What Is the Shelf Life of CBD Gummies? – Storage Guidance

Metal bowl overflowing with bright multicolored gummy bears.

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CBD gummies, like other types of CBD products, can change and degrade over time. So, just how long can you expect them to last for, and what can you do to help?

The shelf life of CBD gummies tends to range from one to two years, but proper storage conditions can help extend this as much as possible. Storing products indoors in safe, dark, and cool environments is perhaps the best way to achieve this goal.

There are, of course, other factors to consider: when and where you purchase your product, what sort of alternative ingredients exist within the product, how often you consume your gummies, and more. These things will all impact not just how you store your products, but also how you buy them. It’s also beneficial to be aware of what sort of adverse effects can be the result of CBD itself, and which are more likely the result of an expired or spoiled product. 

No matter what storage choices you make, being educated about what to look out for can save you a lot of time, money, and hassle.

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Do CBD gummies expire?

Yes, CBD gummies can expire. Like all CBD products, gummies are susceptible to changes over time that can make them unpleasant to eat, less effective, or totally ineffective when it comes to producing desired results.

CBD products have a finite shelf life due to the simple fact that cannabinoids, which includes CBD, break down and change after a certain amount of time, usually a year or two.

Proper storage techniques can help extend the shelf life of your products, but inevitably, they’ll likely need to be replaced after a few years. Even products that aren’t opened can lose their efficacy.

How long do CBD gummies last?

As mentioned, CBD gummies generally last at least a year or two, especially if stored in the right conditions. 

Of course, purchasing high-quality products from reputable sellers is another way to ensure that you only own the best the market has to offer; gummies with lots of unnecessary and cheap additives may be more prone to going bad or becoming hard to consume more quickly.

Gummies and other edible types of CBD may be the easiest to accidentally neglect; after all, they take longer to kick in and tend to have stronger, longer-lasting effects, so it’s unlikely that most users will turn to these products as frequently as other options (like vaping).

So, keep the general shelf life of your products in mind when making a decision about what’s best for you – one to two years is a lifespan that extends to most product options, but it might carry different implications for different individuals because the compound will inevitably affect your body differently.

Brunette women with brown eyes holding a bowl of gummy bears smiling ear to ear.

How do you store CBD gummies?

It’s generally best to store CBD gummies in a cool, dark, environment indoors. A kitchen cabinet, for instance, is a great option, as is a storage closet or other spaces that tend to be fairly stable or aren’t often exposed to potential risk factors.

These dark and cool conditions are suitable for almost all CBD products. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures, excessive amounts of light, or humidity may all impact not just the CBD in the products itself, but also the integrity of the “bulk” of the product.

In other words, poor storage conditions can damage CBD and the product it’s been embedded inside of. 

For gummies, for instance, high temperatures may cause stickiness, or chewiness. Storing your gummies in an open space (outside of a sealed container, for instance) may make them hard.

Should you keep CBD gummies in the fridge?

While you don’t have to store CBD gummies in the fridge, it’s not necessarily a bad idea to do so. Keeping gummies in the fridge is a logical option, but it’s not something that will significantly alter the shelf life of your product.

Refrigerators are relatively safe, stable, and dark places to store things – that’s part of why they’re used to keep so many of the things we use on a daily basis intact! 

These conditions do indeed make it an ideal location to keep gummies, if you’d like. The temperatures that exist within fridges aren’t so cold that they’ll cause damage to your products.

While it might not damage your products, it’s important to note that a refrigerator can cause noticeable changes. The texture of your gummies, for example, may change; cooler temperatures may cause other ingredients to firm up, but this doesn’t mean that your products have gone bad.

Setting your gummies out for a few hours can help warm them up and undo any changes that do occur.

Overall, if you don’t mind the possibility of a few minor changes, storing your gummies in a refrigerator can be a great way to keep it in ideal conditions without any extensive effort. Again, fridges are not necessary, just convenient!

An open refrigerator with the light on full of food.

What happens if you eat expired CBD gummies?

The most common thing you’ll experience after eating expired CBD gummies is a simple lack of effects. CBD gummies that have “gone bad” or have been in your possession for long periods of time tend to lose their ability to produce the results we associate with CBD.

Just like other molecular components of foods and substances we ingest change and impact the way these things impact our body, so too does CBD. 

Even if it won’t make you physically sick, consuming expired CBD can feel like a let-down and a waste of money.

If your CBD gummies have expired in more ways than one – that is, the gummies have truly “gone bad” in the sense that other components beyond cannabinoids have begun to break down or change – it is possible you might experience physical discomfort after consumption.

Gummies that are harder or softer than usual, taste different, smell or look “off,” or otherwise seem different than they have in the past are usually not worth consuming. 

The ingredients that go into many gummies aren’t as likely to make you sick as some types of foods – oils, eggs, dairy, etc. – but they can still be irritating and unpleasant. 

Artificial ingredients found in some gummies, like dyes, sugars, and flavoring, can also be susceptible to changes and make it more likely that you’ll experience adverse effects.

In general, if you notice that your products no longer work like they used to, have fundamental structural or textural changes, or otherwise just don’t seem like they ought to, it’s time to throw them out.

It also helps to be aware of side effects generally associated with CBD itself to help differentiate between a general bad reaction to CBD and one that’s the result of spoiled products.

CBD Side Effects to Watch Out For:

  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Changes in appetite
  • Diarrhea

No matter what, if you notice negative effects as the result of CBD consumption of any sort, it’s wise to discontinue use until you can determine what may be causing the situation.

Final Thoughts: What is the Shelf Life of CBD Gummies

As is the case with nearly all CBD products, how you store your gummies can impact how long they’re good for, but no product can fully avoid changes that come along with time.

For most, a year or two is plenty of time to consume any gummies you might purchase, but it does help to be mindful of the fact that they won’t last forever when making your choice.

Because gummies are consumed orally, they tend to have longer-lasting effects than some of their counterparts, which means you might need to use them less frequently.

As a result, purchasing smaller quantities of gummies and other edible products can be a great way to test out how they impact you without risking purchasing a product that you simply won’t use or won’t finish in time.

Ideal storage conditions are generally applicable to most types of CBD products, including oils, flower, powders, and more – cool, dark spaces indoors are usually the most stable and therefore best to keep your purchases in.

Not only will your products be protected from temperature changes or the damage that can come along with prolonged exposure to light, they’ll also be in a place that can be locked or made hard to access, which can be great if you’re concerned about keeping your gummies away from children.

No matter what type of product you decide is best for you, purchasing from reputable sellers who don’t use excessive additives is a good way to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck.

Be sure to check out our directory here to access such information as well as product reviews, a breakdown of pro’s and con’s, and more. We only recommend products that we have personally tried, and we can attest to the quality and reputability of every item in our directory.

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Josh Murdoch

I was born with Cystic Fibrosis, and although it is incurable, cannabinoids have been allowing me to live my life as a healthy adult now for years. For that reason, I’ve dedicated my career to spreading the good news about cannabinoids. Currently, I work for a cannabis distribution company called Humble Cannabis Solutions which operates in California. Previously, I worked on two cannabis farms in northern California, one of which was located in the famous Humboldt County. I’ve also managed a medical cannabis delivery service in Marin County, California. I created CBD Facilitator to share what I’ve learned, and to recommend the best products that I have found in this chaotic market.

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Our Mission

Our goal is to educate you on all things CBD, enabling you to navigate this vast unregulated industry like a pro. We know all too well how overwhelming it can be to find trustworthy brands in this crowded market, so we’re here to help!

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Our Favorite Brands

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Perfect for Localized Pain and Inflammation Relief!