When stored correctly, CBD oil only has a shelf-life of one or two years. After it expires, it will be weaker. However, to ensure that you’re getting top-quality CBD, it’s best to use it within a few months. In general, you should look for the expiry date on your CBD product and keep that in mind. Does CBD Oil go bad? In short yes. But here’s how long it will last. As well as the best ways to store your CBD so it stays fresh for as long as possible.
As it gets old, the cannabinoids in CBD will degrade, which means that it will lose its potency. This means that it will have a weaker effect. And no one wants that.
If you’ve purchased a high-quality product, it’s a good idea to check out what you need to know about the shelf-life of CBD.
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What happens when CBD oil Goes Bad?
When it expires, it doesn’t sour like milk or mold like bread. Indeed, it might look, taste, and smell the same. But that doesn’t mean it can’t expire or lose its quality.
Over time, CBD oil can become weaker because air, heat, and light can degrade cannabinoids, which are the chemical compounds that are found in hemp and cannabis plants. CBD is one of those cannabinoids. According to research, CBD steadily decays over time, which means your CBD oil will lose its effectiveness.
Will you get ill from using expired CBD oil? Probably not, but it will be pretty useless. And it’s probably a good idea to never consume any product that has gone past its expiration date. (Not to state the obvious, but that’s a pretty good rule to follow for everything in life.)
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What does scientific research say about CBD oil’s expiration date?
There’s no exact consensus on when CBD oil expires, but it seems to have a shelf-life of one or two years. But there’s a few factors that determine how long it will last. Are you storing it properly? Or is it sitting in the sun?
One study compared cannabis oil that was stored in the dark at 4°C with cannabis oil that was stored in laboratory light at 22°C. The cannabis oil in cool, dark conditions seemed to age better. While it still decayed, it did so slightly more slower than the oil in light, warm conditions.
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In general, most manufacturers agree that fresher CBD oil is better—and you should aim to use it within a year of opening it. As with all health products, you should always check the expiry date before using it.
How do I keep my CBD oil from expiring early?
In order to extend the shelf life of your oil, you need to store it properly! Storing CBD correctly will prevent the cannabinoids from degrading at a faster pace. This means your products will stay fresher for longer.
Not sure how to store your CBD oil properly? Take note of the following:
- Keep it in a cool, dark place. Heat and light can degrade the cannabinoids.
- Ensure the bottle is closed tightly. Oxygen can also degrade it.
- Don’t transfer it to another bottle. It is usually sold in little glass bottles, which work perfectly for storage.
- If you must transfer it to another container, use a glass bottle and ensure that it is sterile.
- When using your CBD oil, don’t let the dropper touch your mouth, as this can introduce bacteria into the bottle.
In order to keep your CBD at a high quality, you should also aim to purchase high-quality CBD oil to begin with. To ensure you’re getting premium CBD, read the certificate of analysis and only purchase products from a reputable company.
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In Conclusion…
CBD oil lasts between one and two years before expiring, although you should always check the expiry date on your package. When it expires, it becomes weaker and less effective. To ensure that it stays potent for longer, you need to store CBD oil correctly (that is, in a cool, dark space and in an airtight glass container).
Sian Ferguson is a freelance writer based in Cape Town, South Africa and she has written for publications such as Healthline, Greatist, and Psych Central to name a few.
