After a trip to the dispensary, it is important to know how to properly

store your purchases so that you can ensure longer shelf life and

get the most out of your medical marijuana.

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Does Medical Marijuana Become Less Potent Over Time?

 

For those who are using dried flower, or “bud,” the traditional

smokable form of marijuana, marijuana doesn’t exactly expire.

Unlike food, there is not a date where your medical marijuana will

be dangerous to consume.

 

Instead, marijuana’s potency and effects can change over time.

 

Much of the therapeutic potential of medical marijuana is thanks

to a class of compounds called cannabinoids. These include THC

(delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound that is credited for

marijuana’s “high,” and CBD (cannabidiol), another common cannabinoid that doesn’t result in the same sort of psychoactive effects.

 

Over time, these compounds will degrade. What this means is that the therapeutic potential will decrease the longer you keep the cannabis. The longer you keep the cannabis, you run the risk of losing the effects of THC over time.

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Medical marijuana contains other compounds that contribute to its efficacy known as terpenes. Terpenes are the class of compounds responsible for the unique aroma of different strains of cannabis. They too can have beneficial effects on human health.

 

Terpenes are particularly volatile, meaning that they degrade rapidly. When marijuana flower is exposed to air, terpenes slowly escape into the atmosphere.

 

Of course, other medical cannabis products can go bad in the same way that food does. Marijuana edibles are food products infused with cannabis extracts; gummies are the most popular THC edible in Arkansas. Just as with any other type of food, it is important to pay attention to the use-by date.

 

As for concentrates like those found in vape pens or cartridges, tinctures, wax, and shatter, it is recommended that you use them within one year of purchase.

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Why Proper Medical Marijuana Storage Is Important

 

When it comes to medical marijuana flower, there are good and bad ways to store it. Exposure to things like heat, air, light, and moisture can cause the potency to decrease. Terpenes are particularly sensitive to heat and air exposure. This is why you may have noticed that cannabis loses its distinct aroma if left out in the open for long.

 

Moisture exposure is more worrisome than that of heat and air. This is because wet cannabis can end up with mold, resulting in a product that is dangerous for your health. Storing cannabis in an airtight container in a cool place with minimal light exposure is the best way to ensure a longer shelf life.

 

 

 

 

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