Does CBD Oil Expire or Go bad?

When buying CBD oil, kindly check the expiry date before purchasing the product. This article discusses whether CBD oil can expire, factors affecting the shelf life of CBD oil and how to know whether your CBD oil is expired.

The number of people using CBD oils and CBD-infused products has grown rapidly. In ancient times, most people did not find the cannabis plant to have any beneficial use.Currently, the cannabis plant, especially hemp, is being widely grown since it is thesourceof CBD. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a major compound of the cannabis plan. There area variety of many CBD products, including edibles, drinks, lotions and others. These products are infused with CBD.

Does CBD Oil Expire?

After extracting CBD from the cannabis plant, it is mixed with carrier oil to form CBD oil. One of the most common methods of extracting CBD oils is by a sublingual method. According to Liu (2019), the method involves placing a few drops of CBD oil under the tongue to allow the active ingredients to dissolve into the bloodstream through the mucus membrane. According to Das (2020), CBD does not make you high. Just like many other natural products, CBD oils lose effectiveness and expire. The shelf life of CBD oil ranges between 1-2 years. There are a few factors that can affect the shelf life of CBD oils, as discussed below;

Factors Affecting CBD Oil Shelf Life

Understanding the self-life of CBD oils will help you with measures to take when preserving the CBD oil product, you decide to purchase.

Ingredients

CBD oils contain different ingredients that have their expiration date. According to Lachenmeier et al. (2019), the expiration date of these ingredients affects the product's shelf life. Some CBD oil components, such asflavouring degrade faster than the oil. This means that pure CBD can last longer than the one that contains other additional ingredients.

Quality

The quality of CBD significantly affects the shelf life of CBD oil. High-quality CBD lasts longer than low-quality CBD depending on the chemicals and conditions associated in the production. The growing conditions of the hemp plant affect the quality of CBD extracted from it. Some areas where hemp is grown may contain heavy metals, solvents and other chemicals that may affect the hemp plant. CBD extracted from poor quality plant can speed up their expiry. Chemicals involved in the production process of CBD oils can also affect the quality.

Type of CBD

CBD oils made with CBD isolates may have a longer shelf life than oil made with full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD. This is because CBD isolates do not contain other chemicals and ingredients that would affect the shelf life of CBD oil.

Method of Extraction

Kornpointner et al. (2021) stated that using carbon (iv) oxide to extract CBD maximizes its yield, making the purest CBD with a longer shelf life. Using the ethanol extraction method produces a short life span of CBD oil. It is good to do your research to know how CBD is extracted before purchasing.

Storage

How you keep your CBD oil product affects how long it lasts. Low or very high temperatures and light exposure increase the product's expiry. Kindly store your product in a dark cool place.

Packaging

Dark-coloured airtight containers are the best to put CBD oil. This helps to minimize light and heat, which causes the oil to expire faster.

CBD Oil Vendor

Different CBD oil manufacturers use different ways of producing CBD products. Reliable manufacturers ensure that their products are tested before they are released to the market to ensure the correct shelf life. Authorized manufacturers have better standards of production than unregulated vendors. It is better to buy CBD oils from reputable brands.

How To Know Whether Your CBD Oil Is Expired

Improper storage can push the expiry date forward. If you doubt that the oil is expired, look out for the following:

Thickness

A change in texture, chances are that the product is expired. If the oil becomes too thick or seems to separate in the bottle, it might not be good for use.

Colour

A change in colour is a good indicator of when products go bad. When the oil turns darker, it means it is beginning to break down.

Smell

CBD oils have a pleasant smell, slight earthy scent. If you notice a rotten odour, the product is probably expired.

Taste

If you notice an unpleasant taste, the product could be expired.

Using Expired CBD Oil

In case you unknowingly use expired CBD oil, do not panic. Consuming little expired oil will not make you sick. However, you cannot get the expected effect of CBD because it will have lost its potency. When CBD oil expires, they degrade. If you notice an unusual feeling after taking the expired oil, seek medical attention from your doctor.

How to Store CBD Oil

As discussed earlier, the shelf life of CBD oil can be affected when the product is stored in extremely hot or cold areas with bright light. The following tips can help keep CBD oils in good condition:

• Keep the oil in its original packaging, avoid using other containers for storage.
• Keep the oil at room temperature (16-21 degrees)
• Keep the oil in a dark place, avoid direct sun light.
• Keep the oil away from a possible source of excess heat, such as stoves and radiators.
• Protect the oil from bacteria and other possible causes of contamination
• Close the bottle properly after use to prevent the air from entering the bottle. If you let air into the bottle, it can cause the CBD oil to go bad easily.

Conclusion

CBD oils expire but it is fit for use for one to two years if stored properly. Choosing a good CBD oil product and storing it correctly can help to maintain the product in good condition. Do not just buy any CBD oil product in the market. Since the sale of CBD products is unregulated in the UK, there are substandard CBD products in the market. Do your research to avoid these types of CBD oil products that can cause side effects when consumed. Buy CBD oil from a reputable company. When buying the product, make sure it contains good quality ingredients. Ensure you keep the product in a cool and dark place.

References

Das, S. (2020). The CBD Dialectic in Mental Health: Benign and Powerful? Psychiatric Services, 71(1), 2-3.

Kornpointner, C., Martinez, A. S., Schnürch, M., Halbwirth, H., &Bica-Schröder, K. (2021). Combined ionic liquid and supercritical carbon dioxide based dynamic extraction of six cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. Green Chemistry, 23(24), 10079-10089.

Liu, T. (2019). What is CBD Oil? Learn the Facts: Uses, Benefits and Side Effects.

Lachenmeier, D. W., Habel, S., Fischer, B., Herbi, F., Zerbe, Y., Bock, V., ... &Sproll, C. (2019). Are adverse effects of cannabidiol (CBD) products caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contamination? F1000Research, 8.