Smoking dry weed sucks. Or perhaps we should say smoking dry weed stings…literally. As you take a puff of some over-dry weed, don’t expect to enjoy the pleasure of aromatic terpenes or the therapeutic benefits of potent cannabinoids. Instead of a smooth smoke gently tickling your taste buds, dry weed slaps you in the back of the throat and leaves you coughing.
Sadly, smoking dry weed is an all too common phenomenon in the cannabis community. With all of the information and technology we now have on cannabis, you’d think over-dry weed would’ve gone the way of the Dodo bird. Alas, cannabis consumers need to be ever vigilant in their battle against dried weed.
No matter how well you store your cannabis buds, it’s important to review the tips below. Having a better understanding of what to do about dry weed could save you a lot of frustration (and money) in the future.
Cannabis Dryness: How It Happens
Well, let’s start with the obvious reason for over-dry cannabis: the weather. If you’re living in a hot, dry desert, it’s far more likely you’ll end up with dry cannabis versus someone in a damp environment.
This is especially so if you don’t keep your cannabis properly stored. People who travel a lot need to be conscious about how weather changes will affect their weed and transport their stash accordingly.
In addition to weather and storage concerns, inexperienced growers often go a little bit too crazy with the drying process. Yes, drying and curing are essential parts of the cannabis prep process, but you need to know your limits.
So, if you are growing cannabis, you need to take into account that cannabis dries at different rates at different times of the year. Regularly checking the moisture content of your cannabis is the best way to ensure they don’t get too moist or too dry.
Why Dry Cannabis Sucks
If you’ve never had dry cannabis before, then you should count yourself lucky. People unfortunate enough to smoke dry cannabis often describe the experience as “harsh.” You’ll most likely feel an uncomfortable or even painful sensation in the back of your throat as you smoke your dry weed.
Besides the discomfort factor, dry weed just tastes “bleh.” All of the terpenes that give cannabis strains their distinctive aromas need a little bit of moisture. When you smell or smoke your dried out cannabis, you simply won’t experience all of those pleasant, nuanced flavors.
Lastly, dry cannabis is far less potent than fresh cannabis. This is especially important for medical patients to consider. Not only will you lose the healing benefits of the terpenes, it’s also likely your dry cannabis will have a reduced cannabinoid count. Plus, since dry cannabis burns so fast, you’ll get less “bang for your buck.”
Simple Ways To Rehydrate Cannabis Buds
It should be obvious that how you store your cannabis will have a huge impact on whether or not it’s susceptible to dryness. For optimal results, it’s highly recommended you use some type of glass container with an airtight clamp.
The benefit of using a glass jar is it creates a stable environment that doesn’t allow new air in or out. Not only does this reduce the risk of over-drying, it also keeps your cannabis from stinking up your house.
You must keep these glass jars in cool, dark places for the best results. Leaving your glass jars in direct sunlight could put your weed at risk for another real buzz kill: mold. You might even want to invest in dark-colored jars that won’t allow as much sunshine inside.
The fancy option
For those who have extra funds, you might want to consider looking into a cannabis humidor or humidity packs. As a word of warning, please don’t buy a tobacco humidor and expect things to work out just fine. Cannabis needs a humidity level of about 50-60 percent, but most tobacco humidors are set in the 70s.
Also, you should avoid humidors that are made of cedar wood. Although cedar wood adds a nice flavor to tobacco, it’s not desirable on weed. Thankfully, as the weed market grows, more humidor designers are catering to the unique challenges of the cannabis consumer.
Can You Rehydrate Dry Cannabis?
So, despite all your hard work, you’re still left with some ultra-dry weed in your hand. Don’t give up hope just yet! There are easy strategies you could use to transform that dryness into dankness. Below, we’ll detail a few of the most popular methods out there.
While reading through these techniques, please keep in mind that mold exposure is a real threat. Don’t go overboard wetting objects that you intend to throw in your weed jar. In addition to keeping a close eye on your weed, you should always take out damp objects within a few hours.
The Cotton Ball Method
The simplest way to reintroduce moisture into your cannabis is sometimes referred to as the “cotton ball method.” To use this technique, you’ll only need two things: tin foil and (surprise) a cotton ball.
First, slightly wet your cotton ball and wrap it in a sheet of tin foil. Next, poke a few holes in the tin foil to allow the water to seep through. Lastly, place this wrapped cotton ball in your mason jar and let it sit there for a few hours. You should notice your cannabis has rehydrated significantly within this short span of time. If your cannabis is still too dry, you could always repeat this strategy with another cotton ball.
A Side Salad With Your Weed?
Who said lettuce was just for salads? That’s right; only a few leaves of lettuce can tremendously help reintroduce moisture into your weed. Since lettuce doesn’t really have a distinctive taste, you also don’t have to worry about it interfering with the flavor of your cannabis.
Just don’t forget to place your lettuce in a Ziplock bag before you put it on top of your cannabis. After a few hours, open your glass jar and see just how much of the lettuce’s moisture transferred to the weed. As with all the other methods, repeat until you get the desired effect.
More Flavorful Ways To Add Moisture
Using the cotton ball or lettuce methods are the best re-hydrating methods for those who dare not tamper with their terpenes. For those who want to add a bit of pizazz to their cannabis, however, there are plenty of other herbs and fruits you could use to re-invigorate your weed.
Apples and Oranges
The most popular method is to throw the skin of a citrus fruit like a lemon or an orange into your glass jar. This is especially good for those who are looking to take advantage of the energizing effects of limonene. Fans of this citrus technique recommend replacing whatever rinds you’re using at least once per day to avoid attracting mold.
Although citrus rinds are very popular, some cannabis enthusiasts prefer using a few chunks of apple. The main benefit of using apples is they can transfer a lot of moisture without affecting your weed’s flavor too much. You’ll still get a bit of the apple’s distinctive aromas in your weed, but it won’t be as pronounced as citrus fruits.
For those who really want to add freshness to their weed’s flavor, consider placing a few herbs in a Ziplock bag and tossing them in your cannabis jar. Mediterranean herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme are always great, but you could also add a refreshing hint of mint or a bit of spice from cilantro. Let your imagination run wild when choosing the flavor combinations you think would best compliment your strain of weed.
Don’t Let Dry Cannabis Bring You Down!
No matter how hard we try to avoid dry cannabis, sometimes we just can’t avoid it. Don’t beat yourself up if you discover a batch of over-dry weed; you’re certainly not the first cannabis user to have that sad experience. As you can see above, there are plenty of ways you could reintroduce moisture with products, foods, or herbs you probably have lying around your home. Now that you know all of these tips, you should have an easier time preventing and dealing with dry weed.
