If you’re a new smoker, it might be hard to tell when your weed is moldy. Mildew or mold can be toxic to ingest, or could cause lung infections or allergic reactions. If you’re feeling dizzy, have chest pain, nosebleeds, fever, or a cough after smoking, chances are your weed could have been rotten — but ideally, you’d be able to tell the weed was bad before you ingested it.
Here are a few tips to decipher good weed from moldy weed. First, check the color of your bud or the leaves. If you see a speckled, white powder material, or a gray or green fuzz, that’s a sure sign the weed’s gone bad. You may also want to use a magnifying glass to better spot mold or mildew on the dried bud. Other signs of mold include dampness, and a sweet, stale, or musty odor.
Dried cannabis bud should smell sweet and skunky, but if it smells like freshly mown grass, it may not have been properly dried or cured, and hence could have a higher chance of being moldy if it’s not stored correctly.
There are two kinds of molds that are most important to look out for, with regard to your health. The first is known as “bud rot” or Botrytis cinerea, which is found on cannabis while it’s still in production. This kind of mold destroys the plant, itself, and starts as gray or white wisps that damage the bud, making it damp and squishy. It’s found most commonly in the cola of a plant, where there’s little airflow and good for moisture retention.
The other kind of mold is Aspergillus, which can be found on the buds and other parts of the cannabis plant. It originates in the soil or anywhere where there’s a good deal of moisture. This kind of mold can be very damaging to the lungs and can weaken the immune system. Moreover, it can impact the cannabis not just during the growth cycle, but also after it’s been harvested and is being stored.
In order to reduce your risk of smoking moldy weed, heed the above warning signs, and be judicious when picking out your bud. Make sure the nuggets you pick out smell good to you, and feel dry when you handle them. Once you buy it, make sure it’s stored in an airtight container without any exposure to liquid or dampness. If you live in a legal state, make sure your bud has been tested in a laboratory for mold, as well as the presence of toxic pesticides.
