What to Do if Your Cannabis Stash Gets Wet?
- 1. What happens when cannabis gets wet?
- 2. How to dry cannabis buds
- 2. a. Use paper towels
- 2. b. Do not use the microwave
- 2. c. Do not place the buds in areas with too much light
- 2. d. Use humidity packs like boveda
- 2. e. Use rice grains
- 2. f. Dry in the oven
- 2. g. Using a blow dryer
- 2. h. Using a standing fan
- 3. How to avoid getting your weed stash wet?
- 4. What to do if your hash or kief gets wet
- 5. Frequently asked questions
- 6. Conclusion
Whether you purchase cannabis from a dispensary or grow your cannabis seeds at home, you’re going to do everything possible to store it safely. You’re likely to treat it like gold and act it like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. Indeed, it’s understandable. After all, you’ve either spent your precious money or slogged for months to grow some amazing cannabis. However, no matter how safe you are and no matter how much you protect it, sh*t happens at times and your stash may get wet.
Either you spilled water on it or it’s wet from sitting outside for too long due to humidity. Yes, this happens far too often and is a common problem among many cannabis users. So, if you’re here to find out what to do if your cannabis stash gets wet, you’re doing the right thing.
1. What happens when cannabis gets wet?
Most growers wash buds after harvesting them just to make sure that the chemicals are gone. Thus, it’s not a big deal when it gets wet. This is very common among growers that have grown cannabis for a long time. But, it sure is a pain in the neck because it becomes next to impossible to light it in a bowl or smoke it like a joint. Also, it’s too tough to grind cannabis when it’s wet. Wet cannabis gets stuck in the grinder and it’s difficult to grind buds into smaller particles. And, it’s not fun to make a joint if the particles aren’t ground enough.
Additionally, wet cannabis is going to taste horrible when you try and smoke it. This is akin to uncured weed. This has nothing to do with the terpene profile and flavor because all that is still intact; however, it’s because of the water vapor mixing with the smoke that gives an acrid taste.
Plus, you have to worry about other issues like mold. If you leave your buds out in a room with high humidity for a long time, it will develop mold and fungi all over. And, don’t even think of smoking buds covered with mold. It’s not only disgusting but it will take a toll on your lungs too. On the other hand, sometimes you need to make your cannabis wet too when it’s too dry and brittle. For that, many people use lemon slices. It will enhance the fragrance of their stash and also make buds moist. They stick lemon slices at the top of the jar, and while this method works nicely, it should be done only for about 12 hours. Anything more will destroy the buds. Just remember that marijuana is pleasurable when it’s moist – not too wet and neither too dry. It has to be somewhere in between.
2. How to dry cannabis buds
First off, handle the buds carefully because you’ll ruin the trichomes that fall off easily. Buds without trichomes don’t do anything much because the THC is almost gone. This means that placing the buds under a powerful fan or a blow dryer is a bad idea because the crystals will be dusted off, and you’ll be left with nothing. Having said that, here are a few ways to save your wet cannabis.
Use paper towels
The best way to immediately suck out all the moisture from the buds is to wrap them with a few paper towels. Be very careful and tightly wrap the towels around the buds. If the paper becomes too soggy, replace it with fresh towels to suck up excess moisture. Check the buds after a few hours to replace the towels again. But, don’t forget the buds and leave them inside the towels! Or you’ll have to worry about mold again.
Since the towels are wet, it creates a perfect environment for mold to develop, so keep an eye on the buds just to be safe. Whatever you do, do not wrap the buds in paper towels and place them in ziplock bags. You will be encouraging mold to overtake the buds pretty quickly. Simply place the buds in paper towels and leave them in an open area with enough ventilation.
Do not use the microwave
Many people get this fantastic idea to place the buds in a microwave oven. However, they don’t realize that they are heading to disaster because the buds will be ruined. Instead of just sucking out excessive moisture, the microwave will cook the buds. A microwave is designed to heat and cook things, just in case you forgot. Thus, placing the buds in a microwave or even an oven will ruin the buds quicker than you can imagine.
