What You Need to Know About the Shelf Life of Various CBD Products?
You’ve bought your first CBD tincture and are excited to experience the natural benefits of cannabis compounds. However, some CBD companies do a poor job of explaining how long their products will last. In addition, finding out how old the product is at the time of purchase is also rarely communicated.
To answer these common questions regarding CBD shelf life, we’ve gathered all the information you need to know. After reading, you’ll know exactly how to check your CBD’s expiration date and determine how long it will last. In addition, we’ll show you some tips to maximize your CBD’s shelf life.
Does CBD Oil Go Bad?
Unfortunately, cannabinoids degrade over time, meaning they are only effective for a certain period. So once the CBD oil has expired, it won’t deliver the same benefits as it once would have because it is far less potent.
Most experts give CBD a shelf life of 1-2 years after extraction. However, once the compounds are removed from the plant and manufactured into a product, they could start degrading after 1 year.
The derogation process isn’t instantaneous, and several factors affect how fast your CBD will go bad. Consider the following to maximize the shelf life of your CBD:
- Exposure to light
- Exposure to air
- Storage in a warm environment
Keeping your CBD in a dry, cool area without exposure to direct sunlight will maximize its shelf life. If you leave the cap open or the product out in the sun, don’t expect your CBD to have any effect after 1 year.
How to Tell if CBD Oil is Expired
Reputable manufacturers will indicate the expiration date on the packaging of every product. This is a red flag if you don’t see an expiration date. We recommend only buying CBD products if you can access the manufacturing and projected expiration date to ensure complete transparency.
If you aren’t sure if your CBD oil is beyond the projected expiration date, there are a few signs to tell if it’s expired. Outdated CBD oil will be thick and smell sour after its shelf life. Make sure you sample some of your oil before ingesting it.
How Long Does CBD Oil Stay Good?
While the shelf life for CBD typically falls between 1 and 2 years, environmental factors come into play significantly. In addition, the storage of your product will dramatically impact how long your CBD product retains its potency.
For these reasons, we suggest consuming your CBD oil promptly. However, if you plan on holding onto it for longer than 6-9 months, ensure it is in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
What Happens if You Eat Expired CBD Gummies?
Ingesting expired CBD oil or gummies won’t likely pose a health risk. So, you don’t have to worry about severe consequences if you’ve eaten an expired gummy. However, the product probably won’t affect your endocannabinoid system because the CBD has broken down and become ineffective.
In addition to losing potency over time, expired CBD gummies also can change in taste, making them unappealing to consume.
Do Gummies Go Bad?
So, as a result, gummies do go bad, but the consequences aren’t severe if they do. You won’t have to worry about health issues after consuming old gummies, but they won’t be effective or enjoyable.
The best plan is to buy CBD to use it in the next couple of months by taking it daily.
CBD Oil Shelf-Life Tips
If you’ve bought CBD in bulk or can’t use it for an extended period, we recommend keeping your CBD oil or gummies in the refrigerator or freezer. Cold temperatures stop breaking down the compounds and extend their shelf life.