A new study shows a link between medical marijuana users and cigarette smokers.
A new study found that medical marijuana patients are more likely to smoke cigarettes. Published this month in the American Journal of Addictions,the research is some of the first to look into the connection between medical marijuana patients and cigarettes, something that is a concern for health practitioners.
Researchers acknowledged that there has long been a relationship between recreational cannabis use and nicotine use. This makes a lot of sense since smoking one substance makes it more likely to some others. With this study, researchers wanted to get some clarification on the case of medical marijuana, especially since these users are meant to be using the drug for health concerns.
Researchers went to a medical marijuana dispensary and surveyed over 600 patients between the ages of 18 and 89, asking them how they consumed their cannabis, and about their cannabis and nicotine use. They found that about 40% of medical cannabis users were also nicotine users. For reference purposes, about 14% of adults in the U.S. are nicotine consumers.
“Between the higher rates of nicotine use in those using medical cannabis, the fact that cigarette smokers opt to smoke cannabis as well, and that those people also are seeking to quit using nicotine presents a strong argument that dispensaries provide tobacco control messaging at the point of sale to encourage cigarette smokers to quit,” co-author Marc Steinberg told Rutgers Today. “The strategy also could increase the chances that a medical cannabis user would vape the product, which is a less harmful route than smoking.”
Warnings and recommendations from dispensaries may be a way to educate the public on the perils of smoking any substance. While pesky, these suggestions may educate consumers and let them know that smoking is harmful and that there are other methods of consuming cannabis that provide the same benefits minus the lung damage.
A recent clinical study led by NYU Langone found that psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, reduced heavy drinking by 83%, compared with a 51% reduction among those who received an antihistamine placebo. It shows a potential solution for alcohol addiction might be magic mushrooms.
Psychedelic treatment for alcoholism became popular in the 1960s and 1970s, when LSD studies showed that the substance reduced alcohol misuse. Yet that possibility ceased to be considered until now.
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The Results: Psilocybin Helps Reduce Alcohol Cravings
The randomized study with 93 alcohol-dependent participants showed that those receiving two doses of psilocybin together with psychotherapy saw an 83% reduction in heavy drinking habits measured over eight months, while the subgroup offered an antihistamine placebo with psychotherapy showed a 51% reduction.
More specifically, in the 12 weeks before the study, the participants drank alcohol for an average of 60 days. Of that total, about half were heavy drinking days -that is, five or more drinks for a man and four or more for a woman per day.
Everyone in the study started drinking less after the first four weeks of therapy; the percentage of heavy drinking days dropped from half to a quarter. But that number dropped even lower for those taking psilocybin.
At the end of the study, the psilocybin group drank heavily on around 10% of the days when they drank, while the antihistamine group was still drinking heavily on almost a quarter of drinking days. What’s more, the daily alcohol consumption was also lower in the psilocybin group.
All 93 participants received 12 psychotherapy sessions before, between and after psilocybin administrations.
It is important to note that the study found no serious adverse events among participants who received psilocybin.
Further evidence of psilocybin’s effectiveness? 48% of participants treated with the psychedelic stopped consuming alcohol entirely after the eight months, compared to 24% in the placebo group.
Comments And Further Steps
In view of the study results, senior author and psychedelics researcher at NYU Michael Bogenschutz said: “Our findings strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising means of treating alcohol use disorder, a complex disease that has proven notoriously difficult to manage.”
Bogenschutz is also the author of a 2015 research on the same topic, The study found that, after receiving a sole dose of psilocybin, the 10 alcohol-dependent participants showed a 40 to 60% drop in alcohol use and addiction, and that those who had more intense trips were more benefited by the treatment.
Study participant Jon Kostas, who received psilocybin, had tried all sorts of treatments before, including Alcoholics Anonymous, rehab and visiting various specialists. “I’d say it saved my life. This eliminated all my cravings to the point where it cured my alcoholism. And I don’t categorize myself as an alcoholic anymore.”
