If you’ve ever picked up a cannabis product from your local Denver dispensaries, you’ve likely noticed a date somewhere on the package. This date is known as an expiration or use-by date. The theory is that you need to use your weed before the date passes. But do cannabis products, like the food you buy in the grocery store, really and truly expire? Here’s what you need to know. 

Cannabis Loses Efficacy 
In most cases, especially with tinctures and dried flower, the expiration date refers to the date that the products full potency will last until. After that date, manufacturers and growers can’t guarantee that your cannabis will have the same strength. 

This is because cannabis gets weaker the longer it sits. You’ll still be able to get high from it, but you won’t get the same quality high that you would when the product is fresh. 

Storage Methods Matter
Cannabis can and will go bad or expire if it’s not stored properly. Your products should always be kept in a dry and dark area away from heat. Ideally, keep your weed where temperatures stay between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. This helps keep your products dry and extends their shelf life. 

Remember, cannabis, especially bud, is a plant product. That means mold spores can grow when the conditions are right. If your bud smells musty or moldy, it needs to go in the trash. Smoking or ingesting mold puts your health at risk. And it’s far better to head down to your dispensary and spend a few bucks on a replacement than it is to end up in the hospital for an upper respiratory infection.

It Depends on the Ingredients
Of course tinctures, salves, and bud will all last longer than other products. Why? Because their ingredients list is simple and designed to get the longest shelf life possible. But if you’re picking up edibles or other cannabis products, you’ll want to pay attention to the expiration date.

This is because those products have food ingredients that will go bad or expire after the date. Even if the cannabis in those products is potent and still good, the other ingredients may not be. When in doubt, throw it out. And if you see any mold or discoloration in your products that just makes you think it’s not good to keep around, throw it away. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Only Buy What You’ll Use
The best thing you can do is make a plan to just by the amount of cannabis that you know you’ll use before that date. If you know you’ll blow through your stash quickly, buy accordingly. But if it typically takes you a while to use your products up, take this into consideration. Remember, you can always stop by your local dispensary again when your stash runs low. With three convenient locations in the Denver metro area, Altitude is here to help. We’ll make sure you have the right weed on-hand and will help you find a way to store your products to extend their shelf life as long as possible.