Do edibles expire?
How long do edibles last and stay fresh?
Generally speaking, edibles can last and still get you high 3-6 months from when they are made, with proper storage. After that, the food itself may get stale and the THC may start to degrade.
All edibles have different shelf lives, and those bought at a licensed store or dispensary will usually have an expiration date indicating when the product is no longer safe to consume.
Some baked goods, like brownies and cookies, may go stale in a week or so, while gummies can stay fresh for months. If you stock up on edibles, you can put some in the freezer if you don’t plan on consuming them soon. Simply thaw out before eating.
Do edibles have a similar shelf life to regular foods?
Making food with a cannabis infusion shouldn’t affect the food’s shelf life. Edibles should have the same shelf life as their non-cannabis counterparts: A weed gummy will go stale in the same amount of time as a regular gummy, as will a weed brownie compared to a regular brownie, and so on.
Like regular foods, edibles with preservatives will last longer than those without preservatives—this is one reason why gummies are so popular.
Determining shelf life with homemade edibles is the same—if making your own batch of weed brownies, they should last as long as regular brownies.
Read more of Leafly’s guide to edibles
Do edibles lose potency over time?
THC does degrade over time, but slowly. Potency usually stays intact 3-6 months after an edible is made, if properly stored. After that, potency will likely decrease, but the edible may still get you high, albeit less so. At that point, the bigger concern is if the food itself is stale.
Oxygen can contribute to the degradation of THC, so it’s best to keep edibles in air-tight bags or jars to maintain freshness and potency for as long as possible.
Rae Lland and Pat Goggins contributed to this article.
Read more of Leafly’s guide to cannabis edibles
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