How should CBD be stored?

As with all natural ingredients, your CBD products will develop over time. The concentration of cannabinoids can decrease and the compounds can be denatured. Your products may then lose their efficacy. How do you maintain all the qualities of a CBD oil or CBD flowers? We’ll explain everything to you.

What factors influence CBD content?

Do you feel that your CBD oil is less effective at promoting relaxation or relieving pain? That your CBD flowers no longer have any impact on you? Your products may not have been stored under optimal conditions to preserve the cannabinoids.

A study carried out by Italian researchers in 2019showed that cannabis, like any natural ingredient, changes under the influence of environmental factors. The researchers compared the change in hemp samples which had been stored in 4 different ways: in the light and at room temperature, in the dark and at room temperature, at a cool temperature and in the dark, in a freezer and in the dark. They regularly measured the THC, CBN and CBD levels of these samples.

At the end of the experiment, cannabis stored in light and at room temperature had lost its cannabinoids, both THC and CBD. The researchers also showed that protecting the hemp from light slows the disappearance of these active ingredients. When stored at room temperature, however, cannabis gradually loses all its qualities. In contrast, only the cold and dark stored cannabis samples had their active ingredients preserved or slightly altered.

By accelerating the transformation of CBD and THC, light and heat alter the qualities of cannabis. So you know that to enjoy your CBD over a longer period of time, you need to consider its storage conditions. Let’s see how your CBD oil or CBD flowers can be stored efficiently.

Preserving CBD oil

A quality CBD oil is usually delivered in a strong glass bottle which is tinted to limit the impact of light. Some glass is also UV-treated. However, it is still advisable to take care of the storage conditions for your oil so that it lasts a long time. CBD oil stored under optimal conditions will remain effective for more than a year! Choosing a dark and cool place to store your bottle of CBD oil will limit the degradation of the cannabinoids.

It is best to store your CBD oil in the fridge if it is unopened. If the temperature is too cold, however, the oil becomes viscous and may form lumps in the pipette, making it difficult to use. The oil must then be brought to room temperature for a few while before using it. You can also store your bottle of CBD oil in a cool cupboard.

Preserving CBD flowers

Like CBD oil, CBD flowers will lose their qualities if you store them at room temperature and in the light. Therefore, it is best to store CBD flowers in a cool, dark place to preserve their cannabinoid content. As dried cannabis plants, CBD flowers are also extremely sensitive to humidity, which can cause degradation and mould, and to draughts, which can evaporate the more volatile compounds. Therefore, it is recommended that you leave your CBD flowers in their airtight packaging, which should be carefully resealed after use. By following these simple guidelines, you will be able to enjoy your CBD products for a longer period of time!