Time to Toss? Understanding Cannabis Shelf Life and Expiration

You open up your stash box to find a forgotten bag of weed tucked away for months. SCORE! Suddenly, the nagging question pops up: "Does weed expire?"  In this lecture, we embark on a journey through the intricate world of cannabis shelf life. Get ready to uncover the surprising truth about the expiration of weed and gain essential knowledge to ensure your toking experiences remain top-notch. 

Let’s dive in!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Cannabis Shelf Life: Does Weed Expire? 
• Can I still Get High from Old Weed? Aging THC
• Expiration By Cannabis Product Type
• When Weed Goes Bad. How to Identify Expired Cannabis?
• Cannabis and Mold
• What Happens if You Consume Expired Cannabis?
• Proper Cannabis Storage. How To Keep Weed From Going Bad?
• Freezing Marijuana Products

CANNABIS SHELF LIFE: DOES WEED EXPIRE? 

The short answer is no, weed doesn’t expire like a gallon of milk. However, its potency, flavor, and quality can degrade over time. Cannabis differs from perishables (e.g. dairy) as it doesn't necessarily pose a health risk after a specific date. Instead, the quality of cannabis gradually diminishes over time. If you had to assign a timeline to it, weed’s expiration date is roughly 1 year. 

To summarize: weed doesn’t have a set expiration date when it turns bad. Instead, weed expiration refers to the degradation of cannabinoids and other compounds over time, resulting in a decrease in potency. Weed starts losing its smell and it develops a harsher or mustier taste. 

CAN I STILL GET HIGH FROM OLD WEED? 

In most cases, old cannabis will still be psychoactive. However, THC degrades to CBD over time, meaning the longer you wait to smoke the flower, the more THC you lose. Remember that THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis. 

Typically, it’s best to consume cannabis within 3-6 months- then THC begins to diminish. 

• 16% THC loss after 1 year
• 26% of THC after 2 years
• 34% of THC after 3 years
• 41% of THC after 4 years

EXPIRATION BY CANNABIS PRODUCT TYPE

Let's delve into the various types of cannabis consumption and explore their respective expiration periods. 

Cannabis Flower

• Freshness timeline: cannabis flowers can retain their potency for approximately 1-2 years when stored properly. 
• Best time to consume: flowers within the first year ensure the most potent and flavorful experience. 
• Effects of expired flower: if you smoke expired flower, you will likely experience a less potent, highly reduced flavor, and a harsher smoking experience.

Cannabis Concentrates

• Freshness Timeline: Concentrates such as oils, waxes, and shatter have a longer shelf life compared to flowers. They can maintain their freshness for 1-2 years or even longer.
• Best Time to Consume: These concentrates are best enjoyed within the first two years to maximize their potency and flavor.
• Effects of Expired Concentrates: Expired concentrates may lose their potency, resulting in a less intense high and diminished flavor.

Cannabis Edibles

• Freshness Timeline: Edibles, including brownies, gummies, and beverages, often come with expiration dates or "best before" dates. They typically maintain their freshness for 6 months to 1 year.
• Best Time to Consume: To experience the full effect, it's best to consume edibles within the recommended time frame.
• Effects of Expired Edibles: Consuming expired edibles may result in reduced potency, altered taste, and potential loss of psychoactive effects.

Vape Pens

• Freshness Timeline: Because vape oil has no plant material and are usually well-contained; therefore, they can last long without losing much potency- lasting up to 2-3 years. 
• Best Time to Consume: Within the first year- preferably 8 months. 
• Effects of Expired Vape pens: No concrete proof that it will cause harm as the vape will most likely not work. 

Cannabis Topicals

• Cannabis topicals like creams, oils, and gels usually last up to two years when stored in their original container and sealed after each use. Cannabis-infused cosmetics may also last up to two years, though the expiry date will depend on the ingredients in the cosmetics. Soaps are alkaline and will preserve any cannabis they contain well, potentially lasting longer than two years.

Hash & Wax

• The less flower there is in the extract or concentrate, the longer it will last. However, just like cannabis flowers, you must keep hash and wax stored in a cool, dry place with little sunlight to prevent the cannabinoids and terpenes from degrading and mold forming. Hashish contains the most plant, which lasts around the same time as a flower (around eighteen months, maybe a little longer). If hashish is not appropriately kept, it can go moldy. As for waxes, budder, and shatter, these concentrates can potentially last up to two years, losing potency after around twelve to eighteen months. 

