Cannabis, like any other product, has a shelf life, and for therapeutic purposes, it’s best to use it right when it’s been harvested. If properly stored, the shelf life of most forms of cannabis is at least a year. It should be kept in a sealed airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place. However, the potency and composition of a given product determine how long it will keep. Examples of products with limited storage times include those with edible ingredients. When compared to cannabis-infused candies made with fewer perishable ingredients, edibles such as cookies and brownies only last two to three afternoons. The curing and storage conditions of cannabis flower determine how long it will keep. Although cannabis that has been dried, cured, and stored properly can be kept for up to 18 months, optimal storage conditions are difficult to maintain, so it’s best to use it within six months. The freshness of wax and hashish depends on how much flower they contain. The shelf life of wax that contains less flower is two years, while hashish that contains the most flower only lasts about 18 months. The average lifespan of a vape pen is two to three years. The shelf life of cannabis topicals varies depending on the formulation. Correct storage can extend the shelf life of oils, creams, and gels to two years. Soaps infused with cannabis oil may last even longer than two years. Tinctures containing CBD can be stored for up to a decade. Most of them have high-proof alcohol added to them, which is why they last for so long. You can tell an expired cannabis product by its smell, texture, and the presence of mold. Past its prime, cannabis has an unpleasant smell, a crumbly or fragile texture, and the presence of mold.
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