Caring for Cannabis

Look for a lot of crystals.  The more the better.  These crystals are concentrated THC.  It is indicative of high-quality product.  Crystals are trichromes that form on the flowering female plants.  They house THC and other cannabinoid molecules.  The more crystals you see the more potent the product.

Moisture shouldn’t be too dry. A Good product is not going to feel dry.  If there is no stickiness or it just crumbles when broken up, be cautious.  Keep cannabis fresh in glass jars.  Watch for sticks and seeds.  Sticks and seeds are not the sign of a quality product.  Keep in mind cannabis is sold by the weight.  Since sticks and seeds need to be sorted out, the net weight will be less.  This is never good.

Green is the color of cannabis.  There may be orange but green is the primary color of a quality product.  Good cannabis can have some hints of purple and red, also.  Brown, however, is NOT acceptable.

The potency of the smell matters.  Dank cannabis smells dank.  When purchasing a product, buy from a reputable dispensary.  Smell what you have learned to know is good.  It’s like wine, learn the smells of quality!

Storage environment shouldn’t be too wet, either.  If the product is soggy, that’s not good.  Dank is almost as bad because it hinders the process of breaking up and some will be wasted.

If cannabis is real leafy, it means it could just be a lot of fluff.  It also may not break down as well as a better product.  Look for the little hairs.  They indicate a superior cannabis with great effects.

Cannabis should feel sticky when broken up.  Stickier cannabis is always more potent.  It’s a sign of a fresher, more quality product.

Two major concerns when storing or buying cannabis are Pesticides and Mold.  Ensuring the purchase from a reputable dispensary, or if growing your own, verify it is pesticide-free.

Mold is environmental and needs to be controlled just as it was in biblical times.  Blighted crops are destroyed and rendered invaluable.  The same can occur in cannabis.  Any stage of the plant can acquire mold.  It is critical that identification of mold is learned to protect the health of the discerning cannabis connoisseur.

Understand and identify dangers of mold.  For those in dry climates, mold can be rare.  In humid climates, mold damage to health is devastating

Ingesting mold can cause coughing, breathing difficulties, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, and pneumonitis.  At worst, mold can cause Aspergilloma, mold growth IN the lungs.

There are 5 types of mold that affect cannabis:

• Aspergillus grows both indoors and outdoors.  Spores can be inhaled.
• Penicillium has some good, as in medicine.  Other can ruin crops and infect humans and animals.
• Rhizopus is widely found on fruit, jelly, bread peanuts and tobacco.  It can occur with diabetic complications.
• Mucor is a fast growing mold that doesn’t affect warm-blooded creatures but some can cause necrotizing infections.
• Botrytis – Bud Rot is the most famous for affecting grapes.  The word means “grape disease” there or two types, “Noble Rot” or “Dry Rot”.  It enhances the flavor of wines. “Grey rot” or wet rot is a killer of crops.  It can and does affect the lungs.

When inspecting for mold, there are identifying patterns that will signal mold.  Little hairs that cover buds are trichomes and they are good!  Black spots or spores or white, brown, gray or yellow fuzz is suspect.  White, gray, black web-like material making it appear bugs are inhabiting the bud is indicative of mold damage.  Here is where the smell can really tip a consumer off to damaged cannabis.

Molds like moisture and lack of air circulation.  In “grow rooms”, fans are used as a deterrent to mold and insects.  However, it is important to note that most molds activate AFTER harvest.

Any heat in at least 15% humidity could have spores and survive and grow later.  A hygrometer like in humidifiers is a good investment.

Don’t store your cannabis in plastic bags.

If mold is identified, you must dispose of the entire stash.

Since in California and other legal states, most cannabis is bought from reputable dispensaries, the initial work is taken from the consumer and the burden is lifted from the buyer.  That is certainly a benefit of legal cannabis use.

Store product in a well-dried mason jar with seal.  An apothecary jar, as in used for cigars can also be a great tool.  Store product in a cool, dry, dark space.  Heat will diminish the quality of the bud.