Do not place the buds in areas with too much light
Placing wet cannabis buds under harsh sunlight and even grow lights will ruin them. This is yet another misconception that strong light will draw out extra moisture. No, it doesn’t. Instead, it ruins the buds and also makes them dry to a huge extent. Even if you leave the buds under sunlight for a few hours, they become brittle.
Plus, you need to remember that excess heat will activate the THC. You’re actually decarboxylating the buds – the same process used to make edibles. Ultimately, your stash will be unpleasant to smoke.
Use humidity packs like Boveda
Once the buds are dried after using paper, place them in glass jars along with humidity packs like Boveda. You can close the jars while you do so. You can also use regular silicon sachets that are commonly available anywhere. However, make sure you keep checking the buds regularly because you’re placing them in a closed environment and the chances of developing mold are very high.
Use rice grains
Rice grains work amazingly well to suck moisture from cannabis buds. It is a tried-and-tested method that has worked for a long time for many people. In fact, those that drop their phone in water also use the same method. Simply use a large container and fill it with enough rice. Stuff buds inside the vessel in such a way that the grains completely cover the buds.
Within a few hours, the rice grains will slowly suck the moisture and make your buds dry enough to be used again. Don’t leave it in the rice for too long, though – it makes it too dry. Once the buds sit in the rice for a few hours, say, 5-6 hours, it’s time to remove them. If the buds aren’t dry enough, simply use fresh rice and repeat the process. One single drawback of this method is that the buds will be covered with rice flour; however, it’s not that big a deal. Simply dust off all the excess flour and your buds will be as good as new. You will still be able to smoke the buds. In fact, the flour makes the wet buds drier, and this is why this method is more likely to work.
So, don’t worry if you somehow get your buds wet. It happens. And, very often, as stated already. You’ll not lose the buds if you take precautions and dry them properly. All you have to do is show a little patience. It may be tempting to dry the buds quickly and place them in the oven or use a dryer, but it will certainly ruin the bud. Even if you place it for 10 seconds in the microwave, the buds will be cooked, so do not try that method.
Dry in the Oven
Depending on how much weed got wet, you can also dry it real fast by placing it in the oven. Just keep in mind that you do NOT want to burn your weed as it will degrade the cannabinoids and terpenes, which will make your weed smell like hay and won’t get you high. In order to dry your weed with this method, go ahead and grab a baking tray, spread your weed evenly and place it in an oven heated to around 80 °C. If your oven doesn’t go this low then keep it at a minimum while leaving the door slightly open to allow some of the heat to go out. Check every 5 to 10 minutes and make sure to take it out as soon as it’s dry enough as leaving it for too long will dry it out too much and evaporate terpenes and cannabinoids.
Using a Blow Dryer
Using a blow dryer can be a quick and effective way of drying out weed that has got a little soggy, but you need to be super careful doing so. Blow dryers can pump out super hot air, which is the last thing you want to subject your precious stash to. Not only will it ruin the flavor of your buds, but it could also decrease the potency. The best way to use a blow dryer is to set it on the lowest heat possible and keep it at least 12 inches (around 30 cm) away from your cannabis flowers. You’ll want to leave the blow dryer running for about 20-30 minutes (or until you feel the buds have properly dried out). The thing is, this method can quickly dry the outside of your buds out, while the inside still remains moist.
To combat this issue, the best thing to do is to carefully break the buds up into small chunks before you start to hit them with the low-heat blow dryer. This ensures that the buds are much more evenly dried, and the process will be much quicker also. Just make sure that the small chunks of bud aren't just going to fly away. The best thing to do here is to put them into an oversized bowl (the bigger the better) that has been lined with kitchen paper towel, and to keep the blow dryer well away.
Using a Standing Fan
Using a fan to dry your wet buds is a pretty straightforward process and can be a much safer option than using a blow dryer. Just like with the blow dryer, you will first want to break all your weed nugs down into small-sized chunks. Again, this helps with quicker and more even drying. Next up, line a large bowl with paper towels, and place it down about 50 cm from the fan. Then just leave them for about 20 mins and you should have some fresh, dry cannabis buds ready to go.
