How to preserve your joint for later

How to preserve your joint for later

How do you store your pre-rolled and partially smoked joints? The approach you take will determine how long they stay fresh and potent. If you are not careful, you could lose valuable terpenes and cannabinoids. Use the following strategies to keep your smokes fresh, effective, and fragrant. 

Sometimes, things don't go as planned. Daily responsibilities can take force us to put a joint on hold. Whether you are halfway through the joint or haven't even lit it yet, some key factors will determine the joint's freshness. 

To prevent the cannabinoids and terpenes from degrading and to prevent partly smoked joints from smelling and tasting unpalatable, we've compiled a guide to help you. Follow these tips to keep your prerolls fresh and ready for action.

What happens when a joint deteriorates?

Have you ever picked up old or partly smoked marijuana, smelled an unpleasant smell, and questioned what you're doing with your life? It doesn't have to be this way! You have taken several steps to ensure that your buds stay fresh, from drying them completely and curing them to sealing them in the appropriate storage container. Why not treat your roll-ups with the same care and respect?

Several variables can make a joint smell and taste stale. First, you need to make sure you are using high-quality buds. Grow your own or buy them from a reputable source to ensure they do not contain residual pesticides or harmful additives. 

Second, joints exposed to heat and oxygen degrade over time. Leave a joint out for too long, and you end up with an old herb that tastes like hay and isn't going to give you a good high. . Still, the "old" buds are considered safe to smoke. 

If your preroll is moldy or mildew (usually due to too much moisture), it will become unusable. In contrast to the grassy, bland smell of overdried weeds, moldy weeds can smell foul and taste downright disgusting, as well as being harmful to smoke. 

How long can you store a joint?

It is not uncommon to preroll several joints ready for a session with friends. But how long can the joint last after rolling? Do joints expire? It all depends on how you handle things.

If you use the strategies below, you can keep your joints relatively fresh for up to 12 months without too much loss of quality. Even at the end of this time frame, you'll still be detecting delicious terpenes and feeling the power of the THC. But suppose they are left exposed to the elements. In that case, the quality will begin to decline within weeks and gradually deteriorate over a period of months.

How many hits does it take to complete a joint?

There are many variables that will affect how many times a joint can be hit, such as how much weed you used, the type of paper, the thickness or length of the rolling paper, the tightness of the pack, and how hard or long you draw on the joint with each hit. Some users prefer big, long soaks, while others prefer short, light ones. All things considered, the best thing we can do is build a model. For most cannabis enthusiasts, anywhere between 0.5-1 gram is considered a typical joint. Usually, in our experience, it takes about 20-40 hits to fully complete a joint of this size.

How to prevent partially smoked joints from getting smelly

Quality buds smell pleasant before rolling, and the scent of the smoke during the session is thick and lush. However, things can get smelly when you have to extinguish the joint before finishing it. 

Now, in addition to aromatic buds, your joints contain tar and other by-products that can be offensive to the olfactory system. No one wants their smoking area to smell bad, so what can you do to minimize the stench from those partly smoked joints?

Roll smaller joints

If you find yourself regularly smoking your joints and only getting halfway through, it may be time to reduce the size of your smokes. Consider rolling smaller joints that can be smoked in one session. 

For example, consider making a joint with 0.3-0.4 grams rather than one of 0.6-1.0 grams of herb. 

Not only will this prevent a bad smell later, but you can also make the most of your buds.

Extinguishing joints correctly. 

Another thing to consider is how you extinguish your joints.

Stubbing out the cherry on the end of the joint is never a good option. 

Instead, let it go out naturally, then gently pat off any remaining ash before storing it. 

Never place a joint that is still lit in any storage container. This will only make the smell worse and may even damage the container. 

Wait until the cherry is completely extinguished. If you are pressed for time and need to extinguish your joint before going to work, pinch off the smoked end and any ash before storing it in an airtight container.

Tips for keeping pre-rolled joints fresh

You need to make sure that the temperature and relative humidity are consistent and within the appropriate range. For cured buds, a relative humidity of 58-62% is considered ideal, and a temperature of 15-20°C. In addition, your joints should be protected from direct exposure to light.

Best joint storage method

Consider the following ways to store unlit or semi-smoked joints:

 Everette: Joint Everette does a great job of keeping the cones fresh. Their hinged covers keep the interior relatively airtight, which means they'll help preserve those precious cannabinoids and terpenes. In addition, these storage devices double as transport options to protect joints from being squashed, twisted, and torn.

Glass Mason jar: Glass Mason jars are a typical storage option for marijuana. If you find the jars tall enough, they also fit joints perfectly (although smaller jars are great for semi-smoked cones). The jars usually have a metal clasp and rubber seal ring, making them completely airtight. Just make sure to keep them in a cool, dark space to stop the degradation process.

Cigarette cases: Cigarette cases or tobacco pouches are an excellent and aesthetically pleasing choice for short to medium-term storage. They won't completely protect your joints from the air, but they will keep them away from light. This is a good choice for partially smoked joints. 

Vacuum sealers: These machines are the best choice for long-term storage. Not only do they keep air out, but they also remove all trapped air from inside the package. Simply load your joint into the plastic container, press the device button, and watch the technology work.

Humidor:  Often used to preserve the quality of a cigar, humidor boxes are also ideal for long-term storage of joints. These devices keep the internal environment at the ideal humidity level and temperature to extend the shelf life of your herb.

Cigar tubes: If you are a cigar fan, please keep your used cigar tubes. These containers are very similar to savestates and help keep joints fresh and protected. They also reduce the smell of semi-smoked joints, especially when you are out and about.

Torpedo cone tubes: The cone tubes act as a safe storage case for your joints. 

Use them to store all or part of a smoked joint. Since many of these products are transparent, you need to keep them in a dark place for long-term storage.

Pill bottles: Empty pill bottles protect your half-smoked joints from exposure to the air and prevent their scent from seeping into every room you enter. Because of their compact size, you must ensure your joints will fit inside them.

Zipper bag: This inexpensive short-term solution can save you money while keeping your joints fresh for a while. For best results, expel as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it and placing it in a dark place.

How to preserve joints for later use: Problem solved

Now you will no longer need to worry about the quality of your buds and joints declining over time. Also, gone are the days of worrying about a scent trail hanging over you when carrying a half-smoked joint. Whichever option you choose to use, you'll rest easy knowing that your joints aren't going away anytime soon.