How Long Can Weed Be Kept Before Going Bad?

Is weed expiration a thing? One of the things novice cannabis users struggle with is knowing how long weed can be kept before it goes bad. This is an especially crucial question for more infrequent users who may have larger batches of cannabis that they want to keep aside.

Can weed expire?

The first important point to note on this topic is that weed does not expire the way other foodstuffs do. Even when consumed, “old” weed will likely not lead to food poisoning or other severe effects associated with consuming expired or spoiled food.

With that said, “old” weed can lose its potency. For this reason, it is important to stay on top of your weed’s quality, especially if you are using it for medicinal purposes. On top of that, old weed can develop mould. This will lead to an unpleasant taste when smoked or consumed as well as a difference in its aroma. When handling the weed, you may find a noticeable change in its texture as well. You should avoid consuming or smoking moldy weed as this can lead to effects such as nausea or coughing, and prolonged use of moldy weed can lead to severe health effects.

When is Weed Considered Old?

Scientists and researchers have developed a helpful timeline for cannabis users to track their weed’s quality.

Firstly, these estimates depend on the proper storage of cannabis. When improperly stored, you can expect the deterioration of your weed to increase exponentially.

When stored properly, dried cannabis can keep its potency for at least 6 months and up to a year. Once a year has passed, scientists estimate that weed can lose up to 16 percent of its THC potency. With every year that passes, it loses more and more of that potency, and can lose up to 41 percent of THC after four years.

With that said, you shouldn’t be keeping weed for four years, as even the best storage solutions are not completely invulnerable to mould.

Checking Weed for Mould

Photo by: Sandy Millar

We recommend checking all weed, whether newly bought or not, for mould. There have been cases of legitimate and trusted sellers providing new weed that had mould.

Checking for mold is as easy as using four out of five your senses:

visual check: try to spot white discoloration. It can look powder or even furry and fuzzy. Even the smallest spots can be an indicator of mould.

Smell check: moldy weed often smells “wet” and musty. If your weed smells like your old cleaning rags, you’re better off just tossing it.

Texture check: fresh weed should feel just right. Crumbling and excessive dryness are signs of decay, as is weed that feels spongy.

Check button: ideally, you should have spotted moldy weed before consuming it. However, if you are already smoking or eating it, you should be able to detect an unusual taste if the weed has gone bad. In such cases, you should stop consuming the weed immediately.

To learn more about weed expiration, check out this article.

Stay Safe, Stay High

Old or moldy weed is a bummer. It takes away from the potency of your joints and edibles, and can even cause unpleasant effects that range from mild to severe, depending on your health and the amount of moldy weed consumed.

Make sure you always store your weed properly in order to avoid spoilage. Next time, we’ll show you how to properly store and keep your weed to prolong its lifespan. Stay tuned on @cannalifenet for more tips on cannabis!