As you may have heard, marijuana concentrates are potent. They usually give a stronger high than regular cannabis. These can be in the form of wax, shatter, oil, etc. If you are a frequent user or even an occasional one, there is one question that comes to mind: do marijuana concentrates expire? The immediate solution is, well, yes, but you must know the specifics.
What Exactly are Cannabis Concentrates?
Let's take a moment to understand what marijuana concentrates actually are. Cannabis concentrates are products that have gone through a process to remove the intoxicating parts of hashish. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD, along with terpenes, contribute to their aroma and the effects you experience.
Factors Affecting Cannabis Concentrates' Shelf Life
Several factors influence the shelf life of your marijuana concentrate. The answer lies in exposure to various factors, such as light, air, moisture, heat, and so on. Read on to find out how to take care of your concentrates so that they last longer.
- Exposure to light:
Sunlight (especially UV light) can degrade the cannabinoids in your concentrate, making it less potent over time. Because light can degrade your extract, many concentrates come in dark or opaque containers. If you leave your concentrate under the light for too long, it loses its potency and taste.
- Exposure to Air:
Oxygen can degrade the cannabinoids and terpenes in your concentrate. This oxidation process reduces the amount of nicotine present in your concentrate. Oxidation will eventually cause your concentrate to change color, texture, and potency. You can prevent this by keeping your concentrate in an airtight container.
- Moisture:
Humidity is another problem with marijuana concentrates from this process. Too much moisture in your concentrate could cause mold or mildew to grow. Unfortunately, not only does this mess up the concentrate you paid for, but it can also be harmful if consumed. Always store concentrates in a dry atmosphere.
- Heat:
High temperatures can break down the cannabinoids in your concentrate. Even though heat-essence terps represent the only time you want to use even small amounts of harshness, there is still a limit. To preserve the quality of your concentrates, keep them stored in a cool, dark environment.
How Do You Know Your Cannabis Concentrate Is Bad?
In conclusion, being able to tell is as important and can be equally effective because prevention starts from that end. Examine your concentration: the consistency of your concentrate is another common way to tell if it has expired.
- Change in color:
Color change: If your concentrate has significantly darkened, it may indicate degradation. For example, a wax that started as bright amber can become black or dark brown due to refining, which removes contaminants. The hydrogenation step has other implications. This color change is often caused by oxidation or light exposure.
- Change in Consistency:
Your yellow shatter is now a brown sticky note, or simply put, it has soured and gone bad. The keychain's consistency may change due to heat or moisture. If your wax feels dry, the texture is typically crumbly or even powdery.
- Loss of Aroma:
Terpenes give weed its smell. Dehydrated terpenes will no longer fill the air with a great aroma. If you smell something off, it is not freshly extracted oleoresin.
- Change in Potency:
Your concentrate may be weaker because the cannabis has degraded. THC cannabinoids tend to degrade over time because of being exposed to sunlight, air, or heat. If the concentrate is old, you may need to use more.
How to Store Your Dabs?
- Use airtight containers.
Keep your concentration tight! Some of you will use glass jars with airtight seals, which are also a good choice. If you need to store your concentrates for an extended period of time, such as months or even years, then vacuum sealing is going to be incredibly useful.
- Keep in a Cool, Dark Place:
Heat and light are the two worst enemies of marijuana concentrates. A cool, dark place in a cupboard or drawer is ideal. Avoid placing it near heating systems or windows with temperature fluctuations.
- Use a refrigerator or freezer to thoroughly chill your alcohol.
For long-term storage, some people prefer to keep their concentrates in a refrigerator or freezer. But this approach comes with its own dangers. Moisture can accumulate as condensation on the surface of the concentrate when you pull it out of a refrigerator or freezer. You put the concentrate in an airtight container, of course, and wait until it reaches room temperature before cracking it open.
- Avoid Frequent Handling:
Opening the cap exposes your concentrate to air, light, and oftentimes moisture. The less you touch your concentrate, the better, since handling it causes degradation.
What to Do with Your Stale Concentrates?
If you notice a change in your flavor but do not end up with mold and mildew, there may be hope that it will help you relax or get excited. If the concentrate appears to have lost its effectiveness and has developed an off-odor or texture, it may no longer be recommended for your use.
Conclusion
All cannabis products, even marijuana concentrates in their wax form, have an expiration date. They don't "expire" like food. But, if they sit too long, heat can degrade their potency and flavor. This may make them unsafe to eat. So, it's key to store them properly. A few major factors cause these to lose their potency. You can better store your concentrates to make them last longer—light years, actually.
Take note of how your concentrates look, smell, and even more importantly, taste. If you're unsure, it's much safer to dump a suspect concentrate than to take the risk of vaporizing fungus or bacteria. Proper storage will allow you to optimize your marijuana concentrates and savor them at their peak potency for as long as possible.