Moldy Weed: What Happens If Your Buds Grow Mold?

If your weed grows mold, it's a write-off: moldy cannabis should never be smoked or consumed, because mold turns your buds into toxic waste that can cause coughing, headaches, breathing trouble and even pneumonia. The telltale signs are dark spots or spores, white fuzz on the buds, gray, yellow or brown mold, cobweb-like white, gray or black strands, a musty smell, or discolored roots. But what exactly is going on here — and what does it mean to have moldy buds?

Is mold actually bad?

While some types of mold are harmless, others are genuinely dangerous. So why is mold bad? For your respiratory system it's a serious hazard: it can trigger sneezing, coughing and a sore throat, and if left unchecked, things can get much worse. That's why weed with mold should never be consumed — on top of being poor in aroma, flavor and effects, it counts as toxic waste and should be treated as such.

The first priority when cannabis turns up with fungus is to identify the infected plant and pull it out as fast as possible. That mold can spread to other plants, and instead of having to toss one, you could end up tossing several.

To do this, bag the moldy plant in plastic from top to bottom — that way you make sure no spores have jumped onto the rest of your plants and contaminated them.

What happens if you smoke weed with powdery mildew?

Mold on cannabis is dangerous for consumers too. People sometimes mistake rotten weed for weed laced with other drugs, like opium. So what actually happens if you smoke moldy weed?

Smoking cannabis with fungus or mold can leave you with headaches, vomiting, difficulty breathing, diarrhea and heart palpitations. Pneumonia is also on the table.

What's most unsettling about smoking moldy weed is that it hits every consumer differently, depending on their body, their health, their environment and a range of other factors.

What causes mold?

The number one thing that encourages mold growth on cannabis is humidity. Poor air circulation helps it thrive too, since spores multiply in stagnant conditions, letting mold take hold on your cannabis.

In grow rooms, for instance, fans break up the kind of stale environment mold loves, making it less likely to move in and get comfortable. But that doesn't make your plants completely immune.

Temperature matters as well: mold on cannabis can't flourish in cold conditions or in extreme heat, so under those conditions the white fuzz may never show up on your buds.

Grow rooms in dry climates are generally hit less often than those in wet, humid areas. Like us, mold needs food and oxygen to survive. It breaks down things like drywall and oak and feeds on those nutrients. While it can't grow on inorganic material (concrete, for example), it feeds on the dirt and dust sitting on that concrete. And it feeds on cannabis plants — one of its favorite meals.

How do you keep mold away from your plants?

The best way to keep mold off your cannabis plants is to understand why it shows up in the first place. Is the humidity too high during the drying process? Are you using fruit peels to add flavor to your buds, unknowingly introducing fungus? Are you storing damp plants in airtight containers?

One way to avoid ending up with moldy cannabis is to grow strains with better resistance to humid climates. Buying genetics suited to your growing region (for outdoor grows, climate is everything), learning the details of each variety, and steering clear of risky strains can all help.

Growing in a spot where your plants feel air moving through their leaves is key — though too much wind can cause rough movements that snap plants. Rain is another concern, so sheltering your plants always pays off. If you get morning dew outdoors, give your plants a good shake to avoid finding mold on your flowers later.

What can you do with moldy buds?

Mold has to go immediately — not just for human health, but to keep it from spreading to nearby plants. And yes, sadly, there's no way to save your plants. Some growers and consumers, out of desperation, have tried cutting around the mold to get to the "good" part — but that's not a good idea.

Besides, smoking moldy weed is plain unpleasant, and any consumer will notice it — and suffer for it.

How do you keep mold away from your stash?

Luckily, there are a few ways to prevent moldy weed and make sure your cannabis stays fresh and healthy:

Store your stash properly

To keep fungus off your cannabis flowers, the key is finding the right storage. Exposing cannabis to the wrong light, temperature, humidity or oxygen levels can invite mold in.

To avoid that, use airtight containers (preferably dark glass or aluminum). Don't store your cannabis in the fridge or freezer — low temperatures and humidity can put your harvest at risk. Keep it in a dark, dry place and watch out for excess moisture.

Buy your cannabis from sources you trust

It sounds like easy advice to follow, but it isn't — if you live somewhere cannabis isn't fully legal yet, things get complicated. Still, if you can get your cannabis from someone trustworthy, you minimize the risk of ending up with moldy weed or some other contaminated product.

Always inspect your weed before consuming it

This matters especially if you've had it sitting around for a while. The older your stash, the higher the risk of mold developing if it hasn't been stored properly. So to spare yourself a bad time, make a habit of examining your flower before you consume it.