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Does Medical Marijuana Lose its Potency Over Time?
As a qualified patient, you have access to many dispensaries across the state of Missouri. At some point along your medical marijuana journey, you will ask yourself ‘does marijuana go bad?’ or ‘how long does it last?’ Perhaps you found some leftover flower at home from some time ago and were wondering ‘is this still good?’
So how long does cannabis actually last?
With proper storage, cannabis can last a long time for most patients. If you are buying medical cannabis which is harvested, dried and cured correctly you can expect your cannabis to last anywhere from 6 months to a year.
Proper Storage is Key For Preserving Your Medical Marijuana
If stored correctly, you can expect your cannabis to last you up to a whole year. However, we recommend following the expiration date provided on the outside packing of your products purchased from the dispensary for the best results.
Scientifically Speaking…
When cannabis ages, many of the cannabinoids and terpenes will slowly break down and lose their potency. When this happens, your cannabis will slowly lose its flavor and scent. Once the cannabinoids have broken down over time so will the THC found in cannabis. Once the THC is broken down, your bud will ultimately lose its potency. However, when stored correctly this process will not happen as fast with proper storage.
Some Facts & Tips To Consider:
After one year, marijuana loses almost 16% of its total THC
If cannabis is exposed to warmer temperatures, it can become moist or humid which can develop mold which should never be consumed by a patient. You can tell if your cannabis is moldy if it feels spongy and doesn’t make any sound when pulling it apart.
Your cannabis can also be ‘too dry’ to consume. You can tell if your cannabis is too dry if it breaks apart easily and turns into dust. At this point, it wouldn’t make much sense to consume it since it has lost all the important cannabinoids patients need to help treat their qualifying conditions.
In conclusion --yes-- cannabis does lose potency over time. If you find yourself with leftover flower, you may consider purchasing in smaller increments or tossing your leftover cannabis after carefully examining it using the tips listed above. For the best treatment results, we recommend following the expiration dates of each product.
If you are a Missourian suffering from a qualifying condition, you may be eligible to treat your ailment with medical marijuana, which includes both THC and CBD products.
Click here to learn more about what Missouri Marijuana Card's certified medical marijuana physicians can do for you, or give us a call at 877-303-3117 and our friendly patient support team can walk you through the entire process, and set you up with an appointment through telemedicine.