Does Cannabis have a “Smoke By” Date?

There’s a myth as legendary as the 420 origin story. The one where a guy finds a 20-year-old ounce of weed and smokes himself to oblivion.

The most common belief surrounding this facet of the cannabis culture is that older weed gets more potent. This opinion is embedded in the minds of stoners around the world. Does it hold any weight in reality?  Can weed really expire?

Let’s take a dive into the truth about weed’s expiry date and how will your lungs and brain cells respond to the aging process.

Can weed really expire?

Before we dig deep into the problematic, the answer is – yes. Somewhere on the road towards legalization and decriminalization, we’ve forgotten about that marijuana is a plant. Just like every other plant, marijuana falls under the group of living beings and all living beings break down at the end of their life cycle.

We can dramatically delay the inevitable decay by carefully curing the raw materials – just like drying a flower between the pages of a book, curing cannabis is all about the slow, controlled, release of moisture from the plant, to a point of relative dry-ness.

The temporal guidelines

So, marijuana does indeed has a shelf life.

Through multiple studies conducted in recent years, it’s been concluded that weed can be kept (properly stored of course) without losing its potency for 12-18 months.  And while the curing process will in fact intensify the potency of the herb, that is a temporary process.  As the metabolic processes continue during the cure, the conversion of cannabergerol (CBG) to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will continue and the potency of the pot will increase.

It is widely agreed that after an extensive cure, 4-6 months, all of the CBG is gone and there is no additional production of THC. .

Okay, I’ve found some kush in my old stash – do I throw it away?

Despite the fact that weed can indeed go bad, there is no need to make hasty decisions and throw it out straight away. For starters, you should check the texture. If your dope stash if full of dry and crumbled buds, you may be looking at less potent weed, but it isn’t necessarily unsmokable.

How do I store my weed to keep it fresh for a long time?

To start off, we want to touch on the subject of the conditions weed should be in.

Obviously, any type of water or liquid is a big no-no. Weed can’t be burned properly nor can it retain its potency if you remove it’s too wet. That’s why the first parameter should be that the location should be a dry one.

Next up, you should definitely avoid any type of light. Sunlight, in particular, dries out your buds and makes them less potent, much faster than you would like.

We’ve compiled a list of the best possible storage units for your weed, regardless of the location or type of your residence.

Small zip bags – this classic way of keeping your weed safe is a foolproof one. Just make sure that the bags you have are good quality and that they don’t have any holes or ruptures within them.

Classic jars – they can be see-through or not, it depends on what you have at the moment. They provide you with enough space to keep your weed, without risking the loss of individuals bags. Measure how much weed you want to stash and then subsequently pick the jar size you want.

Airtight containers – these usually cost a little bit more and require an investment. But make no mistake – they are a worthwhile one. The airtight seal will give you a safe environment for the weed, just by keeping any oxygen or other pollutants out. Moreover, this does indeed extend the way survives the time. You should get one if you intend on storing your weed for a longer period of time.

Moisture-retaining container – this technology is fairly new to the market. Many experts use it in order to both retain the quality of fresh weed and the rejuvenation of older batches. It’s a bit costly, but don’t hesitate to invest in it if you’re in stashing the kush for a longer period of time. If you’re moving, a moisture-retainer would be an excellent choice for dark days.