Nitrogen infusion in cannabis: debunking myths

Through Thomas Brodeur

A sealed bag of potato chips isn’t actually full of air — it’s loaded with nitrogen to keep the chips from losing their crispness. The “air” or empty space in the bag is referred to by the manufacturing industry as “slack fill”. Bags have been filled with this preservative gas for decades to keep produce fresh, and since it’s good enough for potato chips, here’s why it’s so important for cannabis.

If oxygen enters the cannabis packaging, the buds run the risk of losing weight, losing freshness and being susceptible to the development of mold and other potentially harmful microbes. Nitrogen has been an extremely widely used additive in food products and general consumer products worldwide for over a century. Nitrogen makes up 78% of the air we breathe – yet many consumers are unaware of its impact on our packaging.

According to a survey conducted by Brightfield Group, the average cannabis user is typically unaware of the use of nitrogen and why the gas is so important for packaging. The survey surveyed cannabis users and budtenders and found that there are some common myths surrounding nitrogen:

• First: Nitrogen is not safe to breathe and is not environmentally friendly in the container of my product
• Second: Nitrogen will freeze my cannabis product and reduce or alter its potency
• Third: Sealing packages with nitrogen creates an environment for mold growth

Nitrogen is a colourless, odorless and tasteless gas that is found in all living things. It is safe to breathe and ingest. In fact, the food and beverage industry has used the nitrogen dosing method for decades as it displaces all oxygen from the package and preserves the contents inside. Like other food additives, nitrogen has undergone a rigorous safety assessment before being deemed safe for use in food.

The Joint Expert Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the World Health Organization on Food Additives (JECFA) has assessed the safety of food grade nitrogen and believes that it is safe for normal consumption in food according to good manufacturing practice – the same applies to the use of nitrogen for dosing of cannabis packaging. So the next time you crack open a cold beer or order your favorite nitro coffee, remember that the rich or creamy sip is contributed by the nitrogen.

Nitrogen has no freezing powers in gaseous form – regarding the second myth – only as a liquid. The nitrogen does not affect the potency of the cannabis. By changing the atmosphere inside the package, cannabis packaging with nitrogen preserves quality, slows spoilage and extends product shelf life. Nitrogen also cushions and protects the delicate flower inside from being crushed during handling.

Photo by Zummolo/Getty Images

To address the last myth, the packaging must be tightly sealed to prevent the nitrogen from escaping. Once the package is opened, the cannabis is exposed to atmospheric air that contains oxygen and moisture. In the absence of nitrogen protection in a controlled environment, the contents are then susceptible to moisture uptake, spoilage and oxidation. Therefore, it is best to consume the products soon after opening the package.

The next time you open a bag of potato chips and find that the bag only fills about half of the package, you know that this isn’t just a marketing ploy to increase sales, the extra airspace in the package is there for that is protection against damage during handling.

As the nitrogen infusion cannabis packaging industry evolves, it will continue to consider how to become a more recognized CPG product and leverage the technologies that CPG is developing to gain consumer acceptance.

This article originally appeared on MyCannabis.net and has been republished with permission.