Does CBD Lose Its Potency Over Time?

CBD can stay potent for longer than you might think. We break down some simple techniques you can use to maximize your CBD’s shelf life, plus a few tips you can use to check if your old products are still good.

Key Takeaways

• CBD degrades over time.
• That process can be accelerated by heat, light, and oxygen.
• High-quality CBD products tend to last longer than low-quality ones.
• Proper storage conditions can extend the shelf life of CBD products.

See More: Will Delta-8 THC Show Up on a Drug Test?

CBD Oil's Shelf Life

Meredith Farrow, founder of Clean Remedies, says:

"CBD naturally becomes less potent over time. You can extend its shelf life by purchasing high-quality products and storing them properly."

If you've found a bottle of CBD oil or a pack of CBD gummies sitting in the back of your closet, and you're wondering if they're still potent, you're in the right place.

Unfortunately, CBD does lose potency over time. That's true of most natural products. Over time, the cannabinoids and other natural compounds in many CBD products break down.

Now, that doesn't necessarily mean your CBD products are bad or unsafe. We'll cover some ways to check that.

It also isn't inevitable. With the right techniques, you can extend your CBD products' shelf life far beyond what they might otherwise last.

Does CBD Expire?

CBD, or cannabidiol, is a natural compound found in cannabis plants and hemp plants. It's increasingly popular and formulated into many different products, from oils to gummies to drink mixes and more.

Expiration Date

Check those products, and you'll likely see an expiration date. (At least, you should if you purchased from a reputable brand. More on that later.)

Generally, CBD oil has a recommended shelf life of 12 to 24 months.

At first, you might think that expiration date is the same as the ones on food items. But unless your CBD product is also food, it's not necessarily the same.

That's because CBD itself doesn't really go bad in the same way as food.

Instead, it gradually becomes less potent. Over time, the CBD molecules undergo chemical reactions, like oxidation. They degrade into other molecules that are less effective, or not effective at all.

How to Tell If Your CBD Oil Has Gone Bad

How can you tell if your CBD has lost its potency? Well, that depends on the product. In general, you can simply use your senses.

Sight

The first thing to do is... take a look.

If you're checking a food product, like a gummy, check for visible mold or faded colors. Changes in texture can also be a sign something is off.

If you're checking CBD oil, look at the clarity. Fresh CBD oil should be clear, with a consistent color. That color might vary depending on the formula, but it should generally be clear. Cloudiness, color changes, or a thick texture are all signs your oil has gone bad.

Smell

The next thing to check is scent. Your nose is likely more sensitive than you'd think. The principle is similar to checking for expired food.

With gummies, look for sour or chemical-like odors. For CBD oil, watch out for a rancid smell. Fresh CBD oil should have an earthy aroma, potentially with nutty or grassy scents.

Taste

The final step is to simply give it a try. If it tastes rancid, bitter, or just plain nasty, trust your tongue.

Consuming expired CBD oil isn't generally considered dangerous, assuming there's no mold or other nasty stuff in there. But if it isn't effective, there's not much point in risking it. You're likely better off grabbing a fresh batch and making this one last.

Bonus: Can I Use CBD As a Muscle Relaxant?

How to Preserve Your CBD Products

There are plenty of ways you can extend the shelf life of CBD products.

Some of these techniques involve you. Proper storage is crucial and can sometimes extend your CBD products' shelf life way longer than you might expect. With proper storage, CBD products can last for 1 to 2 years.

You have three main enemies to watch out for, all of which can degrade CBD: heat, light, and oxygen.

Make sure to keep your CBD products in a cool, dark place. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources. Refrigeration can help extend CBD oil's shelf life if you live in a particularly warm environment.

Keep your CBD products in airtight containers. For CBD oil, that means sealing the bottle tightly after every use.

Using the original packaging is also often a good idea. High-quality CBD oil should come in a dark glass bottle, which helps protect the oil from UV light exposure.

Some factors influencing the shelf life of your CBD products are out of your control. Instead, they lie in the hands of the product's manufacturer.

The quality of the hemp plant, its growing conditions, the extraction method, the carrier oil, and the packaging of the product are all also important.

In general, high-quality CBD products tend to last longer than low-quality ones.

You might not be able to control the quality of a particular product. But you can control which products you buy. If you want products with a longer shelf life, it's generally best to look for quality.

One way to check for quality is by checking whether a manufacturer submits their products for testing. Clean Remedies tests all of its products for potency and purity with a third-party, independent laboratory. You can check the results of these tests by scanning the QR code included with your product.

That includes our full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil tinctures. They're from hemp that's hand-harvested, gently extracted, and packed in dark green bottles. The unflavored oils have just two ingredients: organic hemp extract and an organic carrier oil.

"The reason that tinctures are always the number one way to go," explains Clean Remedies founder Meredith Farrow, "is because of the bioavailability and absorption. Tinctures absorb more easily into your body and into your bloodstream."

Conclusion

CBD does lose its potency over time, like CBD oil. Other oils, like Delta 8 oils, can also lose potency. With proper storage, high-quality CBD products can last for up to two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens if You Take Old CBD?

Expired CBD isn't necessarily bad for you. It just might not do anything because the CBD has degraded. That said, it might not be worth the risk.

Is 5-Year-Old CBD Oil Still Good?

High-quality CBD oils generally last up to 1 or 2 years.

How Long Does CBD Last?

That depends on the product. CBD oils can last up to 2 years, with proper packaging and storage.

Keep Reading: Can CBD Help With Back Pain?

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Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses clean and natural hemp extract to create products that are free from harmful chemicals, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, meant to benefit your well-being and meet our own high standards of efficacy. For CBD facts, product discounts, and more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.