THC-infused drinks are shelf stable and don’t expire, but they do have a best-by date of about 1 year after they’re made. Storing your THC drinks in a cool, dark place can slow the degradation of the THC and help your drinks retain their potency for longer.
In this article, we’ll answer some questions people commonly have about how long THC-infused drinks last and how they should be stored.
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What Are THC-infused Drinks?
THC-infused drinks are beverages that have been infused with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the cannabis sativa plant.
THC drinks come in many forms, including teas, sodas, seltzers, sparkling waters, and more. Compared to THC edibles, THC drinks are faster-acting.
The relaxing, euphoric effects of THC makes these beverages a great alternative to alcohol. Unlike alcohol, THC drinks don’t create a hangover the next morning, and next-day effects are uncommon – especially with low-dose THC drinks.
How Long Do THC-Infused Drinks Last?
THC-infused drinks are generally shelf-stable and don’t expire on any reasonable timescale.
However, they do have a best-by date of about 1 year. If you wait more than a year after purchasing your THC drinks to consume them, the effects may not be as potent due to the THC degrading over time.
How long do THC-infused drinks last after they’re opened?
Once you open a THC drink, you should try to consume the rest of it within a few days. Unless the drink contains dairy (e.g. a THC-infused iced coffee drink), this isn’t an issue of safety, but rather, flavor and effects.
Over time, sparkling drinks may go flat and drinks, in general, may lose their flavor due to oxidation. The THC will also break down due to oxygen exposure, although this process is slow.
Do THC Drinks Spoil?
Cannabis infused beverages won’t spoil if they’re shelf-stable. Most THC sodas, seltzers, and bottled teas and coffees are shelf-stable, so they don’t have to be refrigerated and won’t spoil.
However, their THC levels will degrade slowly over time, so you should aim to consume them
Not on any reasonable timescale. They’re shelf-stable. However, after about 1 year, the THC in them will degrade, so they won’t be as potent as you’d like.
Will THC Drinks Lose Potency Over Time?
Yes, THC drinks will lose potency over time. Several things may cause the degradation of THC, and all of these factors may influence the potency of your drinks:
- Light: Light, specifically, UV light, causes THC to break down and turn into CBN, a less-potent, more-sedating cannabinoid. CBN is a beneficial cannabinoid in itself, but you may not want high levels of it in your drinks because it’s somewhat sedating.
- Oxygen: Exposure to oxygen in the air causes THC to turn into CBN over time.
- Heat: Like light and oxygen, high temperatures cause THC to break down and turn into CBN.
- Can lining: The lining in canned drinks won’t cause THC to degrade, but it may absorb small amounts of the THC, leading to a less-potent beverage over time. This typically isn’t a problem with glass containers.
None of these elements will degrade THC particularly quickly, so if you leave your package of THC iced tea in a sunny patch for a day, there won’t be a discernible difference in potency.
But if you’re going to save THC beverages for months on end, you’ll want to use proper storage techniques to ensure your drinks don’t see a significant loss in potency.
How to Store THC Drinks
Storing your THC-infused beverages properly will help you avoid potency loss. Here’s what to do:
In general
If you’ve got a case of THC drinks, store them in a cool, dark place – your pantry is fine, but your garage probably isn’t.
UV radiation, which is prevalent in sunlight but is emitted by many types of artificial lights as well, causes THC to degrade over time.
This won’t be an issue with canned drinks, but it is a problem with drinks that come in glass bottles. Storing these drinks in a dark place minimizes this gradual degradation.
Heat also degrades THC. You don’t need to put your case of drinks in the refrigerator, but you should store them in a place that doesn’t get hot.
After opening
If you opened a cannabis drink, consumed part of it, and now you want to save the rest for later, you can put it in the refrigerator as you would another drink.
Just be sure to enjoy the rest of it within a couple of days to minimize losses in flavor and potency.
Ideally, you’ll be able to close the container to prevent oxygen from reaching the drink (as oxygen degrades THC), but with canned drinks, this isn’t really an option.
Conclusion: How to Keep Your THC Drinks Fresh
When it comes to ensuring your cannabis infused drinks stay fresh, our best advice is to avoid buying too many at a time. This will prevent you needing to worry about the long-term effects of storing THC drinks.
But if you do have to store your drinks, put them somewhere cool and dry. When the time comes to crack one open, the flavor and potency will be on point.
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How Long Do THC-Infused Drinks Last? Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions our customers frequently ask us about THC drinks.
How long does it take for THC drinks to wear off?
The effects of THC drinks typically last for 4-6 hours after they kick in.
How do you store THC infused drinks?
Before you open them, THC infused drinks can be stored in a cool, dark place, such as your pantry. After opening, cannabis beverages can be put in the refrigerator.
What is the onset of THC drinks?
You’ll feel the effects of THC drinks in 15-20 minutes.
What are the benefits of THC drinks?
THC drinks offer mental and physical relaxation without a hangover or the other negatives associated with alcohol. THC has been researched for therapeutic use with pain, sleep, nausea, and more.
