As an organic substance, yes it does! But not overnight as is the case with other plant items such as food. In essence, weed gradually loses its chemical content and potency depending on various factors such as the type of the product, the ingredients used, and most importantly, the storage.
Speaking of which, when stored properly, good quality dried weed can stay safe for consumption and effective in its taste and the desired effects for up to 6 months to 1 year. But again, that depends.
What Does It Mean for Weed to Expire?
Contrary to food products that usually do not have a substantial lifespan and can go wrong in a day or two especially if they are cooked; weed has a relatively longer shelf life.
As such, it does not expire within a day or two but slowly deteriorates over time especially when not stored in airtight conditions.
To be exact, weed loses up to 16% of its THC in the 1st year, 26% after the 2nd year, 34% after the 3rd, and about 40% after the 4th year from where it continues to lose its chemical strength until all its THC is gone or degraded into other lighter compounds such as CBN.
This gradual deterioration in its chemicals not only causes the buds to lose their original texture, aroma, and taste but also the desired effects be it medicinal or euphoric.
Shelf Life of Cannabis Products
Most cannabis products especially smokeables including dried flowers can stay in their top condition for up to 6 months with ease. This can be prolonged to over a year if you store them in the best storage conditions.
Let’s take a closer look
General Shelf Life
The general shelf life of most cannabis products is somewhere between 6 months to 1 year when stored properly.
However, the average lifespan of other cannabis products may vary greatly based on several other factors than proper storage conditions. This includes the strain of the weed, the type of the product, its THC levels, and other compounds such as terpenes.
Different Forms of Cannabis
As I clarified above, the expiration date of cannabis varies greatly depending on a lot of factors including the type of the product.
That is, while a wet or oily product may go wrong sooner, a dry or concentrated form of cannabis can last longer.
To have a fair idea, we must take a peek at the expiration timelines of each of these products.
| Product Type | Storage Duration |
|---|---|
| Flowers and Buds | From 6 months to 1 year |
| Edibles and Beverages | A few weeks |
| Gummies | More than 1 year |
| Oils and Tinctures | About a year or more |
| Concentrates and Distillates | 6 months or so |
| Topicals | More than a year |
Regardless of the type of the product though, there are early signs that can tell you whether your weed is safe to consume or not.
Signs That Weed Has Expired
Similar to other organic items, weed can give you ample early signs when it starts to decay. For instance, a lack of taste and aroma, overly dry and crumbly texture, and in worst-case scenarios, an unwanted growth of mold or fungus.
Let’s check them out individually, shall we?
1. Aroma Changes
One of the first things that weed does when exposed to adverse storage conditions, in short, when it’s started to expire, is the loss of chemical compounds such as THC, CBD, and terpenes among other things.
The latter, terpenes, are the main active ingredient in cannabis, or any other plant for that matter that gives it its particular aroma and flavor profile. Lack of terpenes or the gradual reduction in it can cause your weed to lose its original profile and become unpleasant in both its taste and smell.
2. Texture Changes
Bad weed or old weed will also lose its original texture of a soft and moist herb. Instead, over time it might lose its juice and turn overly dry and crumbly to use.
On the other hand, if contaminated with too much moisture, it can also develop the growth of mold or fungus and become moldy in the process.
3. Taste Changes
Similar to the smell, a lack of terpenes can also cause your precious weed to lose its original flavor or taste. As a result, it may taste bitter and produce a harsher smoke than usual which can be rather hard to inhale and force you to cough.
Moldy weed on the other hand can be even more dangerous to your health and should be avoided at all costs.
4. Visual Indicators of Mold
Too old of weed as well as improper storage can also make it vulnerable to the growth of mold and bacteria. While the odor and taste may not be visually visible, mold or fungus-infected weed can be easily identified by just looking at it.
That is, if you see any white-greyish cotton-like growth on your favorite flower, chances are it is moldy and unsafe for consumption.
Does Weed Expire After 3 Years?
Weed has a gradual decaying process that typically begins by the 6th month and goes on for as long as 4 years or more depending on its storage and other factors. On average, a high-quality cannabis product loses about 10-14% of its THC level every year with up to 16% after the first year.
As such, by the end of the third year, about 34% of its THC is lost or degraded into other minor cannabinoids such as CBN which is a completely non-psychoactive compound as opposed to THC- the infamous substance behind the infamous ‘high.’
