TL;DR: Delta 8 does lose potency over time, and this blog explains why storage conditions matter almost as much as age. Readers will learn what causes Delta 8 to degrade, how to preserve its strength longer, and what to know about expired products and tolerance.
- Does Delta 8 lose potency? Yes. Time naturally reduces cannabinoid potency, even when products are stored well.
- Heat, light, and air speed up degradation, making Delta 8 less effective faster if it is not stored properly.
- Best storage practices include keeping products in sealed, opaque containers away from sunlight, heat sources, and excess air exposure.
- Expired Delta 8 itself is not usually what makes people sick, but edibles can spoil and flower can develop mold.
- Tolerance also matters, since frequent Delta 8 use can make the effects feel weaker even if the product has not lost much potency.
Does Delta 8 lose potency? Yes, from a slow loss of effectiveness due to the passage of time to somewhat quicker loss of potency due to exposure to heat and light, Delta 8 isn’t perfectly stable.
Like many chemicals, Delta 8 and other cannabinoids change even when they’re kept in an optimal environment. External factors can speed up the process.
Keep reading to learn more about cannabinoid potency. We’ll cover common factors that can cause Delta 8 to lose potency, how to slow down that process, and answer frequently asked questions related to this topic.
Does Delta 8 Lose Potency? The Role of Time, Air, Heat & Light, Plus What You Can Do About It
Time Leads to Less-Potent Cannabinoids
Delta 8, along with other cannabinoids, doesn’t last forever. Like many chemicals, the structure and stability of cannabinoids (including most, if not all, forms of THC) are affected by the passage of time and exposure to environmental factors.
As Encore Labs explains, the degradation, or the loss of potency and stability in cannabinoids like Delta 8, is natural and inevitable. It’s not something that can be prevented in the long term. Time alone is enough to cause the slow but steady conversion of psychoactive cannabinoids into other, less potent cannabinoids.
For example, Delta 9 THC eventually turns into CBN. This is a mildly psychoactive cannabinoid that is known for functional benefits like potentially supporting better sleep quality and helping with inflammation, but does not deliver the same kind of experience as an equivalent amount of Delta 9.
This is true for flower (which can also dry out and potentially grow mold), edibles, concentrates, and all other cannabinoid products. If you’re wondering whether Delta 8 gummies lose potency, or have a similar question for any other type of cannabinoid product, just remember that they all become weaker as time passes.
The good news is that the process takes years to have a major effect. Healthline points out that Delta 9 flower loses about 16% of its THC after one year, and about 26% after two years.
How to Slow Down the Effects of Heat, Light & Air on Delta 8 Potency
There’s no way to stop time from passing, but you can protect your cannabinoid products from other common factors that degrade them.
Heat, light, and air all cause cannabinoids to lose potency, adding to the effects of time in reducing their effectiveness. How can you protect your cannabinoids?
- Keep cannabinoid products in their original sealed packaging until you’re ready to use them. If you need to put them in a new container, your best bet is an opaque and airtight option. Use glass instead of plastic for flower, if possible.
- Store your cannabinoid products away from sources of light and/or heat, like HVAC vents and windows. A cabinet or drawer helps to maintain a more consistent temperature and minimize light exposure.
- You can freeze certain edibles, including most gummies, for an even longer useful life. However, freezing flower and concentrates in vape cartridges can damage the trichomes on flower and the parts of the cart for concentrates.
FAQs About Cannabinoids and Potency
Delta 8 potency vs Delta 9: Which is stronger?
When comparing Delta 8 THC potency vs Delta 9, the consensus is that Delta 9 is stronger. Both cannabinoids deliver similar effects, but most users find they need somewhat more Delta 8 to match the strength of a Delta 9 high. Delta 8 is thought to be roughly one-half to two-thirds as potent as Delta 9.
The Delta 8 potency vs THC (i.e., Delta 9) argument has been settled by both user reports and through scientific explanations by organizations like the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists (ACS). The ACS notes that the placement of the double bond in Delta 8’s chemical structure makes it less potent than Delta 9, because that placement affects how the body’s cannabinoid receptors interact with it.
Does Delta 8 degrade over time?
Yes, Delta 8 degrades over time because the chemical is not perfectly stable. The passage of time can’t be stopped, but you can reduce exposure to other factors that degrade cannabinoids, like heat, light, and air. You can protect your cannabinoids with proper storage methods, specifically keeping them in airtight, opaque containers away from heat, light, and circulating air.
Can expired Delta 8 make you sick?
As a chemical, expired Delta 8 has reduced potency but does not generally make users sick. However, items like flower and edibles can both grow mold on them, which may cause illness if ingested. Edibles can also spoil, just like nearly all types of food. The best way to look at it is the chemical by itself won’t make you sick, but the substance it’s attached to can.
Do you build up a tolerance to Delta 8?
Yes, regular use of Delta 8 and other cannabinoids will build up tolerance in users. Although the potency of the cannabinoids themselves won’t drop in a noticeable way over a few weeks or months, frequent use leads to the body becoming more accustomed to cannabinoids. Taking a short break – a few days to a week or two – can help to manage tolerance.
Are 2-year-old edibles still good?
Some edibles can be safe to eat, although somewhat less potent, after two years. Other edibles will not be safe to eat because they’ve spoiled, grown mold, or otherwise become unsafe to eat.
Gummies, in particular, are made to be shelf-stable. So, high-quality and properly stored gummies are often, although not always, safe to eat even two years after they’re manufactured. Most other types of edibles won’t last for two years from a food safety perspective, although the cannabinoids in them will still retain about 3/4ths of their original potency if they’re stored properly.
The Industry’s Best Cannabinoids
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