Do Cannabis Vape Cartridges Go Bad?

• Cannabis vape cartridges (“carts”) do have expiration dates, but they’re generally considered safe to use after the expiration date. However, potency and taste may degrade over time.
• While you’ll probably be fine if you accidentally use an expired cart, monitor your body’s response to the product and take action if you have any alarming symptoms.
• You can improve the longevity of your carts with proper storage and responsible use.

When your supply begins to run low but you don’t have time to hit the pharmacy on your way home, you might find yourself turning to long-ignored cannabis products gathering dust in the bottom of the medicine cabinet—perhaps you even find an expired cannabis cartridge.

But is it safe to use expired “carts?” In most cases, yes.

While carts do have expiration dates, these aren’t necessarily set in stone. The ingredients in carts don’t suddenly become toxic on a certain day—instead, the potency of these products can decrease over time.

What else should you know before popping that half-empty cart into your vape pen? We’re breaking it all down in this guide.

Do Carts Go Bad?

Do marijuana vape cartridges go bad? Sort of.

There are a few important things to note about the expiration dates for cannabis products as a whole:

• Expiration dates are important on some products – Some cannabis products contain ingredients that could spoil over time. Edibles (especially traditional baked goods) are one example. Since they may include ingredients that need to stay relatively fresh (like eggs or fruit products, even if they’re cooked), edibles typically have a shorter shelf life than smokable products. In addition, you should do your best to use edible products before the due date (to prevent any negative reactions to eating spoiled ingredients).
• Expiration dates are less important on non-edible products – Vape carts contain only a few ingredients: propylene glycol, cannabis oil, flavored oils, and (sometimes) water. Generally speaking, these ingredients don’t spoil. Instead, they degrade. In other words, they typically don’t develop harmful bacteria over time; this is why they’re generally considered safe to use after the expiration date.
• Your mileage may vary – Depending on the amount of time since the expiration date has passed (or since the cart was first opened), your vape cart could have significantly degraded. This means that the cannabinoids in your cart aren’t as concentrated as they were when the product was fresh, so you might not experience consistent results. For medical users, consistency is key—consider swapping out your cart for a fresh one if it’s past its prime.

How to Know if a Cannabis Vape Cartridge Goes Bad

There are a few ways to tell if a vape cartridge has truly become too degraded to use:

• Sensory tests – When you hit your vape, does the product smell and taste okay? What does the liquid in the cart look like? If the oil smells or tastes burnt, stale, or bland, the product has likely degraded over time. If the contents of the cart have changed colors since you opened the package, it might be time to toss it and swap in a fresh cart. Don’t worry—even if you hit the vape to test it, you’re highly unlikely to have a negative reaction even if the potency has decreased.
• Package inspection – If your cart is still unopened and in its original packaging, look for the expiration date. If the product is way past its prime (i.e., multiple years have passed since the expiration date), you might choose to avoid the (albeit low) risks and scrap the cart.
• Assessing your response – You hit a vape cart that you didn’t suspect was degraded—the flavor, smell, and taste are all normal, but something is different this time. Perhaps you’re not feeling the effects as strongly as before, or you’re having unexpected side effects (like dry mouth). If a cart doesn’t meet your expectations—and it’s been out of its packaging for a while—it might be time to swap it out, even if it’s not empty.

What to Do If You Use an Expired Vape Cartridge

If you find yourself in the scenario above (you used a vape cart that you now suspect is expired), what should you do?

First, stay calm. The ingredients in vape carts are all relatively stable long-term (even if they’re exposed to air), so your risk of having a negative (or dangerous) reaction is very low.

However, you should still do the following anytime you have an unexpected reaction to a cannabis product:

• Monitor your response – Continue to monitor your body’s responses to the product. Keep an eye out for side effects (like dry mouth or nausea, which can occur for some cannabis users) and listen to your body. If you’re drowsier than usual, consider getting some shut-eye. If you’re dealing with cotton mouth, fill up your water bottle. If you’re feeling nauseous, try to sip a carbonated beverage or snack on some ginger candy. No matter what your body’s needs are, try your best to meet them as you normally would.
• Get medical attention if needed – You’re highly unlikely to have an adverse medical event after using expired cannabis vape carts. However, if you have any alarming symptoms (exceedingly high heart rate, shortness of breath, or persistent lightheadedness, for instance), seek medical attention right away.

Can You Throw Expired Vape Cartridges Away?

If you find an expired vape cartridge or decide to replace one that has some product remaining, can you throw it away? Yes—vape carts are safe to dispose of in normal household garbage.

While vape carts don’t get hot enough to start fires, consider letting the cart cool down before throwing it into the garbage (out of an abundance of caution).

While you might be curious about recycling, carts typically aren’t accepted by local municipal waste systems. Why?

• Vape carts require more resources to recycle than they do to make from scratch—so, recycling isn’t a very sustainable option.
• Carts are also quite small, so the material that could be gleaned from the recycling process is minimal.
• Even if they’re empty, carts are typically coated in some kind of residue inside, and this is almost impossible to clean.

Of course, that shouldn’t stop you from recycling vape carts for personal use. While they typically aren’t refillable, you could repurpose carts for an art piece or similar applications.

How to Improve the Longevity of Cannabis Vape Cartridges

While it’s hard to control the volatility of manufactured formulas in many cases, there are some measures you can take to extend the life of your cannabis carts:

• Use one cart at a time – Instead of swapping out different flavors and strains each day, try to use one cart at a time. This will help you use it in a reasonable amount of time and prevent prolonged exposure to the air.
• Remove carts from vape pens when not in use – When you’re done dosing for the day, consider storing in-progress carts in a small, sealable container (like a small Mason jar or a pill bottle). While you won’t completely prevent air exposure with these methods, you will slightly limit exposure, potentially prolonging the cart’s lifespan. Plus, removing carts from your vape pen while you’re not using them can help prevent leaks—which will also help you prolong the life of your vape pen’s heating elements.
• Store carts in a cool, dry, dark place – Before you open the package, consider storing unused vape carts in a cool, dry, and dark location. While humidity and heat exposure can cause degradation, it’s important to remember that cannabis is also photosensitive: UV light exposure can decrease the potency of marijuana over time.
• FIFO – While it won’t necessarily prolong the life of your carts, taking a “first in, first out” (FIFO) approach to carts will help you keep fresh carts in the rotation and use your oldest products first. If you overstock on carts, consider writing the purchase date somewhere on the package to make sure you’re always using your oldest product first.

TeleLeaf: Here to Answer Your Questions During Medical Cannabis Treatment

Do cannabis vape cartridges go bad? Yes, but not in a way that poses a significant risk to your health.

This is just one of many pressing questions that are sure to come to mind throughout your cannabis journey—and fortunately, TeleLeaf’s expert clinicians are always here to help you find answers. Our network of cannabis-informed healthcare providers can also help you get a recommendation for medical cannabis, apply for a medical card, and get access to the plant-based medicine you need to thrive.

Ready to meet with a cannabis doctor who will support every step of your journey? Schedule an appointment today.

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Joy Organics. How Long Are THC Cartridges Good?
https://joyorganics.com

Cleveland Clinic. Marijuana (Cannabis, Weed).
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Westword. How Bad Are THC Vape Cartridges for the Environment?
https://www.westword.com/marijuana/how-bad-are-thc-vape-cartridges-for-the-environment-19651541

Business Insider. How to Store Weed to Keep It Fresh and Potent, According to Experts.
https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/how-to-store-weed