So, you’ve finally got your medical cannabis card. And now, it’s time to get your hands on the real deal- the herb itself. Obviously, it was for this reason only why you got through all the hassle of going through 420 evaluations Bakersfield, right? And now, that you have your card, you can easily buy marijuana without any trouble.
However, buying cannabis for the first time isn’t really as easy as said. In fact, for many first-timers, the experience can be really intimidating.
And why not?
Cannabis, today, is not just about THC, potency, and price. I mean, yes, these factors may help you narrow down your options. However, there are many other things that go into making a product of superior quality.
Furthermore, the task of buying good quality cannabis can be even more challenging if you are doing it remotely.
Given all this, how can you make the right choice?
Well, you may buy superior quality cannabis even if you are a first-timer. All you need are a few good tips. And this post is written especially for this purpose.
So, read on.
It’s Not All About THC
Have you ever wondered why the top shelves of dispensaries are not usually carrying the products with the highest THC? Because the quality of a product isn’t just about THC. In fact, if you have done a little research before you go for your 420 evaluations Bakersfield, you probably are aware of the fact that the cannabis plant has more than a hundred different cannabinoids. And the quality of your product is usually determined by the complex arrangement of these chemicals rather than just THC. This is what we call “the entourage effect.” This means that the effects that a product usually produces are not because of a single plant compound. Instead, they are the result of all the different compounds working harmoniously. And this is what gives us a well-rounded high, which is obviously more enjoyable.
It is important to note that the bud that is high in THC but is lacking other cannabinoids and terpenes will not give your the required effects. The high will usually be one dimensional and very short-lived. Furthermore, it may even induce anxiety in you.
In other words, if you are paying a premium price for a product, you are paying for other cannabinoids and not THC.
How to Differentiate a Good Bud From a Bad One?
The below-given are a few things you may check to identify if your product is of good quality or not.
Aroma
The aroma of a cannabis plant is the result of the terpenes present in it. And they are usually responsible for the natural scent of the plant. Now, you should note that the overall undertone of almost all cannabis plants may be similar. But different strains mostly have different aromas. This is due to the different terpenes concentrations inside them.
Have you ever seen the small and shiny structures on your marijuana bud’s surface? These are trichomes, the mushroom-shaped glands that, during the flowering stage of the plant, pump the terpenes out.
You can identify good quality cannabis by smelling it a little. If the product you are dealing with is good, you’ll be met with a nice wave of terpenes as soon as you’ll open your pack. Keep in mind that a sweet smell may not always indicate good quality cannabis. But in most cases, it may help. A few of the most common aromas you may expect from your marijuana bud may include earth, flower, fuel, sugar, spices, berries, citrus, etc.
Here are a few variables on which the aroma of your product may depend:
- Genetics
- Nutrients
- Drying and Curing
- Soil Quality
- Companion Plants
Color
They say that you must not judge a book by its cover. But you can certainly judge the quality of cannabis by its appearance. And one of the most important of all the visual aspects of a marijuana bud is its color.
Now, please note that a cannabis bud comes in varying colors. Depending upon the strain, it may have a purple, green, orange, or red color. Considering this, it’s not actually the color itself but the vibrance and intensity of it that tells us the quality of the bud. A cannabis flower that is healthy usually looks quite shiny and bright.
If the color of your product is vibrant enough, it indicates that it has very good genetics. Plus, it is grown with good techniques and is dried and cured properly. On the other hand, if the quality of cannabis is poor, it may appear pallid, dull, and matte. These types of buds are usually of dark green to pale brown color and are not really appealing.
Pistils
Along with the overall color of the bud, the pistils on it may also be a nice indicator of the quality of your product.
When looking closely at your flower, you may be able to see a whole landscape, containing several organs, structures, and glands, on it in the miniature form. And among these, the most protruding are the pistils. These hair-like structures are the female sex organs of the cannabis plant. And when these pistils get in contact with male pollen, the plant becomes fertile.
You should note that these pistils have something else too to do other than this biological role of them. They usually serve as some very useful indicators of the progress of the plant growth. See, when the plant is in its early flowering stage, these pistils are of bright white color. But as the time slowly passes, they become of a solid dark orange color.
Considering this, while trying to determine if your bud is of good quality, you must also take a look at its pistils. If these are of dark orange color, it is the indication of the bud being properly ripe and mature.
Mold
You must also check your cannabis for the presence of mold. Mold doesn’t only ruins the taste and flavor of the product, but can also be a threat to the health of the consumer. Consuming moldy weed may result in anything from a bad flavor to a full-fledged lung infection.
Moldy marijuana is generally the result of poor drying and curing or unhealthy storage. The fungus usually requires a humid environment to flourish. And thus, it usually develops on flowers that are not stored properly.
To identify moldy cannabis, you should look for the presence of cobweb on your flower or within it. Powdery mildew is also a type of mold that may appear like kief to you if you are inexperienced. Some other signs of moldy weed include some dark spots on the bud, gray or yellowish fuzz, or some slime being present.
What if You Are Buying Remotely?
With telemedicine being so popular nowadays, a lot of us are ordering a door-step delivery of cannabis. But how to identify if the quality of cannabis is good in this case?
Well, if you cannot look or smell your product, for any reason, before you make a purchase, the freshness of your bud will probably be the best indicator of its quality. Keep in mind that cannabis plant degrades in quality over time. Proper storage may slow down this process. However, it cannot totally avoid it. So, whenever you are buying a product on the internet, make sure you check the date of harvesting.
Furthermore, you may also prefer buying products that are stored in jars, as if a flower is stored in a plastic bag, it may destroy its trichomes. A jar product may cost you a little bit more. But the overall experience will be a lot better.