The science behind curing and packaging cannabis for a global market

As the cannabis industry goes global, a critical challenge is emerging: how to keep cannabis flower fresh and potent from harvest to point of sale – whether that’s across state or province lines or shipped overseas.

With European markets already importing cannabis from Canada and President Donald Trump’s marijuana rescheduling executive order prompting some U.S. operators to look forward to interstate commerce, the need for smarter packing and curing solutions is more important than ever, operators told MJBizDaily.

“As we have federal legalization or state borders come down, we need a way to get it from California to Italy and extend the shelf life,” said Peter Andersson, director of product development for Utah-based packaging company Calyx Containers.

To adapt to global cannabis trade, the cannabis industry is adopting solutions from the food world.

Borrowing a page from the food industry

Passive modified atmospheric packaging is used by the food industry to ensure bananas from Guatemala or coffee beans from Colombia arrive fresh at your local grocery store in Chicago or Toronto.

Companies like Calyx are bringing the technology to cannabis.

It’s nine-layer passive modified atmospheric film creates the perfect environment for curing and storage, preserving terpenes and cannabinoids while extending shelf life, the company claimed.

“At the end of the day, cannabis is a plant, just like lettuce or strawberries – it goes bad,” Calyx CEO Simon Knobel said.

“If you don’t use the right technology, you could lose half the product’s potency during transport.”

Vermont-based Cannatrol is another curing systems company that applies food science to cannabis flower. Its Vaportrol technology preserves trichome integrity and results in 15% higher terpenes, Cannatrol co-founder David Sandleman said.

The goal is to remove enough moisture to prevent microbes from feeding on unbound water but not so much that the flower loses weight, since cannabis flower is sold to consumers by the gram or ounce.

“What we’re seeing in cultivation is everyone is looking at the margins – looking to pick up a little here, a little there – because there’s been so much done in lighting and genetics,” he said.

“Now it’s post-harvest. There’s a whole new area of work in increasing yields, quality of product and labor – all untapped in the post-harvest space.”

What is cannabis curing?

Andersson said to think of curing cannabis like aging a fine whiskey or wine. It’s all about enhancing the flavor, aroma and overall quality.

After harvest and drying, cannabis enters a curing phase that typically lasts two to four weeks. During this time, chlorophyll breaks down, terpenes stabilize and cannabinoids mature, he said.

But all of this depends on maintaining the right moisture balance, or what’s called “water activity.”

For cannabis, the sweet spot is around 0.6 water activity. If it dips below that, the terpenes start to shrivel up like raisins, Andersson said. Go too high, and you risk mold or other degradation.

It’s a delicate balance, and getting it wrong can mean losing the qualities that people love in cannabis.

Historically, curing has been a hands-on, labor-intensive process. Growers use glass jars, “burping” them twice a day to release gases and regulate moisture.

While this method works on a small scale, it’s not practical for an industry that’s scaling up and preparing to ship products across the country or around the world. That’s where the curing technology steps in.

The cost of cutting corners

Despite advancements, many in the industry still rely on old-school methods like turkey bags – a holdover from the early days of cannabis cultivation.

While cheap, the bags allow moisture to escape, leading to weight loss and terpene degradation.

“It’s pennywise, but pound foolish,” Andersson said. “You’re losing 6 grams of weight per pound.

“You might save a few bucks on packaging, but you’re losing grams of sellable weight and, more importantly, product quality.”

Looming marijuana rescheduling may mean cannabis is moving toward federal regulation and a framework that adheres to U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. In that future, consistency and quality will become nonnegotiable, market observers say.

Labels will need to match what’s inside the package, and potency must hold up throughout the supply chain.

“The supply chain needs to mature to the point where we can get product from California’s Emerald Triangle to Europe without losing quality,” Andersson said.

“It’s about reserving the reputation of regions like Humboldt County while meeting the demands of a global market.”

Balancing tradition and innovation

Louis Samuel, CEO of California-based distribution company Golden State Cannabis, said that if rescheduling allows flower to be distributed across state lines in emerging markets that have slow sell-through rates, there may need to be more focus on preservation in the bags.

“I don’t think bulk transportation is a problem; I think it’s the retail storefront,” Samuel said. “The vacuum method is tried and true for getting it where it needs to go. It’s when it gets broken down into smaller quantities that you need to protect it.”

While some growers are hesitant to adopt new methods, advanced curing and packaging solutions are becoming essential for long-term success.

Passive systems like Calyx Cure offer a middle ground. They’re transportable, scalable and designed to preserve cannabis quality without requiring constant hands-on attention.

“We’re really a packaging innovation company with a focus on cannabis preservation,” Andersson said. “Curing is the last piece of the puzzle where we’ve seen the most degradation, and we’re committed to solving that.”

Margaret Jackson can be reached at margaret.jackson@mjbizdaily.com.