How to Recover From Cannabis Edibles Fast
by Chane Leigh
Cannabis edibles are a preferred method of consuming cannabis by both retail consumers and medical cannabis patients alike. But just how long do they last? Let’s explore the shelf life of edibles, how to store them, and what to do if they go bad.
Cannabis edibles are essentially any ingestible product that has been infused with cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Unlike cannabis products that are smoked or vaporized (e.g., flower, concentrates), edibles are swallowed and processed by the body’s digestive system.
Thanks to the liver’s conversion of THC to hydroxy-11-THC, edibles offer more intense and long-lasting effects compared to other consumption methods. Because of this, it’s important to have caution when experimenting with edibles as a beginner. Aside from the strong effects they bring, many cannabis consumers choose edibles to avoid the risks involved with smoking.
Learn more about edibles compared to smoking here: The Pros and Cons of Edible Marijuana vs. Smoking
The following are all of the currently available forms of cannabis edibles.
As a general rule, no matter the type of edible, you should consume edibles within a year. Not only can the edible ingredients expire, but the THC potency of the edible will go down over time. If you purchased your edibles from a dispensary, always go by the listed expiration date to determine if they’re still good to consume.
Because there is no evidence that cannabinoids cause the foods they’re infused with to degrade any faster than normal, determining the shelf life of an edible means looking at its ingredients. Edibles made with perishable ingredients will need to be consumed much faster than those made without. The length of time you would keep normal cookies, chocolates, and juices is the length of time you should keep cannabis-infused cookies, chocolates, and juices.
Here are some guidelines for picking out cannabis edibles based on shelf life:
When it comes to the expiration of edibles, it’s likely that the food itself will go bad long before the cannabinoids within it. Cannabinoids do, however, degrade over time and with exposure to heat, light, and oxygen. One study found that cannabis flower lost 16.6% of its potency after a year. While a similar study hasn’t yet been conducted on edible cannabis, a Denver marijuana bakery told Westword that internal research had revealed no degradation of the THC in its products even a year after their “best by” dates.
To sum it all up, you should aim to eat your cannabis edibles within six months for optimal freshness and potency, though most sources agree that they should deliver the same effects for up to a year if stored properly (more on that next). Infused candy and baked goods can also be frozen, which has no impact on potency but keeps the treats themselves from going bad as fast.
You want to keep your edibles away from light, heat, and air as much as possible. Keep your edibles in a cool, dry place, such as a pantry or drawer. You can also toss them in the refrigerator or freezer to keep them fresher longer, but they will need to thaw before being eaten.
The best way to store cannabis-infused edibles is in airtight containers, like mason jars. Plastic containers and bags will also work. If storing your edibles in the freezer, opt for a freezer-safe baggie or container.
Check out these other posts for more information on storing edibles and other cannabis products:
You can use the same standards as expired food to tell if an edible has gone bad. Gummies might become hard and tasteless, while baked goods will get stale and possibly moldy. Chocolate won’t mold, but it may become discolored or waxy. And of course, the listed expiration date is always a good thing to check on storebought goodies.
As far as the potency of your edible, there’s unfortunately no way to tell when this has passed its prime unless you have a THC testing kit. The only easy metric to go by is the amount of time that has passed: If the edible is a year old or less, it’s likely to still deliver its full effects.
While it is not recommended that you eat anything after its expiration date, doing so won’t necessarily make you sick or bring about a bad high. In fact, as mentioned earlier, one bakery found its infused goods to be just as potent a year after they technically expired. As long as your edibles don’t smell funny or have signs of mold, it won’t hurt to take them. Still, don’t bet on experiencing the same effects from a year-old edible as one fresh from the dispensary.
So you kept your edible a little too long. The most legally responsible way to dispose of old edibles is to take them back to the dispensary to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands. Depending on how far you are from the dispensary, however, that may be a taxing task. If you must dispose of them at home, put them in a ziplock bag or container before throwing them into the trash.
Edibles indeed expire, as their ingredients will generally become unsafe to eat in a year or two. Even if they don’t, like in the case of gummies and other products with longer shelf lives, the THC and other cannabinoids in them will begin to lose their potency at that time. Get the most out of your edibles by storing them in airtight containers in cool spaces, and always take into consideration the “best by” date on store-bought edibles.
Do you have tips for maximizing the freshness and potency of cannabis edibles? Drop them in the comments below.
Why do dispensaries in Louisiana sell marijuana that has been cold washed of it’s tricombs and most of the benefits of the flower,I realize the government will squeeze every drop of goodness out to make other products; but I find therapy in the whole grinding rolling then the smoking is a lot more cathartic than just smoking a preroll.At 63 I am an advocate of not killing your liver like I did on pain pill for decades.Thats just me.
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