Table of Contents
Disclosure: At Cannabis Tech (cannabistech.com), we accept contributed content and guest posts from industry professionals. However, it is important to note that all contributed content must meet our rigorous Editorial Guidelines to ensure quality and relevance. We value the contributions from industry experts and strive to provide our readers with informative and insightful content. If you have any questions or concerns about our contributed content process, please feel free to contact us.
As the legal cannabis industry evolves into the 21st century, cultivators are uncovering the nuances of post-harvest drying and curing processes. Unfortunately, like so many other things in the cannabis industry today, these processes rely on traditional, outdated methods, and this has led to inconsistent quality and continued issues with pathogen contamination. This highlights the fact that growers don’t realize the most important post-harvest operation involved in cannabis is proper drying along with storage and curing.
In today’s quick paced cannabis industry, cultivators may be losing out of harvest value because of the traditional cannabis drying processes being used. Knowing this, cultivators need to realize that there is a need for more advanced drying solutions that prioritize consistency, quality preservation, energy efficiency, and scalability.
But there are new solutions to address some of the most common challenges in cannabis drying, such as uneven drying, terpene loss, high energy costs, pathogen issues, and regulatory compliance. These new solutions will need to leverage a closed-loop drying system to ensure a cost-effective, and high-quality product.
The Drying and Curing Processes
The drying and curing processes are critical stages in cannabis cultivation that protect all that potency you worked so hard to encourage, and which plays a pivotal role in shaping the characteristics and overall user experience with products produced.
Properly dried cannabis is crucial for preserving the quality, potency, and flavor of your product. When done improperly, it can result in the loss of precious cannabinoids and valuable terpenes to an extent that creates a harsher, less flavorful product. From freeze drying in a matter of hours to much slower approaches like hang drying, there are many conflicting schools of thought when it comes to drying cannabis.
The traditional method for drying cannabis is very similar to that of tobacco where the freshly cut flowers are hung in a dry room for between one and three weeks and relies heavily on natural conditions, such as controlled humidity and temperature, to facilitate the proper drying. The one drawback with this drying method is it uses low temperature, moderate humidity, and long hang times that creates an ideal environment for breeding mold and bacteria. The issue with the traditional method is it takes far too long, and the amount of space required is significant for most cultivators, and the exhaust systems used by most can consume too much energy.
Maybe the answer lies not in choosing one method over another but in finding a balance between tradition and innovation. More efficient drying methods have the potential to remove excess moisture, extend shelf life and prevent mold and mildew growth. All while enhancing flavor profiles and creating a better smoking experience. Implementing a better drying solution in the cannabis industry involves addressing critical aspects like consistency, energy efficiency, and preservation of cannabinoid and terpene profiles.
Understanding the Importance of Drying Techniques
Like many facets of the modern cannabis industry, most drying and curing processes in use today were adopted from the days of the black market. You could grow the highest-quality flowers on earth, but without a proper solution for drying and curing your harvest it does not make a huge difference. A proper understanding of the best way to dry and cure can really unleash your marijuana potential. This is because the process can maintain the flavor, smoothness, and potency of the buds.
Recent studies like those conducted by the Cannabis Research Coalition (CRC) (Cannatrol and the Cannabis Research Coalition Test Impact of Drying Systems on Cannabis Quality) have shed light on the significant effects that drying techniques have on the quality of cannabis. These studies demonstrate that the environmental conditions during the drying and curing processes can greatly influence factors such as terpene retention and trichome integrity, both vital for the overall quality and appeal of cannabis.
To help bring drying and curing techniques into the modern era, newer drying methods are being developed that can mitigate the loss of these vital elements, ultimately leading to a more desirable cannabis experience that not only speed up these processes but promise to retain more of the terpenes, THC, CBD and other factors necessary for a better-quality product.
By engineering comprehensive systems specifically for drying and curing cannabis, growers are being provided more control over these processes, offering more precise curing and drying solutions.
After harvesting, it is essential for growers to decide on the drying method that best meets quality, quantity, and time requirements. Providing proper training and resources to cultivators can bridge the gap between traditional methods and modern, scientifically backed practices, opening new avenues for product improvement.
They need to understand what is available for cutting-edge solutions that seamlessly integrate with overall practices so they can ensure the cultivation journey culminates in a product of unparalleled quality and potency. As highlighted by industry leaders, understanding the science behind more modern drying techniques can lead to significant advancements in the quality of cannabis.
Technology can level the playing field for drying, curing, and aging/storage, taking the guesswork and risk out of seasonal humidity and temperature swings. With several methods to choose from, you can control these processes and ensure every batch reaches its full potential by understanding and implementing the correct drying techniques.
A New Direction for Cannabis Drying
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, the integration of scientific research and technology into curing practices will become increasingly essential. The curing process for cannabis is evolving from traditional methods relying on natural conditions to more modern, technologically advanced approaches using automated curing chambers.
Cultivators need to set their assumptions aside when considering alternative drying methods to achieve better and more profitable results. Considering new approaches and new technology allows for far better drying solutions for cannabis buds and other delicate products with results achieved in a shorter time frame and at a reduced cost.
Today, machine drying is at the forefront of drying technology and is being utilized as a modern industrial method that uses specialized machines to speed up the entire process. Recent developments have brought forth automated curing chambers equipped with precise environmental controls.
These chambers maintain optimal conditions while drying, ensuring uniformity and consistency in the final product. It doesn’t resemble older methods, such as hang drying and rack drying. Instead, it uses machines that regulate factors such as temperature, airflow, and humidity to speed up the quick drying of cannabis products while maintaining terpene, CBD, and THC levels.
With many of the products available today, drying is faster and ideal for large-scale operations so cultivators produce premium quality cannabis in a fraction of the time of hang drying or rack drying.
With the use of some newer technologies such as Radiant Energy Vacuum have proven that adequately dried cannabis can provide up to 25% additional product quality in the global cannabis market (Dry cannabis better, faster: Increasing speed to market and reducing drying bottlenecks – EnWave). The goal should be to remove enough moisture to prevent microbes from feeding on unbound water but not so much that the flower loses weight. Since cannabis is sold by weight, even the smallest change in water activity can have an incredible impact on profit margins. Additionally, newer technologies can greatly reduce the human labor needed and can possibly free up the square footage required for traditional drying rooms.
Bringing It All Together
As we continue to explore new methods and technologies for curing cannabis, it’s essential to reflect on how these changes impact our relationship with this ancient plant. Balancing innovation with tradition may ultimately lead us toward a future where both science and spirit coexist harmoniously in cannabis cultivation.
Modern methods also raises philosophical questions about authenticity and tradition. Traditional curing methods required cultivators to develop a deep understanding of their plants’ needs through experience and intuition. This hands-on knowledge fostered a symbiotic relationship between grower and plant, rooted in mutual respect and care.
Every method will have its own unique advantages and may vary depending on your operation’s size, goals, and budget. The benefits of working with newer drying and curing technologies are tough to ignore. From reducing harshness in smoke to enhancing terpene profiles and delivering in a shorter timeframe, growers need to pay closer attention than ever to the modern technologies available for post-harvest drying and curing.closer attention than ever to the modern technologies available for post-harvest drying and curing.
