Buying CBD oil for the first time can be challenging. Misinformation regarding CBD products runs rampant online. This can be discouraging for users who want to know the best ways to get the potential benefits from taking CBD. There’s nothing worse than wasting an expensive product because you were misled. One area of concern related to CBD products is ‘does CBD oil expire?’
Many CBD companies don’t offer complete transparency when it comes to their products. Users are left in the dark when it comes to the shelf life of CBD oil.
We want to clear up any misconceptions when it comes to expired oil and other CBD products. After reading this article you will understand what happens to CBD when it expires, how to spot expired products, and how to safely store CBD.
How Long Does CBD Last?
CBD is one of the over 114 known chemical compounds that make up the cannabis plant. CBD products are derived from hemp that contains less than 0.3% THC. These precious cannabinoids go through a lifecycle as the plant grows and is extracted from the plant matter. Eventually, CBD will break down.
The amount of time it takes for CBD to expire depends. Many factors come into play when looking at the shelf life of CBD oil. Where it is stored, temperature and the other ingredients all influence the longevity of a CBD product.
Users who don’t like the strong earthy taste of CBD, prefer a dose with minimal volume but still a substantial serving of CBD. Those who like taking small amounts of high potency CBD oil are most at risk of letting their CBD oil expire.
5 Things to Know About CBD Expiration
Understanding these 5 crucial aspects of CBD oil will ensure that you won’t let any of your favorite products go bad.
1. Expiration Date
This seems like a no-brainer, but many people don’t think of CBD products the way they would milk or cheese. While CBD takes way longer to expire, it will eventually go bad and become undesirable.
Selling CBD products has gone unregulated outside of making ridiculous health claims. This is not the case for the CBD manufacturing industry. They are under close watch by the FDA to ensure the products coming out of the facility won’t harm users and don’t contain more than the allowed amount of THC.
One regulation put in place is the expiration date. Every product made in a CBD manufacturing facility must have a visible expiration date. If you are buying from a company that doesn’t have one, it may be time for a switch.
2. Heat and Light
Storing CBD in high temperatures or direct sunlight will break down the molecules leading to lower potency. Many new CBD users ask ‘does CBD oil need to be refrigerated?’ No, keeping your CBD in the fridge is unnecessary. A cupboard will do just fine.
3. Extraction Method Matters
CO2 extraction has become the industry norm. It is more safe, clean, and leads to longer shelf life for CBD products than other methods.
4. Other Ingredients
CBD will last a long time. Most people will finish their bottle of CBD well within the expiration date. But the question ‘how long does CBD oil stay good?’ may depend on more factors than just the CBD.
Flavorings and other ingredients can expire long before the CBD, degrading the quality of the product. If a CBD product contains food or artificial flavoring, make sure that the company is factoring this into their expiration date.
5. Air
Leaving CBD out in the open air can result in lower potency. Make sure that your CBD oil is secured when you aren’t using it.
Leaving CBD out in open air can result in lower potency
How to Test if CBD is Rancid?
There are 3 major factors in how to tell if CBD oil is rancid:
- smell
- taste
- color
Expired CBD oil will have a distinctly funky smell. The taste will also be noticeably off. Depending on the type of oil, how it looks will vary. If you notice that it’s looking thicker and murkier, on top of smelling and tasting strange, it’s time to re-up on CBD oil.
How to Correctly Store CBD Oil?
We recommend storing CBD away from sunlight in a cool, dry place. Make sure to always secure the cap not allowing any airflow.
If you are buying from a trusted retailer and take CBD every day (we highly recommend you do so to get the maximum potential benefits), you will likely use the bottle well before the expiration date.
To answer the question, ‘how long is CBD oil good for?’ At least a year. For users that take in our recommendations and store CBD in a dark cupboard, the product could last even longer. Remember, to ensure the longest possible shelf life, follow our guide to get the maximum life out of your products.
Conclusion
For users new to the world of CBD or for those who found a half-used tincture digging through their medicine cabinet, it’s nice to be able to tell if CBD is expired or safe to use. Taking a small amount of expired CBD oil won’t have any serious consequences but will taste disgusting and most likely won’t deliver the benefits that it used to.
If you store your CBD oil in a dry, cool place away from sunlight it should last 14 months to 2 years. Leaving the cap off or leaving it outside will degrade the potency. We suggest storing your CBD products in a cupboard and only bringing them out when in use. Always remember to check the expiration date and only buy from reputable CBD companies.
Originally appeared at CBD.market blog