Understanding Cannabis Expiration
Have you found yourself asking "does weed expire?" Maybe you've found an old stash tucked away and questioned its freshness. Today we're discussing the ins and outs of cannabis expiration. We'll learn about the mysteries of weed shelf life and determine whether your buds are still safe to toke.
What is Expired Weed?
Let's break down the facts about the expiration of cannabis. Cannabis, like any organic product, will degrade over time. As compounds in the plant material break down, such as terpenes, the potency is lost and the quality will go down.
Expired weed is cannabis flower or weed products that are losing potency over time. Medical marijuana that has taste musty or has signs of mold also qualifies as weed that has expired. Other cannabis products can expire as well, but today we will focus on medical cannabis flower.
Shelf Life of Cannabis Flower
How Long Does Cannabis Flower Last?
Unlike groceries or food products, medical marijuana and vape oil do not have a specific expiration date. Instead, their shelf life depends on storage conditions and general expiration date guidelines. Obvious signs you have old cannabis is the loss of the distinct smell of dried marijuana flower or crumbly, moldy weed. Storing cannabis properly can help you extend the lifespan of your medical weed, but it will not preserve your buds forever!
An airtight container is a great short term storage solution, but for long term storage vacuum sealed plastic bags are the gold standard. They create an airtight seal so your buds maintain potency and away from too much moisture.
Keep your airtight container away from direct sunlight and in a cool dark place, like a medicine cabinet. If your cured medical marijuana is stored properly, it can last up to 18 months before it begins to lose potency.
You can take it a step further and store cannabis in a cool dark place, such as your freezer, if you'd like to preserve them even longer. By keeping your cannabis product in a temperature controlled, dark place you limit light exposure so your buds stay fresh! This can extend the timeline your weed expires to 2 years before you must consume cannabis.
Generally speaking, fresh cannabis flower will last up to a year while cured & stored medical flower lasts anywhere form 18 months to over 2 years.
Expired Weed Myths
Now that we know what old weed is, it's time to set the record straight regarding common myths you may hear about weed products expiring.
Myth #1: Weed Never Expires
While some smokers will tell you that weed never expires, the truth is even the best cannabis product has an expiration date. While cannabis stored vacuum sealed plastic bags can last up to two years in the freezer, most medical marijuana will lose potency much faster due to exposure to direct sunlight and moisture.
While you can prolong the freshness of weed from your local dispensary with proper storage methods, eventually all weed will lose its potency and expire.
Myth #2: Expired Cannabis Is Dangerous
This misconception strikes fear into the hearts of many, but is there any truth to it? Expired cannabis isn’t dangerous if the THC and CBD degrade. It only makes the effects of the marijuana less potent or nonexistent. Smoking it may leave a harsh taste behind, but there are no negative health effects associated with smoking super dry cannabis.
Weed with mold is a different story. Mold can develop if cannabis is stored improperly and smoking it can lead to respiratory issues, especially for those with allergies or compromised immune systems. Be sure to check for white fuzz or any musty smell before smoking a new bag.
Signs of Expired Weed
Let's take our knowledge of cannabis expiration further and learn how to recognize weed that's expired. Our sense of smell is a powerful tool for detecting when something has gone off and cannabis is no exception. Your nose will help clue you in on the freshness of your buds, or lack thereof.
A few telltale signs can help one spot out weed that's too old. The texture changes from lush to dry and brittle; they may even fall apart when handled. The previously sticky, glistening trichomes will dry up and cause the buds to lose their bounce.
As the once-pungent smell fades away, you'll see the colour change from bright green to brownish and become dull. These changes in appearance point to the weed losing potency, though it is still safe to use.
Signs of Moldy Weed
Signs of mold include finding powdery mildew from excess moisture near your stash. Mold growth may appear as white or gray fuzz and is typically associated with a sour or musty smell.
Mildew and mold can produce mycotoxins that are harmful to your respiratory system and over all health. If smoked, it could give rise to respiratory problems or lung infections. We advise throwing out weed mold immediately to prevent it from spreading gray mold to the rest of your cannabis products.
Is Moldy Weed Edible?
No! Any marijuana product with mold present is not safe for consumption in any form. It should wrapped up and disposed of to avoid contamination.
Consuming mold can result in negative health effects ranging from mild to severe.
Is My Weed Expired?
Let's put our knowledge to the test learn how to tell if your cannabis flowers are expired.
1.​ Visually Examine Cannabis Flower
A sensory evaluation is the first step in assessing the quality of your buds. Start by examining the appearance of your cannabis.