It is still unclear why psychedelics help people drink less: the combination of psilocybin with therapy is key to the treatment approach, so it’s not possible to determine what the effects of the psychedelic would be on its own, nor why or how the combination might eventually help.
“We just need to start doing some mechanistic studies to find out what is actually going on. And the truth is, we don’t know,” Bogenschutz said. Nonetheless, he posits that these substances might be helpful for the brain to change and grow in areas affecting thought and behavior, which in turn could make people more open and receptive to therapy.
Magic mushrooms are not only believed to have the ability to treat alcohol addiction, but other substance abuse issues as well.
“As research into psychedelic treatment grows, we find more possible applications for mental health conditions. Beyond alcohol use disorder, this approach may prove useful in treating other addictions such as cigarette smoking and abuse of cocaine and opioids,” Bogenschutz said.
The team is currently preparing to conduct a similar yet larger trial to further demonstrate that magic mushrooms can -and should- be used in diagnostic and clinical settings aiming to help cure different types of addictions. “If these effects hold up in future trials, psilocybin will be a real breakthrough in the treatment of alcohol use disorder,” Bogenschutz concluded.
So fingers crossed a potential solution for alcohol addiction might be magic mushrooms.
While the neuroprotective benefits of CBD have been studied in the past, not much had been covered regarding its potential in the prevention or treatment of peripheral neuropathy until now.
A new study published in the official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancerhas shown that oral cannabidiol (CBD) is effective in preventing peripheral neuropathy that occurs following chemotherapy treatment. The study was conducted by researchers from the Department of Clinical Oncology and Palliative Care at Zealand University Hospital in Denmark.
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a condition that affects nerves in the extremities (feet and hands) causing them to become weak, painful, and numb. Several factors may cause PN including diabetes, injuries, and exposure to toxins such as chemotherapy drugs. Common treatments for PN include the use of anticonvulsants (such as diazepam) antidepressants (such as amitriptyline) and pain medications (mild opioids).
While these treatments help to relieve PN symptoms, they neither prevent it nor address the underlying issue. Those suffering from PN often find that they have to be on PN medication for extended durations and this of course presents the risk for addiction and other adverse effects.
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What’s CBD and How Can it Help?
Cannabidiol is one of the numerous phytocannabinoids that are present in cannabis. The therapeutic benefits of CBD in several areas have been confirmed by research. This includes the treatment of seizures, chronic pain, and social anxiety disorders among others.
This recent study was conducted to investigate the potential of CBD in preventing peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment (oxaliplatin or paclitaxel). The patients were offered two 150 mg doses of CBD. The treatment started a day prior to chemotherapy treatment and was continued for eight days. A control group (patients that did not receive CBD treatment) was also created.
At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that CBD attenuates the early symptoms of chemotherapy-induced PN without causing any major adverse effects.
What’s next?
While the neuroprotective benefits of CBD have been studied in the past, not much had been covered regarding its potential in the prevention or treatment of peripheral neuropathy. From this new research, it’s apparent that CBD can offer hope to those suffering from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. This finding warrants further research in the form of randomized clinical trials.
Meanwhile, check out this interesting study that shows that CBD and THC have a greater benefit-safety profile compared to opioids used to manage chronic pain.
Even with elaborate and accurate equipment, there are likely to be many legal battles fought over how legitimate the equipment is.
As marijuana becomes legal and regulated in many states, law enforcement is often struggling to keep up with the times. There is definitely a learning curve when something that was illegal suddenly becomes legal, and this is particularly true with marijuana. In fact, determining whether someone is under the influence of cannabis remains a difficult thing to prove in a court of law.
When comparing roadside alcohol testing to marijuana testing, a 2019 Congressional Research Service report concluded, “Based on current knowledge and enforcement capabilities, it is not possible to articulate a similarly simple level or rate of marijuana consumption and a corresponding effect on driving ability.”
