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How Long Will a Pre-Rolled Joint Last

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Buying hemp and "herb" right now is a piece of cake compared to the past. You can go online and get your choice of strain by looking up your favorite dispensary and waiting a few days until your haul arrives.

One of the most common questions about these ready-to-order products revolves around pre-rolls. These are essentially joints that have already been packed and rolled for you. Think of them as having your private joint maker, only at an online dispensary. Users have wondered how long these premade joints can last if they are stashed away. Do they degrade or lose potency? How should they be stored?

Here is a basic guide to pre-rolls and everything you need to know about losing their potency or flavor. We’ll explore the recommended smoking window, tips on keeping prerolls fresh, and also find the best ways to enjoy this product.

Key Takeaways

  • Pre-rolled joints can last from 3 weeks up to 4 months, depending on storage conditions.
  • The main factors that affect the longevity of pre-rolled joints are moisture, light, and heat.
  • To prevent degradation, store joints in a dark place away from direct sunlight and in a cool, dry environment.
  • To keep pre-rolled joints fresh, they should be stored in an airtight container, preferably made of glass or plastic, to prevent physical damage.
  • While smoking a stale joint is not harmful unless it has mold, it may have less flavor and reduced effects.

How Long Will a Pre-Rolled Joint Last?

Prerolls usually last as long as any home-rolled joint. The key takeaway here is to have your prerolls stored in optimal conditions, keeping them safe from cannabinoid degradation, bacteria, or mold. Without these three, joints can last anywhere from 3 weeks up to 4 months.

Actually, joints can last longer, but the natural decomposition can also take a toll if you leave your jays uncared for. An important thing to say is that prerolls are best smoked closer to their rolling date. This means that unless you plan to smoke prerolls soon, we don’t really recommend buying in bulk unless you can keep them in a dry place with no heat and tempered weather.

Now, some infused joints might last longer, like Delta-8 THC prerolls. Infused joints add extracts to add potency and flavor, depending on the cannabinoid and concentrate.

However, infused prerolls can also fall prey to bacteria and mold if left unattended for too long. Think of them as candy or products with a longer shelf life, like cookies.

How to Get a Joint to Last Longer

Besides a loss of potency, the main concerns are bacteria and mold. This is what causes herbs to go bad. There are three main factors that affect this: moisture, light, and heat.

Light might be the easiest to deal with; just keep your joints in a dark place and specifically away from direct sunlight. Sun rays also heat your prerolls, so you are keeping your prerolls from double trouble this way.

Moisture might be a little more difficult. If you live in a very humid place, the best thing to do would be to keep them in your fridge. Just make sure your fridge is not too humid either, but if you do live in a place with lots of humidity, you might be better off with extracts, vape pens, or not buying prerolls in bulk.

Lastly, avoid heat by keeping joints in the fridge. We only recommend this in really hot weather, as weed can survive in non-humid and dark places. But if you can’t keep your joints from any of these three conditions, you might not want to buy in bulk.

Also, check out our guide on how to smoke a pre-roll.

Tips on Keeping a Pre-Roll Fresh

Well, first things first. Smoking a stale joint won’t do you any harm unless it has mold. The only possible effects are less flavor and fewer effects, depending on the strain or cannabinoids. That said, you can also do some things to keep your joint fresh for a little longer.

The first recommendation is to store them in an airtight container. While bags can work in a pinch, storing them in a properly sealed container can slow down your joint’s degradation. Glass jars or tubes can also help, as they can be easily sealed.

Secondly, you might want to invest or keep your prerolls away from physical damage. Glass or plastic containers can help prevent your jay from breaking up or bending.

Lastly, light and moisture are joints' worst enemies. Light is believed to degrade certain cannabinoids, specifically Delta-9 THC. Actually, CBN is a byproduct of this chemical reaction, which is why it has minor psychoactive effects.

Other cannabinoids, like Delta-8 THC prerolls, can also degrade with time, but not at the same rate. Most pre-rolls use just a sprinkle of Delta-8 THC extract as this cannabinoid doesn't exist abundantly in natural strains.

Best Ways to Enjoy a Pre-Roll Joint

Lighting up a pre-roll can give you an authentic hemp experience without having to roll your own. So, to enjoy it, we recommend lighting it up soon after purchase. This ensures your jay’s potency and flavors are at their maximum.

If you have several prerolls, do not keep them in the fridge. Seal them tight in a container with a lid and keep them from moisture, heat, and light. An opaque glass container or doob tube for small hauls are practical options. You can also use a savette to store your prerolls or partially smoked jays.

Just keep in mind that these are not as effective at keeping the flavors and potency intact as glass containers. For more potency, infused pre-rolls are the way to go. You can get stronger tokes without much equipment, and they are the perfect treat every once in a while.

Delta-8 Pre-rolls are a great option for regular CBD smokers, as they can give a slight psychoactive feeling without being too heavy. Lastly, you can go for high-grade prerolls. Buying from a dispensary that sells high-quality flower ensures your jays have the best quality and flavors. It is also a pretty great way to try out new strains before buying larger amounts of flower.

Are Pre-Rolled Joints Worth It?

Yes! Pre-rolls are a discreet and convenient option when you're on the go and can't carry your whole stash around. The best thing about pre-rolls is their convenience, and if convenience and quality are what you’re looking for, we have a few pre-rolls from Botany Farms that come in special closed packaging to keep them fresh until they get to your home.

For a Sativa experience, try our Sour Hawaiian Haze pre-roll which comes with a full gram of premium herb, and enjoy some tropical sweet tokes whenever you want.

Or, if you want something a little more balanced, the Super Sour Space Candy Pre-roll has 1 gram of mouth-watering sweet and sour notes that complement each other in addition to a delightful CBD buzz.

Final Thoughts

Pre-rolled joints are a fun and easy way to enjoy your cannabis on the go. While convenient, they might not be as discreet as vapes or edibles because they produce smoke and scent.

The good news is that you now know how to make your pre-rolled joints last longer. Of course, you wouldn't worry about how long joints can last if you thought they were not worth it, right? So, check out our high-quality collection of pre-rolls and give yourself a treat!

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