The benefits of cannabis are numerous and well-documented. However, the newly legal plant can be finicky, presenting several problems for the novice (and experienced) smoker.
For all your cannabis stash woes, explore this troubleshooting guide. Below, find common cannabis problems alongside simple solutions.
Dried-Out Weed
Dried-out, crumbly weed is never fun. Whether you’ve left it too long in unideal storage conditions (i.e. the relative humidity, RH, is under 55%) or you purchased dry cannabis from a dispensary, dryness can impact flavor, potency, and smoke-ability.
The Solution: Store your stash in an airtight container with a Boveda 2-way humidity control pack. These little saline solution packs emit moisture when the RH dips too low, keeping your cannabis at an accurate, consistent humidity of either 58% or 62%.
Moldy Cannabis
If you notice dull grey or white powdery patches on your cannabis, you might be dealing with mold. Moldy cannabis is the product of over-humidification, as hungry mold spores capitalize on the higher water content to multiply.
The Solution: If you notice mold on your cannabis, throw it out. It’s unfortunate, but moldy cannabis is considered unsafe for consumption. To prevent mold from growing next time, follow the best practices above by employing an airtight container and Boveda packs (which also work to absorb moisture in high humidity environments).
Stale Flavor and/or Reduced Potency
If you notice stale flavor or reduced potency, your cannabis is expressing one of two things: a poor strain, or signs of age. As cannabis ages, even in ideal conditions, it eventually loses flavor and potency. Meanwhile, different strains display different levels of aromatic terpenes and psychoactive cannabinoids; some simply have more than others.
The Solution: Do your research before buying, and choose a strain that suits your tastes and tolerance. Keep your stash away from direct sunlight, which has a degradative effect on cannabinoids. Follow the storage best practices listed above.
A “Canoeing” Joint
Finally, it’s time to smoke. Occasionally, you might notice that a joint is “canoeing,” which means that it’s burning faster on one side. A canoeing joint ineffectively burns cannabis, causing you to lose out on a significant portion of the weed.
The Solution: If you catch the canoeing early, you can attempt to stop it by applying a bit of moisture (a licked finger in most cases) right below the burn line on the affected side. This moisture gives the other side time to catch up. To prevent canoeing in the first place, use a quality grinder, roll a joint that’s not too loose or tight, and roll the joint as you light it for an even ember.
Harsh Smoke
Lastly, what happens if you notice harsh smoke from your cannabis? It can be one of two things. One, the weed might be dry (in that case, refer to the first section above). Two, the grower might have improperly cured the cannabis, leaving too much chlorophyll in the final product.
The Solution: If growing yourself, don’t rush the curing process; use dedicated curing containers and 2-way humidity control packs, and allow the cannabis to cure for three to seven days. If you’ve bought an under-cured batch, you can try to return it for a refund.
Hopefully, this troubleshooting guide sets you on a path to more enjoyable cannabis. The underlying tip for most of these common problems is to practice proper storage with airtight containers, low sunlight exposure, and RH-controlling packs.
