Do Cannabis Products Have an Expiration Date?
There are numerous varieties of cannabis, ranging from pure flower to processed products, including the following:
- Edibles
- Tinctures
- Topicals
- Concentrates
These goods result from numerous extraction and preparation processes. They may contain additives that affect how long a product remains fresh and compelling and whether using it poses any health hazards.
You may believe that cannabis flower is the ideal way to eat marijuana because it contains no additives that could impair its shelf life. Yet, similar to other consumables, cannabis flowers can lose their potency and “go bad,” rendering them dangerous for use. Premium quality CBD Produkte are available at Sainfort store.
All cannabis products have a shelf life, but it can be challenging to tell how long it is. You can refer to broad principles, but you should also consider the nature of the product, its age, storage conditions, etc., as well as its visual appearance, odor, taste, etc. If anything makes you question its usefulness, it is advisable to avoid it.
What Affects the Shelf Life of a Product?
The sell-by and use-by dates on the labels of foods and drugs indicate how long a product is anticipated to remain fresh and supply the advertised content. Yet, what occurs if a product is used after its expiration date is not always clear. The following are some of the risks that expiration dates protect against:
- Items may not be as tasty as their fresh counterparts.
- If essential ingredients decay, products may lose potency.
Certain items may become toxic if germs proliferate or if critical chemicals degrade into other substances.
All of these outcomes are also possible with cannabis products.
Terpenes and cannabinoids can deteriorate over time in various cannabis products. This can cause them to lose potency, resulting in a diminished or null impact. Exposure to heat and light can also alter the flavor and aroma of a product.
Cannabinoids can degrade into another type of cannabinoid with unexpected effects, depending on how they are digested. Because of chemical reactions that occur over extended periods, certain cannabinoid compounds can become dangerous. Mold and mildew can also form on cannabis that has been incorrectly stored for an extended time.
What Happens When Marijuana Is Improperly Stored?
Poor storage is a significant factor in reducing the shelf life of cannabis goods, particularly dried flowers.
When the molecules that makeup cannabis terpenes and cannabinoids deteriorate, the effects of the product may vary. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, can break down into cannabinol (CBN) when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and oxygen. CBN, which has a distinct chemical structure from THC, often induces tiredness instead of an acute high.
Mold and mildew can form on cannabis flowers due to high humidity, especially when combined with improper storage procedures. Inhaling mold spores can lead to moderate allergic reactions, serious lung infections, and chronic symptoms such as shortness of breath and wheezing.
Excessive heat and light can dry out cannabis, causing terpenes and cannabinoids to lose potency. Smoking or adding it to edibles results in a diminished impact or no effect.
How do production processes influence shelf life?
The shelf life of cannabis products relies in part on their production method. To generate cannabis extracts such as wax and shatter, as well as those used in tinctures and infusions, extraction procedures strive to preserve as many terpenes and cannabinoids as possible. However, depending on the extraction procedure, contaminants such as lipids and other compounds from the cannabis plant may remain.
Solvent-free extraction methods leave behind more contaminants than solvent-based methods. Winterization is a secondary filtration process that uses solvents to remove other contaminants. Yet, this intensive processing can hasten the degradation of essential terpenes and cannabinoids.
Cannabis extracts containing a high concentration of lipids can become toxic if they are kept beyond their expiration date. With time, these lipids can oxidize, releasing toxins when smoked or dabbed at higher temperatures. As terpenes decay, pure or almost pure extracts, such as those used in tinctures and emulsions, can lose effectiveness rapidly.
