Author(s)

Luke L. MacLaughlin, Mason T. MacDonald

Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

Cannabis sativa L. is used as fiber, food, and medicine in several countries. Though it is illegal for recreational use in most of the world, there are some countries that have legalized production and sale. There is a lot of research on production of cannabis, but less so on storage technologies. Cannabis contains several high value compounds, such as cannabinoids and terpenoids, that are susceptible to degradation via light, temperature, and oxygen. Several studies have explored temperature and light, and industry has adjusted accordingly. However, less is known about oxygen-induced degradation. Biochemical studies have demonstrated oxidative degradation of high value compounds, and many producers use some form of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) for storage. However, the efficacy of MAP is unclear. The objective of this paper is to review our current understanding of MAP in postharvest cannabis storage and identify avenues where additional research is needed.

Cannabinoids, Cannabis sativa, Marijuana, Nitrogen Packaging, Oxidation, Postharvest, Terpenoids, THC

MacLaughlin, L. and MacDonald, M. (2024) Modified Atmospheric Packaging and Its Effect on Postharvest Cannabis Quality. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 15, 222-234. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2024.153016.