Am I paranoid? Mold on weed?

SO Ive been trying to find out the causes of a very harsh vaping session I had the other day. Which left my throat, dry and tore up. The topic of mold came up. Ive looked at my bud and I dont see anything different, other than there are these little dried off flakes. That I able to just flake off. Does not smell any different. Ive had it stored for about 7 months in a mason jar in the closet. It doesnt have trichomes, but these flaky things stood out to me. I dont remember if it had it when I first started the ounce. What do you guys think?

I've been told mold looks like spider webs when viewed through a microscope.

It is a bit difficult to tell from the provided picture.

But, the most common mold that can be found in the inner structure of Cannabis Flowers is Botrytis, like @psychonaut eluded to...

It looks like thick cobwebs,with the texture of cotton candy.

From the picture, it seems to be foreign debris, possibly packaging material whilst being transported.

Be careful, and try to remove it all before any further consumption....

My biggest advice is to follow your instincts, if it feels wrong, it probably is, and it ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry.

Most indoor weed even in a mason jar doesn't really keep that long, that's probably why it is harsh. Indoor weed only lasts about 3 months even stored in a humidor before it starts losing its color/quality. I agree with Hashtag, it's probably just cotton/perlite. The weed in the photo doesn't look that quality even through the bad photo so I would say your product is the culprit.

@Nosferatu You don't think a Cvault with the Boveda packs won't keep your cannabis fresh and without mold, say like for 6 months?

i cant help you with what is on your weed . i can say from exp that if its stored properly it can last along time. i have some that must be coming up on a year now and it is way nicer and smoother then newer stuff i have

@steama will the Cvault and the Boveda keep your cannabis fresh for like 6 months?

You will be just fine @CarolKing

Cannabinoids have a half-life of roughly five years, so that just means that sure, the potency/quality degrades over time, but it will remain awesome vape for at least a couple years if stored as you are doing.

IMO cannabis is best stored on it's original branch, after being hang dried for ~1-4 weeks. The branch will regulate the moisture if it is in an airtight bucket/tub and it will continue to cure "on the vine." This way it can continue to release all the chlorophyll into the stem and sugar leaves. Obviously you have to grow to have access to it this way. As far as in the jar goes sure it can last up to a year or more and still work it just has a different profile after 3 months, 5 months, and so on....the cannabinoids are more degraded....maybe one reason it is smoother?

CarolKing said:

@Nosferatu You don't think a Cvault with the Boveda packs won't keep your cannabis fresh and without mold, say like for 6 months?

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It will if it is properly cured and already doesn't have mold....bovedas won't get rid of mold. To ensure no to minimal loss over 3 months you would need a moisture regulator like boveda and the mason jar would have to be very well insulated, so the humidity and heat of the outside environment arent making it fluctuate. You would need to inject the container with nitrogen like coffee to actually have it keep its original bright green much over 3 months... the right conditions to keep weed exactly the same over 5 months are so finesse you literally need an insulated moisture controlled environmentally controlled room and well within it another insulated package containing nitrogen then your cannabis! LOL but it's true.

And back on topic like the previous guy said that is not mold, certainly not. Not even powdery mildew. It is just something laying in the bud. The only mold you really need to avoid to save your life is grey or black mold, which are obvious when seen, they usually grow by the stem, like bud rot. Powdery Mildew is harder to spot when not in high amounts but can mainly be found by the mildewy smell or breaking a bud in half in the light, do flakes fall down? If so you have PM or your weed is old/too dry, that was the trichomes falling off and no boveda can restore that.

CarolKing said:

@Nosferatu You don't think a Cvault with the Boveda packs won't keep your cannabis fresh and without mold, say like for 6 months?

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Carol,
I use JyARZ plus Boveda 62% and find that quality bud cures out better than new over time. Smoother vape profile as chlorophyll/ green grassy elements lessen.

My experience has been absolutely no mold over time --- 18 months in the jar. Purchased from a top quality CO dispensary, organic. So, I was very confident there was no mold to start.
It's my special stash but busted it open tonight to check and......still a magnificent lemony flavor AND kick ass effects !!!

I don't believe that cannabis buds stored in mason jars with a Boveda pack, and kept in the dark, will degrade after a few months. For the first couple of months after harvesting and drying the buds, the quality improves. Unless light or air is getting to your buds they should last a long time. I'm sure eventually it will degrade, but I've heard of it lasting years.

Hashtag46&2 said:

It is a bit difficult to tell from the provided picture.

But, the most common mold that can be found in the inner structure of Cannabis Flowers is Botrytis, like @psychonaut eluded to...

It looks like thick cobwebs,with the texture of cotton candy.

From the picture, it seems to be foreign debris, possibly packaging material whilst being transported.

Be careful, and try to remove it all before any further consumption....

My biggest advice is to follow your instincts, if it feels wrong, it probably is, and it ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry.