Alcohol is fairly easy to test for, and this makes it easy to enforce drunk driving laws. Using precise agreed upon alcohol levels using accurate testing tools have made it straightforward for citizens to follow the law and simple for police to enforce it. Cannabis, however, is already proving to be a far more complicated substance to test for. It is so complicated that the Federal Government plans to spend $1.4 million to study how marijuana compounds concentrate on breathing in hopes of creating a reliable breathalyzer test.
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Thisstudy, known as “Breath Measurements of Acute Cannabis Use (BRACE): towards Reliable Determination of Recent Use,” is the latest effort by the government to quantify levels of marijuana impairment. One new approach this study aims to take is to accurately measure cannabis on the breath. “To resolve the challenges of determining recent cannabis use from a single breath sample, we propose a paradigm shift: two breath samples spaced a short interval apart.” The idea here is that the change, ( great or small) in the two measurements, could accurately determine how recently cannabis consumption occurred. This, however, is a new concept and is yet to be seen as legitimate.
The fact is, alcohol and cannabis just do not react the same with the human body, which means testing for THC the same way may never be as effective as the powers that be want it to be. “We’re applying the alcohol rules to a substance that doesn’t play by them,” Nick Morrow, a retired Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department narcotics investigator told CNN. While it is normal to want to test people the same for marijuana as you do alcohol, especially when on the road, it really is two different breeds, which is why this $1.4 million dollar investment might seem like a lot of money to come up with a breathalyzer, but really it is a drop in the bucket — and a long shot at that.
Another aspect that separates cannabis from alcohol is the fact that it affects people differently. That is to say, if you give someone several shots, their motor functions are all but certain to change. Cannabis has different effects on people, and sometimes affects the same person differently depending on a variety of factors. This means the standard field sobriety tests used to help determine drunk driving do not hold the same weight when it comes to cannabis. “You could absolutely have people under the influence of marijuana who had poor physical coordination,” Colorado attorney Chris Halsor told Discover Magazine in regards to cannabis sobriety tests. “And you could also have people who were completely baked out of their minds and could ace them.”
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Another variable at play is the theory that blood and saliva may not be accurate tools to measure marijuana intoxication levels in general. A 2021 study from The University of Sydney suggests that blood and saliva are not reliable ways to test for marijuana impairment. According to a recent study by the University of Sydney, blood and oral fluid THC concentrations are relatively poor or inconsistent indicators of cannabis-induced impairment. If more studies come out to suggest the same, then even the most accurate THC breathalyzer may still not be an accurate tool for deciding whether or not a person is under the influence.
If the University of Sydney study is any indication, testing for marijuana intoxication is likely to be a long and difficult journey to prove definitive. Still, this newest study and its fresh approach at multiple measurements is a unique look at how cannabis intoxication might present itself on a person’s breath.
Even with elaborate and accurate equipment, there are likely to be many legal battles fought over how legitimate the equipment is. This, combined with no Federal guidelines to guide states, there may even be wildly different laws and testing methods based on which state you are driving in — so buckle up, this may be a bumpy ride.
Scientists are asking responsible parties for the name ‘monkeypox’ to be changed, thus avoiding racist and homophobic rhetoric.
Monkeypox isn’t exactly the most fitting name for a disease that’s infected many, and scientists want to do something about it.
The disease is spreading fast, being contracted from person to person, with gay men having higher odds of catching it. Monkeypox is similar to smallpox and, per the New York Times, obtained its name in the 50s, after Danish scientists first spotted the virus in lab monkeys.
Now that monkeypox has grown into a global concern, public health experts have been urging responsible parties to come up with a new name for the virus, one that’s more accurate and based on facts. They hope that by doing this they can quiet homophobic, racist and ignorant rhetoric.
Dr. Tulio de Oliveira, who works in a university in South Africa, wrote an open letter alongside other scientists to the World Health Organization, asking them to change the disease’s name as soon as possible. “Names matter, and so does scientific accuracy, especially for pathogens and epidemics that we are trying to control,” he said.
