Your mom probably smokes more weed more than you do.
That’s according (…sort of) to a survey by Marist College and Yahoo News, who discovered that the highest percentage of adult pot smokers in the U.S. are actually parents. That fact aside, they also found that 55 million Americans over 18 years old smoke weed.
That’s a fifth of the entire population! Clearly, there’s high demand for marijuana already. And it only seems to be growing.
But no-one wants to smoke bad weed.
Which is why, in the interest of educating the masses on the art of finding top quality ganja, we wanted to put a piece together on good weed vs bad weed.
Keep reading to discover exactly what to look for when working out the quality of your weed!
Key Signs of Good Weed vs Bad Weed
For years, scientists have studied weed. But, with recent changes to legislation, it’s becoming big business too. Institutions like the National Institute for Cannabis Investors are emerging around the country.
It’s obvious that marijuana is here to stay. In fact, it’s becoming more popular than ever for its health benefits and for recreational use. But, you have to know the difference between high and low-quality ganja.
Let’s start with high-quality ganja.
Good Weed
Let’s start with the good stuff. High-grade weed:
Smells and Tastes Great
Cannabis plants have aromatic compounds known as terpenes in them.
These give each type of weed their distinctive flavor and aroma. And nicely, our noses are adept at finding a flavor that fits our particular taste in weed. Give yourself the best chance of finding good weed by first giving it a sniff.
If your nose says no, it might not be right for you.
Has Oil-Filled White Crystals
Marijuana plants produce cannabinoids via tiny glands on their flowers.
These glands appear as tiny white dots on the surface, looking a bit like salt, and produce the oil (not to be confused with CBD oil, which is different) that gets you high. The “saltier” the plant appears, the higher concentration of cannabinoids. Look for weed that’s covered in these crystals!
Big bubbles of oil can indicate better quality cannabis too.
Is Often Larger in Size
When it comes to weed, size can (sometimes) matter.
Small nugs don’t necessarily mean bad weed. But bigger nugs often indicate better weed. Flowers at the top or sides of a pot plant get more energy during the growing process. This makes them bigger and generally more potent.
Has a Nice Shape
The shape of your pot can also tell you about its quality.
Carefully processed, hand-cut pot will usually have irregular edges, looking asymmetrical. The added care that comes from hand-trimming a plant means it’s more likely to have kept its oily glands and all-important trichomes.
Its Nicely Colored
Now, funny-colored weed isn’t a great indicator of quality.
After all, top strains of marijuana can come in a variety of colors and tones. However, it’s sometimes true that discoloration (such as bleached sections of the nug) can mean a lower standard.
Perhaps the grower cut corners in the growing process, or maybe the plant was overexposed to light. Whatever the visual issue, if it doesn’t look right, it can be a sign of poor quality.
When it comes to weed, don’t judge a book by its cover. But keep it in mind and avoid obvious discoloration if you’re at all uncertain.
Snaps, Crackles, and Pops
Good weed sounds nice when you crumble it.
It’ll have a certain snap to it that can prove it isn’t too dry or too moist. Be wary if it simply turns to dust, or makes no sound at all.
Bad Weed
Moving onto the low-grade ganja.
Looks Wrong
Bad weed often looks past its best.
There are many visual cues to spotting a bad buy. It may be full of stems and seeds (careful though, this isn’t always a sign of bad weed!), covered in or containing mold (a white powdery substance that’s distinct from the glands), or be discolored.
Smells Wrong
Bad smells (or a lack of smell altogether) are another indicator that your weed may be poor quality.
Watch out for particular olfactory giveaways such as musty hay-like smells, which can indicate mold on weed. And if your weed has a chemical whiff, it may have been subject to pesticide misuse. Likewise, no smell at all is just as bad.
Feels Wrong
Keeping with the sensory signs of bad weed, poor quality marijuana can feel wrong too.
If possible, handle it before you buy. Bad weed will disintegrate, or have mold inside when you crumble it or contain moisture in the nug. Steer clear of pot with symptomology such as this.
Equally, as we mentioned above, have a good listen as you hold, feel, and press the pot too. Bad weed may be too moist to make a noise or be too dry to make the “snap” that you’re looking for.
Is Machine-Cut
Just as hand-cut pot is often higher quality, machine-cut weed can be less so.
Machines shake the pot free of their leaves during the harvesting process, rather than carefully hand trimming them. As well as losing the leaves though, this can also shed the plant of its trichomes.
Equally, avoid the bud if there remains a load of leaves around the flower.
Time to Wrap Up
There you have it: A guide to good weed vs bad weed!
A sensory test is a good place to start when it comes to assessing the quality of your pot. Consider its appearance, smell, sound, and feel.
It’s a good sign if the weed is covered in salty looking, cannabinoid-rich trichomes (thanks to the oil-rich glands), has an asymmetric appearance and a uniform coloration. Equally, if it smells rich, sweet and generally pleasant (as opposed to musty and/or odorless) you’re on to a winner.
And say hello to high quality when your weed is free from mold, has a healthy sounding “snap” when you break it apart and isn’t too dry or moist.
Keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to move forward confidently in your pursuit of the finest nugs around.
Now it’s time to hear from you! What else do you look for in your weed?
What signs do you use to tell if you’re getting your marijuana money’s worth? The color? The smell?
Drop a comment below to let us know! And be sure to get in contact with any questions or further comments.