and oxygen can do most of the damage in the shortest time. UV rays rapidly break down organic material and cause cannabinoid breakdown and degradation. This process can only be slowed down by protecting the flowers from light.
Cannabinoid Contact withoxygen can also rapidly accelerate degradation. Highly acidified THC changes to CBN faster therefore, it is important to store cannabis flowersCheck not only the relative humidity but also the oxygen level in the surroundings.
Conclusion
Temperature, relative humidity, UV rhand oxygen are the four main factors affecting cannabis degradation. Controlling these variables and maintaining their correct values means limiting the processes that cause the degradation of plant material, cannabinoids, and terpenoids. By maintaining the right values, we can significantly extend the shelf life of our stored cannabis.
Cannabinoid degradation is inbut inevitable and your cannabis one day simply loses its original effectiveness, flavor and taste. The best way to combat these natural processes is to store cannabis in a controlled environment. Your fresh hemp flowers will retain both their freshness and their healing effects.
And what you, our readers? How do you store your medicinal cannabis? Share your opinions and experiences with us in the comments section!