Every weed smoker needs Boveda for their stash

Essentials Week spotlights unexpected items that make our daily lives just a little bit better.

“It actually works,” my coworker excitedly Slacked our cannabis channel. “Legit never had fresher weed.”

He was praising Boveda, a humidity control packet that’s useful for preserving cigars, wood instruments, and yes — weed. A dispensary placed one inside an eighth my colleague bought, and it worked so well he had to share the good news.

Boveda looks like silica gel packets and has the same purpose: to keep a product fresh. As a weed smoker (once the stuff became legal in New York, of course), the concept intrigued me. Not only does old, stale weed literally kill the buzz, but it’s also a waste of money.

Before Boveda, my bud wouldn’t hit the same soon after I purchased it, even when stored in glass. Now every time I light up, it’s — for lack of a better word — dank.

Does Boveda actually work?

I was so intrigued by my coworker’s enthusiasm that I bought a 10-pack of Boveda myself for $15 plus shipping, which rounded out to around $20. All 10 arrived in a resealable pouch, which is perfect for storing packets you’re not presently using.

I plucked out a squishy packet and dropped it into my Mason jar stash. An individual Boveda packet is supposed to last two to six months depending on the container and surrounding environment; mine tend to work for around two months. You know you need to replace it when the malleable packet turns hard.

As of this writing, I’m halfway through my pack in the 10 months since I placed my order — and that’s with my roommate taking one for herself every so often. If I were hoarding this, I’m sure the 10-pack would last me two years, as advertised.

I can only speak for my experience using Boveda for cannabis, but it does work; the brand also offers packs to preserve tobacco and even acoustic guitars. Sticking my hand in the weed jar is like entering a greenhouse — I can actually feel the humidity. My weed stays strong in terms of effect, taste, and smell no matter how long I’ve had it.

The science behind Boveda

Inside every Boveda pack is purified water-vapor, natural salts, and odorless and tasteless food-grade thickener. Salt is part of the water solution that regulates humidity, Boveda told Mashable. The thickener, Xanthan gum, assures that the salt doesn’t clump or separate from the water, among other things.

It’s a two-way humidity controller, meaning the vapor flows in and out of the pack to either add or remove moisture when needed. Thus, Boveda locks in moisture and keeps cannabis potent.

Silica gel packets also impact humidity, though in a different way. Silica is another name for silicon dioxide, a natural compound found in sand, which absorbs vapor to keep products dry.

I know what you’re thinking: Isn’t weed fresh enough when it’s in a sealed container? Nope. Humidity is crucial when growing pot and, since I discovered Boveda, I’ve learned it’s critical for proper storage, too.

Without moisture in the surrounding air, cannabis weakens in taste and, more importantly, effectiveness. This is because when weed dries up, the flower’s tiny bulbous heads, called trichomes, break off the plant. Trichomes house cannabinoids, chemical compounds like THC that get you high, and terpenes, which give pot its specific aroma and taste.

In a Boveda-funded study, levels of terpenes and cannabinoids in weed stored with a packet for six weeks was 15 percent higher than herb without. Boveda is obviously motivated to post studies that show it’s product works, but I anecdotally found my weed was fresher for longer once I made the switch.

What kind of Boveda do I need?

Boveda makes it easy to determine what specific humidity level and size is right for your needs. While packets can be used for more than cannabis, each use case has a different optimal humidity level. Boveda’s website breaks down what Boveda packet you should get depending on what you want to use it for, so if you want to shop for the packets that are best for cannabis, you can easily do so.

An optimal relative humidity (RH) level for cannabis is between 58 and 62 percent according to Boveda. ASTM International, a standards compliance organization, deemed a humidity level of 55 to 65 percent acceptable for dry cannabis flower. Fall below 55 percent RH, and your weed will shrink and dry out; hit above 65 percent RH and you may end up with moldy weed.

Appropriate humidity levels for cannabis.
Credit: Boveda

Boveda also comes in a variety of sizes depending on the quantity of your stockpile. They have a handy guide to help you out:

Boveda size comparisons per amount of cannabis.
Credit: boveda

I went with size 8 at an RH level of 62 percent, and since it’s worked perfectly for me, I’ll stick with it when I repurchase.

Boveda also has a home grow kit if you want to protect your precious baby buds, too. Boveda claims its products can touch your flower without issue. It says its ingredients — water, salts, even the paper and ink — comply with FDA rules around materials that come in contact with consumable products.

Should I buy Boveda?

If I can help it, I’ll always have a Boveda packet in my mason jar. Not only do I feel like a real connoisseur by using one, but it’s a legitimate boost to my cannabis experience (and my wallet).

Boveda is well-worth the money both for how it benefits my cannabis and how it saves me money in the long run since I never have to throw away stale weed. I recommend it to every stoner that keeps a stash of flower.

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