How to Rescue Your Dry Cannabis Buds

Getting cannabis products from farm to pharmacy shelf isn’t as straight-forward as most would assume. With strict regulations surrounding Utah’s medical cannabis program, the manufactured goods that are produced for patients require rigorous state testing by the state’s Department of Health before being sold – and that takes time.

With limited hands working with cannabis at the UDOH due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the new state program being in its infancy, products have been taking longer than anticipated to get into patient’s hands.

Besides patient inconvenience and grower frustrations, this delay doesn’t affect the quality of the salves, tinctures, edibles, distillate cartridges, and other various cannabis products you find in Utah pharmacies, but it is drying out the precious flower – and some patients are feeling burnt by its poor condition.

UV rays and oxygen are the biggest enemies of fresh cannabis – and licensed growers are complaining that these threats are unavoidable when state testing takes longer than expected. In some cases, raw flower, which is consumed most by Utah patients according to pharmacy operators, can take up to two months before arriving at local storefronts once testing is completed; severely affecting its quality.

Preventing dry-out and keeping cannabis at the ideal moisture level has a few benefits for consumers:

• Better preserved flavor and potency
• The smoke/vapor is more palatable and a bit cooler on the inhale
• Ground cannabis is easier to manipulate and handle

Rehydrating your cannabis is a delicate process that requires patience, but not a lot more than that. If you’ve recently purchased a “fresh” jar of medical cannabis at your local pharmacy, that isn’t so fresh. Read our Salt-Baked rehydration methods below to help rescue your dry stash.

Humidity Control Packets

Self-regulating disposable humidity packs like, Boveda, help maintain relative humidity inside of your stash jar. Ideally, cannabis is stored at 55 to 62-percent relative humidity (RH). Luckily, the Boveda designed humidity pack is specifically design for cannabis consumers and available at The Looking Glass Smoke Shop and Gallery, located at 1568 State Street in Salt Lake City.

The Boveda 62-percent RH is a small, rectangular packet that is a bit squishy to the touch and ideal for Utah’s dry climate. The unique exterior allows moisture to pass through the Boveda packaging freely, allowing humidity to rehydrate the contents of your jar.

The lifespan of these mini cannabis-savers depends on the current humidity of the starting material and the quantity of cannabis that requires re-hydration. When the Boveda is spent, the packet will lose its soft texture and become firm. Replace as needed.

Fruit Peel Method

If you’re not able to swing by your local headshop for humidity packets, there are remedies you can find within your own home. A fruit peel can be a nice way to up the moisture of your cannabis while gently infusing your dried-out stash with a light fruity undertone. While the flesh of an orange or lime holds most of its juices, the peel contains much of its essential oils and essence. Peels are effective for re-hydrating cannabis because they are natural and moist without being damp to the touch. A lot goes a long way with this method, so make sure to only use a piece, half the size of your thumbnail, per ounce of cannabis.

Make sure to leave a little space between the fruit peel and your bud to avoid getting your stash too wet. This can be accomplished simply by placing your peel in an opened plastic bag within your stash jar.

Wet Paper Towel Method

Distilled water is not that different from the water that comes out of your faucet at home, but it is required for this cannabis re-hydrating tip. Distilled water has been evaporated and recollected to remove impurities. In other words, it’s pure H20.

Whether your cannabis came in a jar, bag, or medicine bottle, this method will work about the same for each if you follow these instructions:

1. Find a container with a lid that is large enough to fit your jar or bag of cannabis, with room for a damp, folded paper towel. A Tupperware container is usually the best choice.
2. Wet a fresh paper towel with just enough distilled water to get it about 70-percent damp. If you get your paper towel too wet, the excess moisture can lead to mold. Distilled water can be found at your local grocery store. Place the damp paper towel in an opened sandwich baggy.
3. Place your open container of cannabis and your paper towel in a designated container and seal for two to 12 hours.

This process isn’t a silver bullet for dry buds, but it should help. This method isn’t a long-term solution – so only use at a last resort. The more times you rehydrate your stash, the more susceptible it is to mold. Be sure to replace your wet paper towel and clean your container between re-hydrations.

Cannabis Humidors

This may be the classiest option, but a cannabis humidor offers the best long-term solution to humidity control for the ultimate cannaseur. A humidor is usually a cedar-lined box that contains a hygrometer to monitor relative humidity – so you don’t need to guess.

Some cannabis humidors have a high-tech Bluetooth humidity monitoring system built in, which allows for a discreet monitor for your cannabis’ RH right on your phone. It’s great to live in the modern age.

These are just a few Salt-Baked methods that our staff have found success rehydrating cannabis with. Don’t be shy – chime in and share your favorite ways to keep your stash fresh in the comments below.