Can You Smoke Moldy Buds — or Weed With Shrooms?

No — you should never smoke moldy buds: mold can carry toxins and harmful microorganisms, and inhaling them is genuinely dangerous for your lungs and your health. Combining cannabis with psilocybin mushrooms, on the other hand, is technically possible but unpredictable and potentially risky. Both substances have been used by cultures throughout history for their psychoactive effects, and each has been studied and debated on its own — in this article we tackle the myths and realities of mixing the two, and walk through exactly what to do if you find mold on your buds.

Myths and Realities

• Myth 1: Smoking buds with mushrooms produces intense hallucinogenic effects. Although both substances are known for their psychoactive properties, smoking weed alongside mushrooms doesn't necessarily result in an intense hallucinogenic experience. The effects vary with the amount and potency of the mushrooms, as well as the cannabis consumed. On top of that, how people respond to these substances is highly personal and can differ widely from one individual to the next.
• Myth 2: Magic mushrooms can be smoked. Unlike cannabis, mushrooms aren't smoked in their natural form. Smoking mushrooms doesn't produce the same kind of effects as taking them orally, and it's dangerous to your health because you end up inhaling spores and other unwanted compounds.
• Reality 1: You can smoke weed while taking mushrooms, but it's questionable. Technically, it's possible to smoke cannabis buds while ingesting psilocybin mushrooms. But combining these substances can be unpredictable and potentially risky. The effects can range from a deeper sense of relaxation to far more intense and challenging experiences.
• Reality 2: Microdosing mushrooms to quit smoking. Some people have explored microdosing mushrooms as a way to cut down on tobacco and cannabis use. Microdoses are tiny amounts of mushrooms that don't produce significant hallucinogenic effects, but are believed to potentially help reduce dependence on these substances.

Let's Talk Safety

Safety is the core concern whenever substances get combined. Smoking cannabis while taking mushrooms carries potential risks, such as:

• Unpredictable reactions: How a person responds to this combination can vary significantly. Some people may experience heightened anxiety, paranoia or other unwanted effects.
• Lung health: Smoking cannabis already poses risks to your lungs from smoke inhalation. Adding mushrooms to the mix can increase the toxic load.
• Medical conditions: Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition should be especially cautious about combining substances, since the side effects can be far more serious.

Combining cannabis with mushrooms is a complex and controversial subject. While it can be done, it's important to remember that the effects can be unpredictable and potentially harmful to your health. Rather than hunting for new ways to combine substances, the priority should be responsible use and solid information about each one.

If you're interested in the potential benefits of mushrooms for quitting smoking, seek guidance from healthcare professionals or therapists who specialize in mushrooms and psychoactive substances. Safety and wellbeing should always come first in any exploration involving psychoactive substances.

What should you do with a moldy bud?

If you come across a cannabis bud with mold on it, you need to take steps to protect your health and safety. Here's what to do if you find yourself in that situation:

1. Don't consume it: The first and most important rule is to never consume a moldy bud. Smoking or ingesting cannabis contaminated with mold can be dangerous to your health, since mold can contain toxins and harmful microorganisms. Avoiding it entirely is crucial to prevent negative effects on your health.

2. Isolate the bud: Make sure the contaminated bud doesn't come into contact with other buds or your cannabis supplies. Seal it in a plastic bag to keep mold spores from spreading to the rest of your stash.

3. Throw it away: The safest and most responsible option is to discard the contaminated bud. Don't try to salvage it or consume it in any form. The health risks simply aren't worth it.

4. Inspect the rest: After discarding the moldy bud, carefully inspect your remaining buds for any signs of contamination. This step matters: you need to make sure no other buds have been affected.

5. Investigate: If you keep finding moldy buds with any regularity, it's essential to investigate and address the likely causes of contamination. That can mean improving your growing conditions, ventilation, humidity control and the way you store your buds.

What to do about buds with Botrytis

Botrytis, also known as “grey mold” or bud rot, is a fungus that can attack cannabis plants and destroy buds. If you find buds affected by Botrytis, you need to act immediately to stop the fungus from spreading and damaging your grow. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Identify and isolate: When you spot buds affected by Botrytis, remove them carefully from the plants to keep the fungus from spreading. Use clean, disinfected scissors to cut away the infected buds, and make sure tools that touched the affected areas never come into contact with healthy parts of the plant.
2. Dispose of them safely: Once you've removed the affected buds, dispose of them safely. Don't throw them into your compost or an organic waste pile — that could allow the fungus to survive and spread through your garden.
3. Isolate affected plants: If Botrytis has taken hold of an entire plant, consider removing the whole plant to prevent the fungus from spreading to others. It's a tough call, but often a necessary one to head off an outbreak.
4. Control the environment: Make sure your grow space has proper humidity and ventilation. Botrytis thrives in damp environments. Run a dehumidifier if needed and give your plants enough spacing between them for good air circulation.
5. Antifungal sprays: Consider using fungicides or targeted antifungal sprays to treat the remaining plants and prevent future infections. Check with a gardening expert or your local regulations to make sure you're using any chemical products safely and legally.
6. Improve your grow management: Review your growing practices for anything that could be improved to prevent future Botrytis infections. That can include better humidity management, proper pruning and more space between plants.
7. Keep inspecting: Continue monitoring your plants closely for signs of Botrytis or any other problem. The sooner you detect and treat infections, the better your chances of protecting your harvest.