Cannabis doesn’t exactly have a use by date but weed won’t always last as long as you may think. Let’s look at the effects of storing cannabis over time and if cannabis can go off.

Unlike food, consuming old weed won’t make you feel ill or sick. As long as it hasn’t developed any bacteria or mould during the time you couldn’t find it. However, once weed has had bacteria or mould contamination you’ll be in trouble! 

If you store marijuana correctly you will be able to be smoke it for months, if not years.

If stored properly, weed will look the same yet under the surface the chemical structure of weed changes over time.

What happens when you leave cannabis to do its own thing?

Cannabinoids are the compounds that make up the cannabis plant. The actual amount of Cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are unknown. We know there are plenty of them – the most abundant of them being THC, CBD & CBN. Each strain will be different in the composition and effects of each Cannabinoid.

The Cannabinoids in the cannabis plant are always changing through the growing process. They even continue to change whilst being stored. Whether in a jar or that lost bud in a bag you found from months or years ago. There are effects of storing cannabis over time!

This means that your weed is always developing and changing! This is why we have to be a bit careful. Cannabinoids can be quite volatile in nature when reacting to heat, oxygen, and light. 

THC which is one of the most common Cannabinoids actually starts its life as THCA – a non-psychoactive compound. It is not until the THCA is decarboxylated (applying heat) that it becomes the psychoactive element known as THC.

When you expose THCA & THC to a UV light or the atmosphere for long enough more changes will happen. The compound will become both CBNA & CBN.

The longer you leave the cannabis plant in these conditions the CBNA & CBN numbers will rise in the cannabis plant.

The increase of CBNA & CBN can change up the effects of the plant. Although CBN isn’t bad, it’s very different from THC and may not be to the users’ liking.

Be careful with old cannabis!

When cannabis is stored for a long period of time, THC converts to CBN and it’s effects will be greatly different.

Unlike THC, CBN doesn’t get you “high” yet it is noted for the positive effects it has on the body.

It too helps soothing muscle pain and is a good sedative to help get a good night’s sleep.

Yet the downside would be the taste and the look of the bud. It will likely leave a harsh and unpleasant taste when you do smoke it due to being quite dried up.

If you were to vape this bud you’d probably notice that the taste and harshness aren’t as bad. You won’t get as much vape cloud as you would from a fresh THC filled bud.

You could also try cooking it if that is something you are into/willing to experiment with.

Thanks for giving this a read!

The team at A B Seedy.

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