What’s Happening

A Short Guide about Mold on Cannabis

Cannabis Flower contaminated with mold.

Before buds can hit the shelves of your local dispensary, it needs to go through testing.  The labs verify potency and test for pesticides and other contaminants the plant may absorb during the maturation cycle.  The labs also test for mildew and mold.  Smoking moldy weed can cause all kinds of health issues.  Not only that, but mold also makes the buds smell odd and taste bad.  I may not be the first to say this, but I agree with the stance that “life is too short to smoke bad weed.”

How does mold get on cannabis?

After the plant has been harvested, it needs to “cure” or dry properly.  The plants need to be adequately spaced to allow the air to circulate through all the leaves and buds.  The dry rooms need to be dry.  That may seem like an obvious statement, but it doesn’t just mean moisture on the floor or walls.  It also means the rooms need to have a low humidity level.  Higher humidity increases the dry time.  For a commercial operation, time equals money.  In situations where deadlines are crucial to profits, shortcuts can occur.  Cutting the dry time short can allow mold to grow.

How does moldy cannabis get to the consumer?

The inspection process isn’t perfect.  The testing facilities are not all the same. It’s important to remember that the legal cannabis industry is relatively young.  Testing refinements are continuously occurring, which will become more prevalent as we learn more about the molecular make-up of the cannabis plant.  It is easy to blame the labs because they are the safety net between manufacturer and consumer.  Labs can only test what they are given.  A rejected crop will cost the grower and retailer thousands of dollars.  The incentive to get to market is immense and can lead to dishonest or deceptive tricks by growers.  It is impossible to test every gram of product that reaches the consumer, so the rules allow samples to be sent for testing.  If mold is detected at a cultivation facility, it is safe to say they would try and find a proper “clean” sample to send for the lab to test.  Once that sample is cleared, the whole batch attached is removed.  I have known budtenders that have questioned when they have received moldy products.  Each story ends the same way.  The manager makes a “note” of it but still sells it to the consumer.  The budtenders who have shared this with me have all left the dispensaries they worked for.

Dispensaries have pressure as well.  If a batch of flower arrives with visible mold, they may accept it to avoid not having an inventory of a popular strain.  In today’s market, it isn’t like they can reject it like a restaurant can reject a case of tomatoes.  The case of tomatoes can be replaced, often on the same day.  Dispensaries may go days or weeks before they can have their order fulfilled.

Companies use remediation techniques to kill mold and insects.  In basic terms, remediation refers to any process used to kill mold, yeast, or insects.  Remediation processes are also used to remove chemicals and metals.  The only benefit is to get the batches to pass inspection.  Some companies use it to pass testing, while others correct a batch after failing a test.  Remediation changes the product.  It is safe to consume.  It isn’t as pleasant to smoke. Most people experience a burning sensation in the back of their throat.  Currently, the packaging doesn’t have to disclose if the product has been through a remediation process.

What can happen if you smoke moldy cannabis?

Smoking moldy weed can cause coughing, nausea, and vomiting.  All of these are unpleasant but not dangerous.  You could have a more prolonged reaction if you have a mold allergy.  Allergic reactions most often are sinus pain, drainage, congestion, or wheezing.  Again, this is more about discomfort than anything dangerous.  Like many cannabis patients, smoking cannabis tainted with mold can have serious health consequences if you have a weakened immune system.  Many species of mold can grow on cannabis.  Some of these are more harmful than others.  In one case, a UC Davis study found a fungus that can cause damage to the lungs and central nervous system on samples bought from dispensaries in Northern California.

How can you detect and avoid moldy cannabis?

Moldy cannabis is easy to identify.  It will look less vibrant, it will have an “off” smell, and if smoked, it will taste bad.  It is essential to store your flower correctly.  Mold likes humidity, so avoid the fridge or freezer.  The ideal container is air-tight, so Mason jars are popular.  Of course, mold takes time to grow, so you will not have too much to worry about if you enjoy your cannabis rather than let it sit around.

Knowing and trusting the dispensary you frequent is best to avoid moldy weed.  Read reviews to see if there is a pattern of lousy flower at a location.  Find dispensaries that sell brands that believe in Quality over Quantity.  We at Gro-UP have strict standards to produce clean, potent buds.  And when MI Rootz opens the doors to the public, it will be a source to purchase products based first on quality.