Fresh weed will have vibrant colours and higher grade strains should be trichome-covered. Any initial signs of discolouration or mold spores indicate that your weed may have expired and should be discarded.
2. Check For Distinct Smell
Next, use your sense of smell to detect any changes in your buds aroma. Fresh cannabis has a distinct, earthy scent, with some strains containing notes of citrus or pine.
If your weed smells musty, stale, or like nothing at all - it's likely past its prime. If it smells like rotten eggs, we suggest sealing it back up and discarding immediately.
3. Test the Texture
Finally, give your buds a gentle squeeze to assess their texture and moisture content.
Fresh cannabis will feel slightly sticky and springy to the touch, indicating it was stored in proper relative humidity levels. In a traditional sense, the bounce should be an immediate giveaway that your weed is fresh. Even buds up to two years old can feel this fresh if stored in the right conditions.
If your weed feels dry or brittle, it may have lost its potency and should be used with caution. Should it crumble when you pick up the buds or squeeze them, it could be a sign they were not stored properly. This severe loss of moisture is almost a guarantee there is no potency left in your stash.
4. Buy a Testing Kit
In addition to conducting a sensory evaluation, you can take it a step further and use advanced testing techniques to determine the potency of your weed. Home testing kits and devices can be purchased online. They have the ability to measure cannabinoid levels and allow you to judge the quantify the quality of your buds.
Effects of Using Expired Weed
While smoking old, dry weed isn't dangerous, it often has a harsh, unpleasant smoke and a musty flavour. The degraded cannabinoids result in much weaker effects, dampening the experience to say the least.
Health Risks of Moldy Weed
Smoking weed with gray mold can have serious consequences to your health, especially if you have allergies or a poor immune system. Inhaling mold spores causes respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, and even lung infections, making it unsafe to smoke any cannabis contaminated with mold.
How to Extend Shelf Life
Now that we're able identify old cannabis, how can we extend its shelf life to prevent expiration? Optimum storage conditions go a long way in preserving your buds. There are a few best practices most seasoned smokers follow that keep buds fresh for as long as possible.
Essential Storage Tips
A key factor in preservation is controlling environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity. Keeping your stash in a cool and dry cupboard will slow down the degradation process. An opaque, airtight container provides optimal storage conditions for your cannabis products.
Use humidity packs, such as Boveda, to control the humidity levels your chosen airtight container. These can help prevent mold growth and extend the shelf life of your cannabis products.
Choosing the Right Container
Second, minimize the amount of light that your stash is exposed to. UV rays are quick to attack cannabinoids and terpenes, leading to a loss of potency.
Storing your cannabis in opaque containers or jars is the best solution to this problem. Opaque glass mason jars or aluminum containers are great options as they do not absorb scent and are easy to clean.
Do not store your flower in sandwich bags or open containers as these are not airtight.
Extend Shelf Life by Freezing Cannabis Flower
What about freezing weed for long-term storage? Freezing is a great method to preserve your stash but it's crucial to do so correctly. Improper freezing or storage could damage the flower and become a wasted effort.
We recommend vacuum sealing your flower before freezing for optimal results. FoodSaver is a popular brand for vacuum sealing at home and many cannaseurs use theirs for both food and flower!Â
The Benefits of Properly Stored Cannabis
Not only does proper storage preserve the potency by protecting cannabinoids and terpenes from degradation, it also ensures your buds retain their full spectrum of medicinal properties. From pain relief to improved sleeping, it's much easier to reap the health benefits from well-stored cannabis.
Repurposing Old Weed
Vaping Old Weed
Vaping old weed is a convenient to use up super flower that's lost it's freshness. The reduced potency affects the flavour and results in a crumbly texture, so a joint may not be the best option.
For the best experience, try using a dry-herb vaporizer. They allow for even heating and will help maximize the remaining potency in older cannabis buds. Be careful to only use this vaporizer for dry flower, no concentrates like Rick Simpson oil! Concentrates will ruin a dry-herb vaporizer.
Turning Old Weed into Edibles
Older, dry weed can also be used to make edibles into other baked goods, like brownie or cookies. The process allows you to extract most of the remaining cannabinoids, allowing you to concentrate the edible form.
Old weed is also used to create topicals, such as creams or cannabis infused cosmetics, that can be applied directly to the skin. This is a great way to maximize the use of older cannabis and relieve aches or pains.
Conclusion
Weed Expiration and Potency
When it comes to cannabis expiration, isn't a black-and-white issue. While weed does expire over time, it doesn't necessarily render it unusable.
We can influence the factors affecting expiration and repurpose old weed instead of throwing it away. However, mold prevention and proper storage are the keys to preventing weed from expiring.