The open letter criticized the media coverage of the issue, which makes it appear like the disease came from Africa and like the majority of the spread remains on that region, which is not true. Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor, a public health expert in Nigeria, called the monkeypox spread reminiscent of the AIDS crisis, a time when Africa was blamed on the spread of the pandemic due to poor medical attention. He says that the fact that monkeypox affects men who sleep with men makes the two situations all the more similar.
Concerns regarding the spread of monkeypox are rising in the U.S., with there being over 16,000 cases. While there are vaccines, there are shortages and misinformation, resulting in a confusing enviroment.
The disease spreads through person to person contact and can be caught via contaminated surfaces. While children and women can get it, men who have sex with men are the demographic that’s more exposed.
On August 5th, a report from the CDC said that 99% of monkeypox cases ocurred among men, with 94% of them reporting recent sexual contact with males. This is why it’s important for these men to get their vaccines, especially if they live in a big city or an area where there are a lot of cases.
The Office of Cannabis Management announced how many cannabis licenses they would award, revealing how many dispensaries will likely open per borough.
New York regulators are a few short months away from launching legal marijuana sales. Over the past year, responsible parties have been preparing laws and setting the stage just for this moment.
On Thursday, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) released a regional breakdown of possible dispensaries, showing just how many licenses would be awarded per region.
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The OCM will award up to 150 licenses across 14 regions in the state. Big boroughs like Manhattan and Brooklyn have more licenses and thus are likely to have more dispensaries.
The region with the most room for licenses is Manhattan, with 22 of them. Closely following are Long Island and Brooklyn, with 20 and 19 licenses respectively. Other highly populated areas like Queens and The Bronx follow closely behind, with 16 and 10 licenses each.
The OCM is currently gearing up to provide CAURD licenses to applicants, which are the ones provided to people who’ve been “justice-involved.” CAURD stands for Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries and will be the first licenses to be provided to the public, benefitting those who’ve struggled the most due to the penalization of cannabis.
“CAURD licensees are positioned to make New York’s first legal cannabis sales before the end of 2022, speeding the delivery of investments into communities across New York State that were impacted by the disproportionate enforcement of cannabis prohibition,” reads the official website.
The application process is supposed to be simple and cheap, requiring no outside help from lawyers or other parties.
“The primary goal of the CAURD license is to create opportunities for New Yorkers harmed most by the prohibition of cannabis,” OCM spokesperson Aaron Ghitelman told Marijuana Moment. “Part of that is granting up to 150 CAURD licenses to individuals who themselves, or their close family members, have had past eligible cannabis-related offenses and have ownership stakes in profitable businesses.
New York will start accepting dispensary applications on August 25, with the goal of having these businesses up and running by the end of the year.
While employees are not explicitly banned from using hemp-derived CBD, which is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, USFS warned that those using it “could test positive for illegal drug use.”
Despite an increasing acceptance of marijuana use among Americans, policies penalizing federal workers over their off-the-clock marijuana use in states where the plant is legal still exist.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is another federal agency urging its employees not to use cannabis, reported Marijuana Moment. “There have been no changes to the panel of drugs contained in the list of Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substance Act,” USFS’ human resources division said in a notice posted on Monday.
The agency warned employees that it would conduct random tests on those reasonably suspected of cannabis use. Workers in ‘Test Designated Positions’ will be tested regularly. In addition, repercussions for positive tests include “discipline up to removal for the first finding of illegal drug use.”
The notice warns: “All Forest Service employees must remain drug-free and refrain from illegal drug use whether on or off duty regardless of state laws.”
While employees are not explicitly banned from using hemp-derived CBD, which is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, USFS warned that those using it “could test positive for illegal drug use.”
“It can be inaccurately labeled as having no to low levels of Tetrahydrocannabinol, and yet actually contain high levels,” the agency said.
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The Largest Government Labor Union Works On Policy Change
Meanwhile, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) recently accepted a resolution supporting cannabis legalization and urging the removal of policies penalizing federal workers over their off-the-clock marijuana use in states where the plant is legal.
