Should You Clean Your Weed Jars?

For frequent and infrequent cannabis consumers alike, proper storage for your stash can help keep your cannabis fresher for longer — up to two years if done right. The best and simplest way is to repurpose a standard, airtight mason jar (or any other jar that can be sealed tight) into a weed jar, then store it in a cool, dark place.

So let’s assume that you do (or soon will) keep your weed in a glass jar. Even if your jars never see the light of day, is it still necessary to clean them? In short, that’s a definite yes. But first, let’s take a look at the benefits of storing cannabis in airtight jars.

Jars are preferable for keeping your bud’s trichomes intact. Leaving your cannabis in plastic baggies can pull trichomes from the bud and onto the plastic itself.

You’ll want to protect them because trichomes contain powerful cannabinoids that provide the plant with potentially therapeutic benefits for conditions like anxiety, nausea, pain, and many others. Trichomes also contain terpenes, compounds that give weed its distinct tastes and smells like citrus or pine. Terpenes also contribute to the entourage effect, a theory positing that cannabis is more effective when compounds such as CBD, THC and terpenes work together, compared to when they are isolated.

Another downside to storing your stash in a plastic bag is that it may break apart or flatten. While this may be useful for rolling a joint, storing your bud in a weed jar offers more protection and will protect your stash from being crushed.

Storing your weed in plastic bags offers little protection. photo credit

Cannabis that is exposed to light and air, or is left unconsumed for a long period of time will degrade and cannabinoids will break down. The psychoactive compound THC, for example, will break down into a cannabinoid called CBN (cannabinol). While CBN is thought to be effective in beating insomnia, it has little to no intoxicating effects. When you store your weed in an airtight container and away from light, humidity, and heat, your stash will take much longer to degrade.

Storing cannabis in a jar also helps keep individual flavor profiles intact for longer. Because of the aforementioned terpenes, weed strains have distinctly different tastes and smells that you would not necessarily want to mix. If you enjoy the sweetness of Super Lemon Haze, but store it in the same jar as the cheese-like, slightly funky Dairy Queen strain, both could be much less pleasurable to consume.

Using a weed jar will help you preserve terpenes and freshness. photo credit

Lest we forget, weed has a strong smell, and unless you want your place to smell like a dispensary, keeping cannabis in an airtight jar will help keep odors to a minimum. Bonus for parents of small children and pet parents: keeping your weed in a jar sealed tight makes it harder for little hands (and paws) to open.

Over time, there will be a build-up of plant resin and shake that sticks to the side of the jars. If you leave weed — or any other organic matter for that matter — in any container long enough, you’ll definitely get mold, which is not great for your weed or your health. Smoking moldy cannabis can exacerbate conditions like asthma and allergies, and expose you to additional bronchial and lung irritations.

Cleaning your weed jars will help prevent mold. photo credit

Luckily, cleaning your weed jars is a pretty straightforward proposition and doesn’t require any special equipment or ingredients.

Remember, cleaning your weed jar can help keep your cannabis fresh and potent for longer, so when you notice some sticky build-up, give one of these methods a try.

Do you clean your weed jars? Let us know your tips and tricks for cleaning in the comments below!

Photo Credit: Shutterstock