A myth about cannabis is it is grown in healthy, organic atmospheres – which is frankly not true. Here is how spot bad weed.
Like corn, avocados and watermelons, cannabis is sometimes hard to tell if you got the right one. Â Peaches, apples, and tomatoes are easy with a squeeze, but other plants are more of challenge. Impurities are pretty common and not all growing habitats are healthy – including indoor. While 50+% of the country has access to legal weed, illicit weed still is a big part of the market, especially in states which don’t allow weed and New York which has over 1,500 unlicensed stories selling who knows what.
RELATED: Why You Should Smell Your Weed Before Buying
Figuring out if your weed is good involves seeing, touching, and smelling your buds to check for contaminants. The more you use, the more you will be able to understand quickly. Here is how to tell if you weed is bad.
Visual Inspection
This can be done using the naked eye or a microscope. If the cannabis flowers are covered with too much shiny, crystalline substance, something could be afoot. During the harvest process, shake out buds and view the drop-off substances. Some impurities  might see include grains, crystals, or powders. If you cannot identify some of these substances, it might be good to take a pass.
RELATED: Why You Should Smell Your Weed Before Buying
Inspect by Feeling
Visual is one one or even the first step. Â Pick up a bud to determine whether or not it crumbles or quickly dries out.
Smell and Taste Inspection
Before lighting up, take a whiff to get a better read. Although this only works if you’re familiar with what it should smells and tastes like. If you catch a hint or taste of chemicals or other unnatural substances, then you may have contaminated buds.
Inspect the Combusted Weed
When lighting rolled-up buds, check if it gives up sparks when inhaled. Also, check what the flame looks like immediately and after the weed is lit. If you hear a crackling sound when you drag on the buds, it is very possible the buds are contaminated.
Also, check the flavor and smell given of the weed; if an abnormal order is detected, stop inhaling.
Inspect The Leftovers
This is the last process. If the previous inspections did not give off any weird results, there’s still a need to observe the ash left behind. A non contaminated bud will leave dark gray ash, which is obviously dry and soft to touch. If you see jet black, hard or greasy ash, then your buds contain one or more contaminants.
Cannabis is often exposed, directly or indirectly, to contaminants. Common culprits include sugar, sand, fertilizer, hairspray, and industrial pesticides or fertilizers.
Sand is one of the natural residues that can slip past the inspection of even the most experienced cannabis connoisseurs. Sand is an unavoidable material in agricultural operations, so there’s a high chance it contaminates the products by accident. Some unscrupulous growers tend to add sand on purpose to their products because it gives the buds a shinier and heavier look. It is always advisable to shake out your buds and sift through the ground ones before packaging.
Usually in large grown operations, fertilizer can put consumers at risk of developing life-threatening ailments if inhaled. Many chemicals are used for credible reasons, such as protecting crops and maximizing growth. However, the consumption of these hazardous chemicals over time can result in diseases such as neurotoxicity and asthma.
Other cannabis Contaminants to watch out for including fungus, mold and talc.
If you ever find yourself with contaminated cannabis buds or products, the severity of contamination determines whether or not you’ll have to dispose of them. Some contaminated buds can be cleansed with the proper materials. However, if you have no time to do this yourself, it’s best to throw them out.
It is always best to purchase from a licensed, legal store as products are more closely inspected and have more oversight to ensure consumer safety.
RELATED: Is Sticky Weed A Good Or Bad Sign?
The main objective of recognizing cannabis bud impurities is to ensure purer and smoother-hitting buds without taking in something harmful. Carefully check through your homegrown and purchased cannabis bids at all times, if not for anything, but stay safe.