Titled “Resolution to Support Deleting Responsible Off-Duty Marijuana Usage from Suitability Criteria,” the measure notes that there’s an “increasing acceptance of marijuana use in American society, including for medical treatment for veterans of the armed forces and others,” while pointing out that “federal regulations unreasonably cast marijuana usage as a matter of concern for security reasons.”
While some municipal departments like the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) are considering changing their cannabis testing policy, it seems significant changes will occur once and when marijuana becomes federally legal.
Which Industries Drug Test Workers The Most And The Least?
It’s good to know that transportation and warehousing and the utility sectors both had higher testing rates than the others.
On the other end of the spectrum are accommodation and food services, arts, entertainment and recreation, information, educational services and financial sectors, which all have the lowest testing rates.
A new survey shows some concerning numbers for young adults, who are consuming more cannabis, psychedelics, vaped nicotine, and alcohol.
Marijuana and psychedelics use among young adults has reached an all-time high, according to a federal survey. The data was collected by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and shows a jump back to form following a year of low usage of all substances from young adults due to the pandemic.
The survey was conducted on 19 to 60-year-olds from April to October 2021 and found that 43% of young adults (of ages 19 to 30) claimed to have used cannabis 20 or more times over the course of the previous month — a 34% increase from previous survey results. These increases were also present in people aged 54 to 50, but to a lesser degree.
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Researchers who conducted the survey are surprised by these findings, which show that young adults are not only more interested in cannabis and psychedelics than previous generations, but also in nicotine vaping and alcohol.
According to the NIH, reports of binge drinking by young adults (defined as having five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks) returned to pre-pandemic levels in 2021 after significantly decreasing in 2020.
“High-intensity drinking, defined as having 10 or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks, was at its highest level since it was first measured in 2005, reported by 13% of young adults in 2021, compared with 11% in 2005. However, past-month and past-year alcohol use, and daily drinking have been on a downward trend in young adults for the past 10 years.”
There are a lot of factors that are contributing to this issue. Aside from a more lax attitude in the case of marijuana and, to some extent, psychedelics, these numbers are also a reflection of young adults’ mental health in the US, which has likely plummeted following the pandemic.
Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the NIH, called the results “very concerning.”
“What they tell us is that the problem of substance abuse among young people has gotten worse in this country, and that the pandemic, with all its mental stressors and turmoil, has likely contributed to the rise,” she said.
As marijuana gets legalized across the United States, we can expect these numbers to rise in tandem. While it’s true that marijuana is less dangerous than the government made it out to be in years past, there are still consequences to its usage, particularly in the case of young adults. It’s important for state governments to legalize the drug responsibly, sharing the pertinent information with the public in ways that stick.
When choosing a sunscreen, try to check the ingredients used and try to pick one with broad-spectrum protection that is capable of guarding against both types of UV rays.
It’s not unusual that many of us may not take enough precautions to protect our skin. While a few will make time to apply and reapply sunscreens, despite taking these precautions, they’ll sometimes still suffer from tortuous sunburns.
Around the world, aloe is commonly used to rectify the effects of sunburns, but this article will be exploring whether or not cannabidiol (CBD) products are a good option for treating sunburn.
Many of us, irrespective of skin tone or age, have experienced the inflammation and reddening of the skin after staying too long outside. Sunburn, thankfully, has several natural remedies, each needing a specific duration of time to yield results.
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A breakdown of how sunburn works
The sun gives off ultraviolet (UV) rays and the skin has a limit on the number of UV rays it can tolerate. When this limit is reached, these rays begin to elicit or trigger an inflammatory response in the body. Some liken this inflammation to scalding themselves with something hot.
There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. The first has a longer wavelength and can cause very intense damages like aging and cancerous growth, while the second has a shorter wavelength and is responsible for sunburns.
Fortunately, our skin can tolerate passive episodes of sunburn and with the right products, it can repair damaged cells. Care has to be taken to not overexpose the skin to more damage than it can tolerate.