3. How to Avoid Getting Your Weed Stash Wet?
In order to avoid getting your weed wet it’s essential you keep it well-stored. Proper storage will guarantee you weed doesn’t get wet and stays in top condition and doesn’t get mold. On top of that, weed can definitely go bad so apart from keeping your weed properly dry, it will extend your weed’s lifetime. So here are a couple of tips to keep your weed safe and in top shape:
- Use airtight jars and store your weed in dry, dark places
- Only grab how much weed you’re going to smoke
- Don’t use ziplocs to travel with weed, use small airtight jars instead
- Always check your pockets before going to the beach or pool
Growing, drying, and curing are super important but how well you take care of your weed after is equally important as it will also affect its quality so storing your weed correctly will not only avoid accidents like getting your weed wet but also ensure your weed stays fresh for longer.
4. What to Do If Your Hash or Kief Gets Wet
Hash and kief are amazing concentrates, but they can be quite tricky to handle if they get wet. There really is nothing worse than finishing a hard day at work, setting yourself up on the couch, picking the perfect movie, and then opening up your hash or kief stash to find that somehow it has got wet. The best thing to do here is to grab some parchment paper and baking trays, and head over to your oven. You want to set it to the lowest possible setting, and also leave the oven door cracked slightly to allow some of the heat to escape. The lower the heat, the better. Then just spread the hash and kief out in thin layers across the parchment leaving a fair bit of space between each chunk. No need to preheat the oven here, just place the tray in as soon as you turn it on, leave the door cracked open, and come back every ten minutes or so to check on the progress. Once the hash and kief are slightly warm to the touch, they should be good to go.
Just remember not to leave your hash and kief in the oven for too long, or you risk decarboxylating them. Decarboxylating? What does that mean? It's pretty simple actually. Decarboxylation is when you heat up weed products - usually buds, hash, or kief - to activate the cannabinoids contained within. This process is essential when it comes to consuming cannabis in edible form, but isn't necessary when it comes to smoking or vaping.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Still Smoke Weed That is Wet?
Look, you can try. But it's not a good idea. Smoking wet cannabis can be an unpleasant experience, especially since the huge amount of water vapor created from burning wet weed can cause throat irritation, and depending on how wet your stash has become, it may be impossible altogether.
Can You Vape Wet Weed?
Vaping wet weed will work, but again, there will just be so much water vapor that it will be like trying to vape through a swimming pool. The vapor just won't taste great, and you'll likely end up with an annoying and unpleasant experience that won't be very enjoyable whatsoever.
What is The Best Way to Dry Weed?
The best way to dry weed is with a standing fan. It's a pretty straightforward process, and if done correctly can get you some nice, dry cannabis buds in no time. Just make sure to break your nugs down into small chunks first, and to also keep an eye on the buds while they are drying, as you don't want them to dry out excessively or too quickly.
My Weed is Showing Signs of Mold. Can I Still Smoke it?
NO. Under no circumstances should you ever attempt to smoke weed that is showing signs of mold. Not only can mildew and mold cause serious illness and breathing problems, but it's also not worth the risk. Just throw out the moldy weed, and start again with some fresh nugs. But weed is so expensive! I don't want to throw it out…
Too bad. Smoking moldy weed is a huge no-no. And if you are paying a premium for your smoke, you should look into growing it yourself! Even if you have absolutely zero gardening experience, there are plenty of resources online to help you get started. It's easy, and fun, and you'll be rewarded with mountains of stanky, dank as all hell buds in less than 10 weeks if you choose the right seeds from the right seed bank… Also, keep in mind that growing your own weed is a great way to ensure that the quality of your smoke is always spot-on.
6. Conclusion
Growing, drying, and curing are super important but how well you take care of your weed after is equally important as it will also affect its quality so storing your weed correctly will not only avoid accidents like getting your weed wet but also ensure your weed stays fresh for longer.
Remeber to always store your buds in an airtight container, in a cool, dark place, and avoid any potential moisture or light. Mason jars work a treat, but if you can get your hands on a UV-protected jar like the ones used for medicinal cannabis, even better.
If your weed does get wet by accident, then you've got a few options for drying it out. You can either use a low-heat blow dryer or a standing fan - just make sure that you don't heat it up too much. Or if your hash or kief gets wet, then try to dry it out in the oven at a low temp with the door cracked for the best results.
