How to Tell Good Weed from bad Weed- 5 Simple Hacks

Weed has never been more accessible in Canada than it is right now in 2020. You can legally buy weed online from licensed and unlicensed retailers, or in person at dispensaries. 

The issue then becomes how to tell good weed from bad weed.

As seasoned veterans, we’ve bought our fair share of weak buds. As a result, we can confidently differentiate the ditch weed from the premium kush. There are a few key techniques to use when telling the difference.

Related blog: What''s the Difference Between Indica and Sativa 

Use the Grading System

The most straight forward way to spot good weed from bad weed is by using the shelf system. Strains are typically graded A-AAAA, A being the lowest quality, and AAAA being the highest.

Sativa and Indica strains are graded based on how the bud looks, tastes, and smells. THC-CBD content actually isn’t a determining factor for grading weed. 

Cannabis varies in price depending on its grade, too. A-Grade buds can sell for as little as $6 a gram, where as AAA-AAAA Grades are significantly more expensive, ranging anywhere from $12 to $17 a gram.  

If you’re shopping for weed in Toronto, here’s a list of online dispensaries that offer grades A-AAAA. 

Color

Indica and Sativa strains vary in colour. Sativa plants are usually a lighter colour of green and Indica plants are typically darker.

When it comes to the colour of your bud, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure your weed hasn’t gone bad or moldy:

• Discoloured leaves
• Shrivelled leaves and stems
• Glows under black light
• Damp flowers

Related blog: Mold Cannabis can be Fatal 

When cannabis plants are well maintained with proper growing conditions, the plant will accumulate tiny orange hairs. So basically, if you see orange hairs on your bud, you know it’s good weed! 

Stem and Seed Content

Have you ever smoked a joint that felt and sounded like it was “popping”? That means there’s seeds in your weed, which translates to low quality bud.

In an ideal world, you want your weed to be in the form of tight nugs with no seeds or stems. There’s bound to be a few seeds and stems in the weed you buy, especially if its lower quality (A-AA Grades).

If you’re looking for good weed, you don’t want to buy buds with visible seeds and stems.

Tricome Visibility 

Tricomes are the tiny milk coloured hairs you see on good quality buds.

If you’re newer to the game, you might be asking “What are tricomes?” Tricomes produce all of the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that help characterize each strain and determine its potency.

When searching for good weed, you want to make sure there are lots of crystals (tricomes) and that the buds are sticky to touch. This means the weed was harvested properly and you will experience a good high as a result.

Aroma

Have you ever opened a fresh bag of weed you just bought expecting a beautifully dank aroma, but instead you get a whiff of barn hay?

If weed smells like hay or grass, don’t waste your money on it.

This means the cannabis wasn’t grown, harvested, or cured properly- which also means you won’t get high off of it.

Not sure what good weed smells like? Once you’ve smelt good weed you won’t ever forget it, but if you’re newer to the game, look for scents similar to these when looking for higher quality bud:

• Skunky
• Musty
• Spicy
• Floral