Optimal Storage Conditions of Commercial Cannabis Crops

• Published in: Industrial & engineering chemistry research Vol. 61; no. 39; pp. 14691 - 14701
• Main Authors: Reason, Daniel A., Grainger, Megan N. C., Lane, Joseph R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Chemical Society 05.10.2022
• Subjects: General Research
• ISSN: 0888-5885; 1520-5045
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c02071

The ideal storage conditions for cannabis flower are dependent on its intended use, with the flower either being sold as a finished product (consumed by patients) or sold to manufacturers for further processing. This two-year study found that, to maintain a consistent cannabinoid concentration, flower containing Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), should be refrigerated for all intended uses. Cannabidiol (CBD) was more stable than THC, hence room temperature storage may be appropriate for flowers sold as a finished product. However, if CBD-dominant flower is intended for further processing, the flower should be refrigerated to prevent decarboxylation of acidic cannabinoids. Degradation was accelerated by UV exposure, and when stored at room temperature and refrigerated under UV light, acidic cannabinoids followed the typical degradation pathway of decarboxylation. However, when frozen under UV light, degradation of acidic cannabinoids did not result in an increased concentration of their neutral analogues, suggesting that a different degradation pathway occurred under these conditions.