Pre-rolled joints offer unparalleled convenience, but storing them does come with its challenges. Cannabis contains over 100 terpenes—delicate volatile aromatic compounds giving cannabis its unique flavors and effects—and the moment they are exposed to air, light, or temperature, they start degrading. These terpenes oxidize extremely fast, transforming nice pleasant flavors into sharp unpleasant sensations, while also converting THC into CBN. This compromises the intended experience. Proper storage is critical to preserving the potency, flavor, and structural integrity of pre-rolls.

Humidity: The Most Important Variable

On average, cannabis thrives at a relatively humidity of 59-63%, providing enough moisture to prevent unwanted drying, but not so much that it produces mold. When stored too dry, trichomes become brittle and break off, papers crack, and burn rates increase, producing an undesirable and harsh and uneven smoke. When too humid, moldy microbes are cultivated, introducing dangerous pathogens that also degrade cannabinoids. Two-way humidity control packets specifically made for cannabis are the standard, keeping moisture stable.

Temperature and its Impact on Stability/Potency

Temperature effects pre-roll stability in many ways. Heat will accelerate terpenes and degrade cannabinoids, while cold temps preserve either but will risk condensation with each time you open a container. The recommended storage conditions are at the ideal storage temperature, which ranges between 60-68°F (15-20°C); this is cool enough to slow degradation while avoiding any condensation problems. The stability of temperature is just as or more important than its actual value. Not only do fluctuations in temperature cause the material to expand and contract but these fluctuations may negatively impact the overall integrity of the joint structure and promote the degradation of terpenes through micro-ventilation, during the fluctuations.

Light Exposure: the Invisible Devastator

Ultraviolet light is perhaps the most destructive element in relation to stored cannabis, as it causes reactions that degrade cannabinoids and terpenes at alarming rates. Studies show that THC subject to UV light becomes CBN approximately 3-5 times faster than if it is protected which will drastically change the experience when smoking the joint. While all light wavelengths degrade cannabis to some effect, UV and blue light wavelengths degrade cannabis rapidly. Opaque containers provide essential protection from light, however, amber or dark violet glass containers provide even better protection if you do not want to use opaque containers.

Air Contact: Oxygen Management

Oxygen exposure is the driving force in the chemical degradation of both cannabinoids and terpenes. It causes oxidation reactions, where THC is converted into CBN (which has a sedative effect as opposed to euphoric), while simultaneously degrading terpenes into compounds usually not as pleasant. Vacuum sealed containers allow for complete removal of oxygen exposure. For more accessible options, containers should aim to minimize headspace (the empty volume that is above the stored joints) and should minimize the available oxygen for reactions, which oxygen is an important driving force for reactions. 

Smell-Safe Factors

Many pre-roll storage systems use activated carbon filters, or other multi-layer sealing systems, which prevent odor molecules from escaping. These options are based on technology that uses microporous materials, that can stop the terpenes from escaping, but allow air exchange from the hybrid sealed storage container; this allows for humidity management, without allowing the terpenes to escape. Besides the obvious benefits of being discrete and smell safe, smell safe containers also prevent the terpenes from various nature from intermingling when several different varieties of cannabis are stored together so that the experience of aroma and effects may remain unique between diverse cultivars.