People looking to buy cannabis face many decisions. It can be daunting if you’re a novice or have never purchased cannabis before – trying to find that perfect balance of quality and price. This can be easy with the right guidance, so let me help you by summarizing what I think everyone should know when they go to buy this product.
With the recent legalization of cannabis in Canada and a lot of places around the world, there has been a boom of resources for consumers looking to buy cannabis. A lot of businesses are now trying to cash in on this new market, but finding quality cannabis can often be difficult — and finding a reputable source is even harder. In this blog post, I’ll be covering some things you can look out for when sourcing good quality cannabis.
If you are new to the cannabis industry, strains can be confusing. It can be hard to sort out all the different labels and brands. Experience helps, but there are simple ways to assess quality when learning about strains. Cannabis is a whole lot of fun and it typically makes people happy, but like anything else, it's important to know what you're consuming and where it comes from.
The industry is evolving so rapidly that most people are struggling to keep up with all of the new brands and products. You probably have a favorite strain, but have you ever asked yourself what makes it so great? What should you be looking for when buying cannabis?
Know What You Want
Before you head out to grab some cannabis, think about what you want out of it. Do you need something that is going to help you feel more calm? Or do you need something that will help with pain management? A good budtender should be able to recommend strains that are best suited for your needs.
What makes up a quality strain?
Assess the quality of the bud. The exterior of a high-quality bud should be both dense and sticky. If it’s too dry or fragile, chances are it’s not fresh. The color should be green with orange hairs that look healthy. The quality of cannabis products is determined by many different factors.
One factor that determines the quality is their price: cheaper prices usually mean lower quality because companies want customers to buy more from them and pay less per gram; but higher prices don't necessarily mean better cannabis either - sometimes it's just marketing hype so people will think they're getting high-quality marijuana when they're actually not!
Check for seeds. Seeds can be an indication of your cannabis’ quality because female plants aren’t supposed to produce seeds. It may mean that your bud has been pollinated by male plants or that low-quality strains were used in its production.
Look at the trichomes. High-quality cannabis will have a lot of trichomes — they look like tiny little crystals. Trichomes are small resin glands that develop on cannabis buds during late-stage flowering. They contain over 100 different cannabinoids and terpenes that give cannabis its psychoactive properties. The more trichomes present on your bud, the stronger and more potent your strain will be. A sticky bud is always a good sign as it indicates that there are high levels of trichomes present in the flower.
Look at the foliage. The color and appearance of your cannabis can be very telling. High-quality marijuana will be bright in color with visible trichomes covered by sticky resin glands. The best buds will look almost shimmery or sparkling like sugar on top of a freshly baked cookie. They'll also have an abundance of red hairs running throughout the plant, which are called pistils; these are easy to spot if you're using magnifying glass or loupe, but they're also visible to the naked eye.
Smell it! Good cannabis will have a strong odor — like your grandpa's old pipe tobacco. If it smells like fresh cut grass, then it's probably bunk! High-quality flowers will have a sticky, delicious aroma. This is caused by the trichomes, that produce a variety of chemicals including cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Terpenes are aromatic oils that give cannabis its unique flavors and aromas. There are many different types of terpenes found in cannabis, each with their own unique characteristics (i.e., lemony, earthy, piney). Terpenes have an effect on the high produced by the THC and CBD found in cannabis, so when you look for good weed make sure to look for an abundance of terpenes on your bud. Good weed should have a strong aroma that is characteristic of its type (i.e., sweet, sour, spicy). A musty or moldy smell means the cannabis was not properly cured before being put up for sale.
Quality is the most important factor in determining your buying decision because it is the difference between getting a great relaxation tool or a contact high from some schwag. If you are looking for high quality cannabis, then follow my advice and you won’t be disappointed.
Check out some of our latest cannabis strains below.