It’s always exciting to find something you love and thought lost. Such is the case with edibles. But at what point do they become something you wish you never found in the first place? When stumbling upon a delicious, yet old AF cannabis-infused treat, you need to ask yourself one question: Is this still okay to eat?

Edibles differ from smoking in many ways, from when you get high to the duration of the high to the quality of the high. To simplify: it takes around an hour for an edible to kick in, it can last anywhere from four to 12 hours depending on potency, and the high itself is intense in its own way. Some people see minor tracers with edibles or feel utterly euphoric. Pay attention though — overdoing it on edibles can be a miserable, bedridden mess. 

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The basic rule is to treat edibles like any other food items. If it has dairy in it and has been left out for more than a few days, you’ll want to smell it before taking a chance and even that’s not foolproof.

If it’s vegan and made with a stable oil like coconut, it’s more likely to still be good, though it may have gone a little stale.

The best thing to do with edibles when you get them is to put them in the refrigerator or freezer, depending on how many you have and how long you want them to keep. Generally, a dairy filled goodie will last around a week in the fridge, while you can keep many edibles for up to six months in the freezer.

Maybe even more than spoilage, however, you’re wondering about the potency of the edible and if it’s going to hold its mettle. The answer is a resounding yes. Some people even claim on social threads that the edibles they have get more potent the longer they go without being eaten.

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Hard candies and gummies likely last the longest without refrigeration or freezing. The gummies might lose their chewiness over time, but they’re not likely to spoil. Hard candies are the edible to stock up on if you’re going on a trip where you can’t be smoking, but still want to be elevated.

For the most part, you’re just going to be using common sense with the aging edibles. If you see any mold? Toss it and get or make some more. If it’s stale? That’s you and your palate’s call.

Remember to do the smell test if they’ve been sitting out and keep others preserved with the cold. Bon appetit!