Cannabis is a miraculous herb that offers a number of therapeutic advantages and may be able to treat a variety of illnesses. Many nations have legalized marijuana use, allowing patients to benefit from this miraculous herb’s ability to treat a variety of medical conditions. The United States has also legalized marijuana use. To obtain legal access to include marijuana in their treatment plan, patients must see a medical marijuana doctor.
A medical marijuana card gives you legal access to a variety of cannabis products, including CBD and THC-based choices. This card assures that you may buy and utilize these items legally, suited to your unique medical requirements.
However, over time, cannabidiol (CBD) may become less effective. This might be the result of your tolerance to CBD or the product having expired. To make the most of your CBD, it is important to learn how to overcome CBD tolerance and slow the expiration of CBD.
Why CBD Loses Effectiveness: Understanding Expiration
Yes, CBD oil does expire. The shelf life of CBD oil is determined by a few factors.
Key Factors That Affect CBD Shelf Life
- Procedure for extraction
The cannabis plant can be extracted in a few different ways. Certain techniques work better than others. Since it maximizes the amount of CBD in the finished product, the carbon dioxide extraction method is thought to be the best. Using this technique when making a full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD product helps preserve other cannabinoids. Look for CBD products made in this manner if you want them to last longer.
- Components
The shelf life of CBD products can be impacted by their ingredients. Better ingredients will be used to make higher-quality CBD oil, which will produce a product with a longer shelf life. Sometimes flavorings break down more quickly than CBD does, which shortens the product’s shelf life.
- Storage
CBD products will deteriorate more quickly when exposed to heat, air, and light, which will shorten their shelf life. Make sure you buy your CBD products in glass bottles with a dark (amber) color to extend their shelf life. Before making a purchase, make sure the bottle is sealed and kept out of direct sunlight.
- Quality
The product’s expected lifespan increases with quality. The quality of the plant, its state, and any additional ingredients added to the product are factors that impact the quality of CBD products. Utilizing a product bearing a certificate of analysis (CoA) from an independent laboratory is always preferable.
- Storage
To get the most out of your CBD oil, storage must be done properly. It is imperative that you keep your CBD products in an airtight container and in a cool, dark place away from harsh sunlight. If you don’t, the CBD may deteriorate more quickly due to heat, light, and air.
How to Tell If CBD Has Gone Bad
- Smell
Your CBD product has most likely expired and deteriorated if it has an unpleasant odor. Products containing CBD usually have an earthy scent, so they shouldn’t smell bad.
- Taste
The CBD product has degraded if it tastes rancid. You should be able to eat or drink your CBD product, even if you don’t particularly enjoy the taste. It’s time to buy a new product if it isn’t.
- Thickness
The CBD oil has probably gone bad if it has thickened or darkened in color. Your CBD oil might seem hazy and have thickened if it has been kept in the refrigerator. The oil should regain its original thickness and color after a few minutes at room temperature; if not, the CBD oil has degraded.
Can Expired CBD Make You Sick?
Unless the product contains mold or mildew, it is unlikely that expired CBD oil will cause you to become ill. You won’t get the full therapeutic benefits, and it will probably lose its potency, so it won’t be worth ingesting. This is a result of the CBD beginning to deteriorate. In addition, the product will start to taste and smell awful, making it unpleasant to consume.
Why CBD May Lose Effectiveness: Building a Tolerance
If you have become tolerant of CBD, you may be feeling that it is no longer as effective. When a substance is tolerated, higher dosages are needed to produce the same effects. This happens as a result of the body’s efforts to preserve homeostasis, or cellular balance. It’s important to distinguish between tolerance and addiction or dependence.
Tolerance to THC varies from tolerance to CBD because THC binds to brain CB1 receptors. These receptors may become less sensitive to THC over time, requiring higher doses to produce the same results.
Although it is unlikely, it is still possible to develop a tolerance to CBD because it does not bind to the CB1 receptors like THC does.
Signs That You’ve Built a CBD Tolerance
If you find that you need to consistently up your CBD dosage in order to experience the same desired effects, you have most likely developed a tolerance.
How to Reduce Your CBD Tolerance
To reduce your tolerance to CBD, you could try not using any for 48 hours. Your tolerance levels would decrease as a result of your body having an opportunity to “reset.”
If you take CBD every day for medical reasons or if this seems too drastic for you, you might want to consider cutting back on how often you take it. Try reducing the amount of CBD you take daily to just one or two doses. This may cause you to become less tolerant.
Using tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can also help you need less CBD because the entourage effect—a synergistic relationship between THC and CBD—boosts each other’s anti-inflammatory effects.
To reduce your tolerance, you could try a different strain or product if you frequently use the same strain (cultivar). This may be beneficial to you because if you use a strain regularly, the new strain’s different chemical makeup will upset the equilibrium your body has established.
Final Words!
There are two possible reasons why your CBD product might not be as effective as it once was: either the product has deteriorated or you have grown tolerant of it. To make sure you get the most out of your CBD products, it’s imperative to watch out for the symptoms of both causes.
One important thing to keep in mind if you want to include cannabis in your medical regimen is that you need a medical marijuana card. Having a medical card will allow you to legally access marijuana in your state and keep you out of trouble with the law.