The important thing to note here is that losing THC or any other compound in the timeline does not make your weed unsafe for consumption. Instead, it only means that the stuff is relatively less effective than it was when you first got it.
However, if you see any signs of mold on your favorite weed product, then you might want to rethink getting that consolation hit as it can pose several risks such as coughing, throat pain, infection, and so on.
How to Stop Weed from Expiring
While you cannot stop the natural deterioration of weed as is the case with other consumable substances, you can certainly prolong its age should you store them properly in the recommended conditions.
Things such as an airtight environment free of any contamination, the right levels of humidity (moisture), temperature, and light such as a slightly cold and dark place like a cabinet and cupboard can ensure a longer lifespan of your precious weed.
Proper Storage Techniques
- Store it in an airtight and resealable container like a glass or mason jar.
- Avoid plastic or metal jars as they can contaminate the weed with nanoparticles and other toxic chemicals.
- Keep the temperature about 70° F or 20° C.
- Maintain the right humidity level i.e. within 55-65%. Use a cannabis-specific humidor or humidity packs.
- Never keep your weed in a fridge or freezer as it is home to all kinds of temperatures and moisture.
- Choose a dark and cold place for your weed container like a cabinet or locker.
Remember, too much exposure to light, air, moisture, and heat can make your weed age faster and even grow moldy.
Along with that, you should also avoid a few major mistakes that most users make while storing or using their cannabis.For more detailed tips, check out our blog on best ways to store weed.
Common Storage Mistakes to Avoid
When it comes to weed, one of the most common practices among users is to keep their buds in a plastic-made zip-lock bag.
Albeit, okay for a little while, storing your weed in a plastic bag for long can contaminate it with nano-plastics and static electricity which can fry the trichomes of your plant and hamper its overall quality and texture.
Similarly, storing it in a refrigerator can also pose it to moisture and fluctuating temperatures which can impact its dryness level, compromise its strength and flavor, and give way to mold.
Effects of Using Expired Weed
Expired weed or bad weed can develop a range of unwanted traits starting from an unappealing texture to a foul smell, bad taste, and an unpleasant smoke that is rather hard to inhale.
At the same time, it can have diminished strength and potential risks to your health.
Health Risks
Harsh/ painful inhalation, coughing, dry throat, pain/ infection in the throat and lungs, and trouble breathing.
Diminished Potency and Flavor
Lack of THC, CBD, terpenes, and other compounds means less strength/ potency, taste, and flavor in the end.
Can Expired Weed Be Salvaged?
While the cycle of time and nature cannot be reversed, there are simple ways in which you can recover your expired weed to some extent and get some sort of effect.
Rehydration Techniques
For e.g., spraying a bit of water on overly dried weed can help you boost its humidity levels. Or adding a humidifying device, such as a moisture pack, to the storage container.
Similarly, buds that have been contaminated by water can also be dried under sunlight or heat to vaporize the water.
The point is as long as your weed isn’t moldy, it can be used in some or another way. If not smoking, then edibles or oils.
Conclusion: Maximizing Weed Freshness
To slow down the natural aging process of your weed, all you have to do is stick to the proper storage method as mentioned above. For other off-the-shelf cannabis products, don’t forget to check the storage conditions as mentioned on their label.
For maximum results, it’s recommended to store your weed in an airtight container made of glass or mason, free of any contamination of air, water/ moisture, light, or temperature.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ans: About 6 months to 1 year or even more depending on how well you store your precious weed.
Ans: Over-dried or crumbly buds, a lack of taste and aroma, a bad or strong musty stench, mold, or fungus that is whitish and greyish in appearance.
Ans: Expired weed can either have little to no effects at all or have an unpleasant taste and harsher quality of smoke. Moldy weed on the other hand can taste like hay or dry grass and can even pose many health risks such as an allergy or infection.
Ans: Not really, but yes it can certainly lose its efficiency and taste. To be specific, weed can lose up to 34% of its THC after 3 years but that does not mean that it is unsafe for consumption.
Ans: If you see any signs of a white-greyish cotton-like growth on your weed, chances are it has caught the mold.
Ans: The potency or the THC levels of weed can reduce overtime starting with 16% in the first year, 26% in the second year, 34% in the third year, and 40% by the fourth year from where it continues to decline until all the TCH has been lost or degraded into other minor cannabinoids.
Ans: While there may be some differences in the expiration rates of different types of marijuana products, most including all the different strains have a similar window of about 6 months to 1 year during which it stays in the best condition.
