Determining the quality of cannabis buds is not an easy endeavor. You first need to try it out to know for sure that you are getting what you pay for. Even connoisseurs struggle to tell the difference. For example, many people can cultivate the same strain, but the quality will vary between crops. Factors such as climate, harvesting methods, nutrients used, airflow, and curing techniques all play a huge role in this.
However, you can tell if your buds are better than not, even if the clues are very subtle. The practice is very similar to choosing your vegetables and fruits, even with individual subjectivity. When you need to identify whether your pot is better than say, some garden herbs, then you should think about seven factors before leaving a Santa Monica dispensary poorer than when you entered:
Check for Defects
When analyzing bud quality, keep an eye out for any clear and obvious problems. Defects, particularly glaring ones, indicate a serious issue, the type you do not want to see in any of your buds. Look for damage done by insects. Look for discoloration. If you notice any bite marks, mildew, mold, or worse, then you are looking at low-grade. Seeds are normal in weed, but you will not find any in top-grade.
Check for Colors
Dull-colored buds suggest poor quality. You want bright, fresh-looking colors, such as lively greens hued with purples, whites, oranges, any colors of the rainbow. This is what indicates high quality. Dull colors typically mean the buds are either stale or old or just plain unworthy. If you find the greens and brows the opposite of lively and bright, then you are certainly not holding any weed of quality.
Check for Density
The density of your buds is a massive clue for quality. Heavy, dense buds are what you want. They are the best. You do not want sparse buds that weigh next to nothing. Rather look elsewhere if you struggle to find bud between all the leaves. If they look withered, leafy, or weightless, know they are poor quality. Having said that, Indica strains are denser than Sativas, but they should still be bushy and thick.
Check for Resin
If you cannot see resin on the buds, then just toss them aside. You want to see a thick layer of trichomes, crystalline, amber, or white in color. Trichomes, another word for resin drops, are rich in cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. They are where most of the goodness of cannabis lies, and they are responsible for producing the active compounds, flavors, and smells of good quality weed.
Check for Trimming Mistakes
Errors made during the bud trimming process can greatly reduce quality. You want your buds neatly trimmed, not hastily chopped. You do not want buds cut in half or excess leaves, and no dignified farmer would make such mistakes. If you struggle to see bud among the leaves, then consider it bottom-shelf. Top-shelf weed will have some leaves, but they will have a thick coating of trichomes on them.
Check for Pungency
You can smell quality. It permeates a room. Rather put odorless buds back on the shelf. You want a strong, powerful aroma. Pungency. Terpenes give buds their smell, and you want it to overwhelm your nasal cavities. Different strains have different aromas, think wafts of sweet, earthy, skunky, fruity, spicy, florally, even diesel-like differences. This is good, provided these whiffs are pungent and not weak.
Check for Stickiness
Bud stickiness is very important. However, you are unlikely to get a chance to feel them up when visiting a Santa Monica dispensary. If you get the opportunity, then use it. The best buds are sticky. The stickier the better. They are not brittle, dry, or damp, just very sticky. There are clues to help you determine stickiness without touching. For example, resinous buds will naturally be sticky. If not, keep searching.
Ordering Weed Delivery in Santa Barbara
It is paramount that you understand the conundrum you face when determining bud quality. No matter how good they look, smell, or feel, there is no real way of knowing until you try it firsthand. For guaranteed quality, look for buds tested at an independent laboratory. That way, you can see exactly what they are by the resulting analysis. If untrue, then you have recourse for action.
Whether you visit a Santa Monica dispensary or opt for weed delivery Santa Barbara, you will need to have some faith when perusing California’s marketplace. If ordering online, you will not even see the buds before you get them. Even so, you should still check them closely before the driver leaves to make sure you are getting what you pay for. If the buds are truly low-grade, you can always shop elsewhere.
