Marijuana is one of the most misunderstood herbs. Some have long-standing stigmas against it and fear it. Some cherish it, citing it as the holy herb. Yet, why is there so much controversy around weed?
The truth is that not all weed you smoke out there is the same. There are two natural varieties: Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica.
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Marijuana contains over 100 known cannabinoids and other compounds like terpenes. The most researched and understood cannabinoids are Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD).
The main difference in the varieties is the composition of the cannabinoids. This is why you may smoke a joint and feel sleepy, and at times, it’s just the high without sedation. Both indica and sativa varieties are psychoactive.
With weed now being legal in many countries, you can buy your weed from a local store or online. It is difficult to determine the quality of online weed. You need to be able to examine the sample and assess the quality before consumption.
So how do you know which weed is good for you?
How to Know Which Weed Is Suitable for You
1. Does it Meet Your Needs?
It’d be best if you figured out why you want to smoke some weed. Are you just interested in getting high or you want something to relax your muscles and put you to sleep?
If you need something that can induce sleep or numb pain, cannabis with high CBD content is what you need. CBD is what is responsible for many of the medicinal benefits derived from cannabis.
CBD does not give a high. However, it has antidepressant, antianxiety, and antipsychotic effects. If you need marijuana for any of these symptoms, then you need to get weed with high CBD content. So, indica varieties will be your best shot since they have a high CBD ratio.
If you just want something that can chill you out on a Sunday afternoon but does not tire you, high THC content weed is what you should buy. Sativa has a high THC ratio and is often uplifting and energetic.
2. Does it have Shiny Crystals?
If you look at your marijuana products carefully, you will notice they have some shiny, sticky crystals covering the buds and leaves. These crystals are called trichomes.
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Trichomes are tiny, microscopic outgrowths on plants, algae, lichens, and certain protists. So trichomes are not unique to cannabis. But why are they so important?
Without trichomes, cannabis is useless as a drug. Trichomes contain all the essential oils, cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids that give marijuana its medicinal and psychoactive properties.
If your marijuana looks pale, then it lacks trichomes. This means it may also lack the characteristic scents, flavors, and effects.
3. How Does it Smell?
Quality weed contains a high content of phenols and terpenes, which are volatile aromatic compounds. These are what give weed that characteristic smell.
The smell is one of the best ways of telling the quality of weed. Good weed has a fresh leafy smell. You have probably seen weed smokers sliding a joint across their nose. This helps them know if it’s fresh.
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When the phenols and terpenes evaporate, a trained nose can tell the quality of the weed by the aroma they release. Marijuana has a notoriously stinky aroma. Smell the weed and if it smells like hay or has a grassy aroma, then it’s bad weed.
Terpenes also influence the effects of THC and CBD. The same THC and CBD content may have totally different outcomes based on the number of terpenes they contain.
4. How Does it Taste?
You can actually taste the weed and tell its quality. The way the weed burns indicates the quality of the buds. The buds or leaves should turn to dust.
Take a small puff and let it roll through your lungs before you let it escape. Good quality weed will be smooth on the palate. If it is bad or contaminated, it will be harsh or irritate the throat.
5. Physical Appearance
You may not be able to differentiate between indica and sativa unless you are an experienced professional. When you buy the product from your local dispensary, you will have to believe what the vendor indicates.
But do you know that if you examine the bud, you can gain a lot of information from it? High-quality buds should be glossy with resin, calyxes, and colors of hairs. If they appear matte, marijuana could be stale.
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If the bud has a rich yellow tone, that indicates the weed has high THC. So, the brighter the buds, the better the quality.
Conclusion
Cannabis has both physical and psychoactive effects on the body. These effects manifest differently on individuals.
Two individuals may take the same marijuana variety but end up with different outcomes. Some will get more potent effects, while others may have mild effects.
You need to know the right weed for you to get the desired effects. You can taste various samples and see how you react with each and select what works best for you.
The aroma, taste, and general physical appearance can also help you determine the quality of your weed.
FAQ
How many types of cannabis are there?
There are two natural varieties: Cannabis Sativa and Cannabis Indica.
Which weed doesn't make you sleepy?
If you just want something that can chill you out on a Sunday afternoon but does not tire you, high THC content weed is what you should buy. Sativa has a high THC ratio and is often uplifting and energetic.
How can I tell the quality of cannabis?
Quality weed contains a high content of phenols and terpenes, which are volatile aromatic compounds. These are what give weed that characteristic smell. The smell is one of the best ways of telling the quality of weed. Good weed has a fresh leafy smell. You have probably seen weed smokers sliding a joint across their nose. This helps them know if it’s fresh.
How should weed taste when I smoke it?
Take a small puff and let it roll through your lungs before you let it escape. Good quality weed will be smooth on the palate. If it is bad or contaminated, it will be harsh or irritate the throat.
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