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Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em

If you choose to smoke your cannabis rather than eat or vaporize it then the joint is often cited as the safest option. The reason being is that the more times you apply a flame to the herb the more carcinogens are released and you usually have to light a joint only once.

Organic vs. Chemical

Beyond method of ingestion, the quality of your herb is also a very important factor in minimizing risks. Organic, properly flushed, properly cured/stored ganja is the best for you, but due to the nature of prohibition and the black market it has spawned, it’s often impossible to guarantee the quality of your purchase. One easy rule is that the greyer the ash the cleaner the grass. Also look at how the bud burns. If you notice sizzling, crackling and popping when you light it up, it means that your bud has retained chemical fertilizers and possibly even pesticides. Unsurprisingly, the results of burning and inhaling fertilizers and pesticides are very negative for your health. Constantly having to re-light your herb is also a sign that it has been grown with chemical fertilizers and that the grower did not take the time to properly leech and cure their harvest before selling it. Organic pot burns well with a consistent and complex flavour right down to the last toke. It is common for experienced smokers to report that the high from organic bud is “clearer” with lowered chances of headaches and “burn-out”.

While organic marijuana is often associated with soil grown varieties and “chemical bud” is commonly linked to hydroponic (indoor, soil-less) growth, this isn’t necessarily the case. Soil farmers can and do treat their plants with chemical fertilizers and pesticides while hydroponic growers could easily feed their plants organic nutrients, although most do not because there is a common and unfounded perception that organic growth diminishes yields. The only true way to tell organic bud from the less-healthy, chemical-laden variety (beyond chemical analysis) is to look for the aforementioned clues.

Mold/Bacteria

Yes, like any other organic matter, in the wrong conditions ganja will grow mouldy or rot. While small levels of bacteria may not be much of an issue for healthy pot smokers (mould is bad for you no matter what the state of your health), those with immune system deficiencies are at risk of serious harm. If you suspect your herb is contaminated (the smell of ammonia is a sure sign of mould) you can heat your cannabis in an oven at 66-93°C for ten minutes to kill off any bacteria or fungi. If you’re still not sure, you should just shed a tear and throw the stash out. It’s not worth the potential risk.

To avoid having to deal with this problem in the first place it is important to store your ganja properly. If your stash will be only around for a short period of time keeping it in a dark dry place will suffice. If you will have your herb for upwards of a month refrigerating it in sealed glass containers is recommended. If you will be storing your grass for over a month, freezing is the way to go. Remember to break up your cannabis into smaller parcels so that you don’t have to remove the entire stash from your freezer every time you want access to it (the taste and quality of the herb will diminish every time it is removed from the freezer).

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