The immune system and sunburn
Depending on the level of damage, sunburn can be classified as first, or second-degree burns. Medical practitioners claim that sunburn alone cannot cause third-degree burns.
Sunburn can only damage the outer and underlayer of the skin; that is the epidermis and dermis.
The immune system works immediately to correct the damages done as soon as the skin is no longer exposed to these harmful rays. Several symptoms will be noticed a few hours after the exposure.
Some of these symptoms include;
Redness
Pain
Nausea
Cold
Peeling skin
Fever
Weakness
Faints
Low blood pressure
Patients often explain that they can spend several hours in the sun without feeling anything, only to get home and start experiencing these symptoms.
CBD and sunburn
Studies have shown that CBD has an anti-inflammatory quality. It has been used to treat conditions like muscle pain in rheumatoid arthritis and neuropathic pain. It has also been useful in patients with psoriasis and acne.
Photo by Jesse Schoff via Unsplash
This is why researchers think CBD would be a good option for the prevention or aftercare of sunburns.
Board-certified dermatologist and brand ambassador for Medterra CBD, Dr. Jeanette Jacknin, claims CBD has a high potential to make the skin heal from sun damage. She based her claims on studies that show the hearing effects of CBD on wounds.
Although there is still a need for more research, it has been suggested that CBD can be mixed into existing sunburn precautions, such as sunscreen.
Accordingly, CBD compounds have been extracted and infused into lotions for their anti-inflammatory magic effects.
CBD lotion
Presently, preclinical research is being carried out to look into the effects of CBD on not only sunburns, but on other dermatological inflammatory diseases. But, science has established that our skin is a complex ecosystem that is partially modulated by the existing endocannabinoid system.
Yep! You have cannabinoid receptors spread across your skin which react uniquely with CBD.
CBD compound may influence how the user feels and thinks, as a result, it minimizes the symptoms perceived by the user.
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Most of these benefits are still not clearly defined, but some benefits that have justified its use as a major ingredient in skincare lotions include:
Inability to get the user high.
Very low level of toxicity.
May soothe irritated skin.
Reduce the rate of skin aging.
Works well with other ingredients.
Promotes a well-balanced immune reaction.
Applying CBD products to sunburn
Topical creams and lotions that have been infused with CBD compounds are effective for localized effects. These lotions are directly applied to the affected areas, and results can be observed a few hours after it has been used.
First-time users are always advised to apply a very small amount to unaffected parts of the skin to observe reactions. In addition to CBD lotions, CBD tinctures, capsules, vapes and oils can be ingested.
The oral consumption of CBD may help tackle the psychological effects of sunburn, especially when the physical symptoms have been successfully managed.
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The lack of toxicity in CBD compounds makes it easy to experiment with different approaches and, thus, the best method of use can be adopted. For example, the method best suited for you may be the direct application of CBD cream and the consumption of some drops of CBD oil under the tongue.
You can’t know until you try.
Is CBD the best way to treat sunburn?
Each person has a different genetic makeup, and the amount of sunburn that can damage your skin cells beyond repair may differ from mine. Hence, prevention is the best method of treating sunburn.
When choosing a sunscreen, either containing CBD or not, try to check the ingredients used and try to pick one with broad-spectrum protection that is capable of guarding against both types of UV rays.
Remember that the sun doesn’t have to shine that much for your skin to burn; most UV rays can penetrate the clouds and get to you quick!
Basic skincare for sunburn includes:
Keep skin moisturized
Stay in a cool place
Reduce inflammatory products
Drink water
Finally
If you’ve tried all you can and symptoms persist, contact your doctor ASAP.
With more research, the viable therapeutic benefits of CBD regarding sunburn will be discovered and used to create better lotions for quick relief of patients.
Good weed has been grown and harvested properly. It has been cured and trimmed well, and doesn’t have any mold, mildew, or contaminants. Here are some other visual clues to look for.