WHEN WEED GOES BAD: HOW TO IDENTIFY EXPIRED CANNABIS?

The good news is that it’s not very hard to identify aged cannabis. Here are a few signs of cannabis past its prime: 

1. Smell: Fresh cannabis has a vibrant aroma, while expired cannabis has a mustier scent or no scent at all (it lost its “dank”). 
2. Texture: Over time, cannabis loses its moisture content. If it’s dry and dusty, instead of sticky, it’s likely past its prime. 
3. Taste: No detected taste (from that lost “dank”) or harsh taste that causes throat irritation. 
4. Color: aged cannabis may show too much yellowing or browning of the flowers. You might also see discolored spots or white fuzz, indicating mold! 

CANNABIS & MOLD

Just like it can become too dry, cannabis can also get too moist with age, causing mold. Fresh marijuana contains some moisture within the buds (squishy and sticky feeling to the touch). If not stored properly, that moisture can develop into mold. In fact, mold can develop on weed at any point in time, not solely after an extended period of time. Therefore, proper weed storage is very important. 

EXPIRED WEED CAN BE CONSUMED. MOLDY WEED SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED!

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CONSUME EXPIRED CANNABIS?

If you consume expired cannabis, you won't face any serious health risks. However, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Reduced Potency: The THC content and overall effectiveness of expired cannabis may decrease, leading to a milder high or diminished therapeutic effects.
• Flavor and Aroma Changes: Over time, cannabis products can develop an unpleasant taste and aroma as they degrade.
• Harsher Smoking Experience: Expired flower may burn less smoothly, resulting in a harsher smoking experience.
• Microbial Growth: As cannabis ages, there's a possibility of microbial growth, which could potentially lead to health issues. It's essential to store your cannabis properly to minimize this risk.

PROPER CANNABIS STORAGE. HOW TO KEEP WEED FROM GOING BAD.

To keep your cannabis products fresh and potent, here are some handy tips to follow:

• Store cannabis in airtight containers to minimize exposure to air and moisture. Plastic bags + open containers allow oxygen + light to reach your flower- increasing the rate at which it dries out. If you have kids or pets in your household, invest in a child- and pet-proof container.
• Keep your stash away from direct sunlight and excessive heat to prevent degradation. 0.5% decrease in THC every HOUR cannabis flower was exposed to direct sunlight. 
• Store in humidity controlled environment to maintain the ideal moisture level for your flowers. Ideal cannabis storage should be between 59 - 63% humidity. 
• Above 63, the cannabis will be too moist, creating an environment that allows mold spores and bacteria to thrive. 
• Below 63, the weed will dry out faster, shortening its shelf life. 
• Label your products with purchase dates for easy reference.

FREEZING MARIJUANA PRODUCTS

You might have asked yourself ‘Can I store weed in a fridge or freezer?’ 

The short answer is: NO. Avoid freezing cannabis as it can cause trichome damage and affect potency and will cause it to dry faster. 

CONCLUSION

There you have it Para Pals! While cannabis might not have a definitive expiration date, maintaining its freshness ensures a healthier, more fulfilling, and enjoyable experience. Now that you're armed with knowledge, go forth and indulge in the world of weed with confidence!

* Please note that we do a ton of research to get you the most accurate and reliable information. The blog is intended for educational purposes only and may include a touch of humor and wit to engage the reader. However, we are not medical professionals and the content should not be considered as medical advice. Individual reactions to cannabis vary, so it is crucial to consult a qualified medical professional before using cannabis or cannabis-related products, especially if you have specific health conditions or concerns. Also, ensure compliance with your local laws and regulations regarding cannabis use. Thank you for reading, and we wish you a safe cannabis experience.

Sources: 

• NuggMD “Does Weed Expire? How to Tell When Cannabis Goes Bad. 
• Leafwell “Does Weed expire?” 
• Healthline “Does Weed Go Bad? What to Look for and Storage Tips”
• High Times ‘How Long Does Weed Stay Good For?”
• Herb “Does Weed Expire? How to Tell If Your Bud Is Bad?”
• Mary & Main “What is the Shelf Life of Medical Marijuana?”