There are believed to be thousands of cannabis varieties, each with their own unique qualities. One of the biggest variables that can affect the quality and shelf life of cannabis is its moisture and stickiness levels.
Sticky Weed vs. Moist Weed
To clarify, moist cannabis and sticky cannabis are not the same thing. To understand the differences between moist weed and sticky weed, we need to understand the curing and drying process.
Curing and Drying
The cannabis flower is dried, trimmed, and cured in the final stages of cultivation. This process is extremely important, as proper drying and curing increase the potency and shelf life of the product.
The drying and curing process can take anywhere from one to six months depending on a variety of factors, such as:
- The method
- The cannabis cultivar
- The drying and curing environment
Many of the cannabinoids and terpenes that can be found in the cannabis flower are sensitive to temperature and humidity. This means that rushing the process can have disastrous effects, resulting in an inferior product with diminished potency and shelf life.
The curing process ensures that the THCA is converted into THC. Overly wet or moist weed has a harsher smoke, is more susceptible to molding, and is overall less potent.
An easy way to tell if your weed has too much water is to weigh it. Overly moist weed can be anywhere from 60-70% heavier than weed that has been fully cured and dried.
Why Is Some Weed Sticky?
It’s important not to confuse moist weed with sticky weed. Unlike the former, sticky cannabis is produced from cultivars with higher THC content.
More cannabinoids mean that the flower will be more resinous and sticky. However, there are some important caveats to keep in mind.
Trichomes and Stickiness
All cannabis plants get their stickiness from trichomes, of which there are three distinct types:
- Bulbous trichomes: The smallest of the three trichomes are barely visible and cover the cannabis plant in the form of tiny stalks with resin-secreting glands on top.
- Capitate-sessile trichomes: Slightly larger than Bulbous trichomes, Capitate-sessile trichomes cover more of the cannabis plant and are made up of stalks with round glands at the top.
- Capitate-stalked trichomes: The largest and most visible of the three trichomes, Capitate-stalked trichomes develop during the flowering stage and yield the highest percentage of cannabinoids.
Why Is Some Weed Dry?
All cannabis plants are dried and cured after being harvested; however, it is possible for cannabis to be over-dried if the right conditions are not met.
The perfect level of cannabis dryness can be achieved at the following moisture levels:
- Drying ends: 14-15%
- Curing ends: 11-12%
- Pleasant smoke: 10-12%
Anything with a moisture level below 10% will have an overly harsh, unpleasant smoke. The highest quality and THC potency levels cannot be achieved if the flower is overdried.
Products That Help Manage Your Bud’s Moisture Levels
ATMOSIScience Inc. founder, Dr. Sandra Shen, has years of experience controlling humidity levels. She and her team have combined advanced technology with the needs of cannabis consumers to create easy-to-use 2-way humidity control products that fit their lifestyles.
Humidi-Cure™ 2-Way Humidity Control Packs
These moisture packs are ideal for users with a trusted storage container who want to help control the humidity levels inside it. Our packs come in multiple sizes to fit in large or small containers, perfect for regular and occasional cannabis consumers.
HumidiShield™ 2-Way Humidity Control Jars
Speaking of storage containers, our HumidiShield™ weed jars combine the same advanced 2-way humidity control technology inside the lid of jars to keep your buds fresh for months. These jars are perfect for users who like to take cannabis with them.
ruksak™ 2-Way Humidity Control Bags
Similar to our 2-way humidity control jars, our rusksak™ weed bags are ideal for users on the go. The bags offer the same technology built-in as our Humidi-Cure™ packs and HumidiShield™ jars, keeping your buds fresh wherever they go.