When you go to a dispensary for the first time, it can be hard to know what good weed looks like. A lot of novice cannabis consumers make the mistake of spending too much money on low-quality cannabis because they don’t know what good weed looks like.
By the time you’re done reading this article, you will be able to visually identify high-quality cannabis so that you can make the most out of your dispensary visits.
What does weed look like?
Before we answer the question “what does good weed look like” let’s dive into the basics: “what does weed look like?”
When cannabis flower bud is ground up it looks somewhat like dried oregano.
According to the DEA: “Marijuana is a dry, shredded green/brown mix of flowers, stems, seeds, and leaves from the Cannabis sativa plant. The mixture typically is green, brown, or gray in color and may resemble tobacco.”
In general, cannabis has varying tones of green and brown, and visual variances include the absence or presence of amber, orange, red, and blueish-purple hairs. Additionally, you may see trichomes, which can be glistening clear to milky white and sometimes even red.
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What does good weed look like?
Now that you know what weed looks like, let’s answer the main question: “what does good weed look like?”
Good weed is cannabis that has been grown and harvested properly. It has been cured and trimmed well, and doesn’t have any mold, mildew, or contaminants.
Cannabis sold in a legal dispensary has to pass a mold and mildew lab test. Unfortunately, humidity, air circulation, light, temperature fluctuations, and/or poor packaging can cause approved cannabis to develop mold or mildew before you get it. Make sure to visually inspect your cannabis before smoking it.
Buying cannabis tainted with mold or mildew is not only a waste of money, but is also dangerous. If ingested, both mold and mildew can cause health problems.
To make sure you are buying good weed that is not tainted with mildew or mold, avoid weed that has:
A thick spider web texture on the flower (mildew)
Cotton-candy like gray or white webbing around the bud (mold)
Fine grey or white power that resembles powdered sugar, this texture is different from than desired trichome/kief dust (mildew)
Gray spots, which can hide in the interior of a bud and are only visible when breaking apart a bud (mold)
Sawdust like powder that is different from kief dust (mildew)
Slime (mildew)
Unusual dark spots (mildew)
Yellow or grey fuzz (mildew)
Now that you’ve learned visual clues to identify weed that isn’t good, let’s get into what good weed looks like.
What does good weed look like? How to pick top-shelf flower
Good weed is like fresh produce. A fresh head of romaine lettuce has rich green colors, is not wilted, and looks good. Similarly, healthy, vibrantly colored cannabis will likely “look good” to you. High-quality cannabis usually has:
Rich green tones
Vibrantly colorful hairs (may be green, orange, red, amber, or purple)
White or amber-red frosty trichomes
Packaging that includes details about how it was grown
Packing that includes details about when it was harvested, so you know how fresh it is.
Photo by Christina Hempfling / EyeEm/Getty Images
Is colorful weed stronger?
There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that colorful weed (i.e. weed with amber-orange, red, or blueish-purple hues) has a higher cannabinoid content than weed with only green tones. But decades of cannabis users feel that colorful weed is often stronger and higher quality than weed that is brown. Of course, that is not always the case.
Color in cannabis flower comes primarily from anthocyanins, which are the same compounds that give blackberries and blueberries their color. The temperature that the cannabis is grown and cured at has a major impact on whether anthocyanins are produced and retained. (Want to know how to grow purple weed?)
While there is not a definitive rule, colorful weed often indicates careful growing and curing, which often means the cannabis is high quality.
Is brown weed bad for you?
If you are wondering “why is my weed brown?” or if brown weed is bad for you, we can settle your mind. There is no evidence to suggest that brown weed is bad for you.
However, brown weed is often lower in quality than green or purple weed and has a reputation for being harsher and worse tasting than colorful weed. Some cannabis strains are naturally brown, and others become brown due to the growing conditions.
What should good weed look like?
Now when you enter a dispensary, you will know how to visually identify high-quality cannabis flower.
Good weed has rich green tones. It can have hues of orange, red, blue, and purple. And good weed should have a white frosting of trichomes, which is where the cannabinoids are stored.