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Definitely, Bortrytis (bud rot) is a common, nasty mold and can very quickly turn a whole live plant full of fantastic colas into brown mush. Like my bro @Hashtag46&2 says, the inside of the nug is where you'll find mold first. Pull one or two of your densest nugs apart calyx by calyx and see if you can find any white spiderweb looking stuff. Be careful not to confuse large deposits of trichome heads inside the bud for mold btw.

As many have said above, the stuff in your pic looks like some bits of contaminant/debris.

Also, use a blacklight (UVC light) to look at the inside of these calyxes, mold will glow a bright green under this purple UV light - it'll have nowhere to hide

Also remember everyone, boveda packs should only be used once nugs have been well dried out first. You do not want there to be enough moisture for mold to thrive in the jar during the cure!

EverythingsHazy said:

I don't believe that cannabis buds stored in mason jars with a Boveda pack, and kept in the dark, will degrade after a few months. For the first couple of months after harvesting and drying the buds, the quality improves. Unless light or air is getting to your buds they should last a long time. I'm sure eventually it will degrade, but I've heard of it lasting years.

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Yes but have you seen it yourself? I am not saying it can't last over a year, I am just saying it will never be exactly the same to the trained eye 2 months off the vine as it will be 1 year later stored in jar, whether that is for better or for worse. I think you aren't taking into account that a mason jar is not as airtight or able to keep RH(even with a boveda) as one might think IF the room it is in is constantly changing RH and temp drastically or is extremely dry( for example: Most of California)

Nosferatu said:

Yes but have you seen it yourself? I am not saying it can't last over a year, I am just saying it will never be exactly the same to the trained eye 2 months off the vine as it will be 1 year later stored in jar, whether that is for better or for worse. I think you aren't taking into account that a mason jar is not as airtight or able to keep RH(even with a boveda) as one might think IF the room it is in is constantly changing RH and temp drastically or is extremely dry( for example: Most of California)

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I'm not saying it will be exactly the same. I would highly doubt that. There are still chemical reactions going on the entire time, so it should change a bit. That said, I don't think that it will get noticeably worse after a year, though. Especially if you store it in a cabinet or closet that is rarely opened, and doesn't receive direct sunlight. If your house is drastically and quickly changing temperature and rh%, it might cause more of a problem. Otherwise, the seals on mason jars are very tight. Maybe not airtight if you haven't jarred something while it is hot, which creates negative pressure as it cools, but still very tight. Worst case, you could put a couple layers of tape around the lid. It shouldn't be a problem if you aren't going to open the jar for several months, anyway.

Nosferatu , who wants it to be the same as it was when put in jar ? thats the whole point you want it to cure . it can get better with age just like wine or cheese and many other things that get better with a little age .
i guess there has to be a point when the degradation starts to begin a down ward climb but i always find that its much better after some months( more then 3 months ) in proper jar .
and who wants bright green ? it does not necessarily mean good . i personally like the green to fade a bit lets me know that its curing nicly . and smooth doesnt mean degradation of the good stuff more the unwanted stuff i would think

Thank you everyone for your input and suggestions. I will experiment with different stashing methods. The quality of the herb I am able get is not the best, but its the only option I have for the moment in a non legal marijuana state. I like to buy bulk and stash it and keep the awkward meetings with my dealer to a minimum, buying a years worth of bud is the ideal situation for me.

Searching on this site I have found an interesring stash jar which is called herb preserve. I have found mixed reviews on it, more good than bad, the fact that it has a plastic lid is alittle suspect, but I like everything they say about it as far as keeping certain light rays out, providing a better air tight seal than a mason jar and practically keeping the bud fresh. I will order one and see how it goes.

Also thanks to everyone that mentioned Boveda packs. I will also purchase some and see my results. I have read up on the cvaults as well, though I wanted to steer in the direction of glass.

If anyone thinks that there are better stash jars and stashing methods out there, please feel free to respond. Again, thanks.

Chezgreendream said:

If anyone thinks that there are better stash jars and stashing methods out there, please feel free to respond. Again, thanks.

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Have you looked at JyARZ for storage. Indestructible plastic outer shell with inner glass liner. Nice gasket for total airtight seal. Classic is their medium size. Satchmo is their large but it is not very big.
How much do you need it to hold?
JyARZ with Boveda pack is what I use.
Cheap glass Mason jar is very workable, just store in a drawer or box etc to keep sunlight out.

MinnBobber said:

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Have you looked at JyARZ for storage. Indestructible plastic outer shell with inner glass liner. Nice gasket for total airtight seal. Classic is their medium size. Satchmo is their large but it is not very big.
How much do you need it to hold?
JyARZ with Boveda pack is what I use.
Cheap glass Mason jar is very workable, just store in a drawer or box etc to keep sunlight out.

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THAnks man. I dont vape much, I used to vape once a week, but due to some life stresses Im vaping once a day before bed. Tecnically an ounce will last me about 7+ months, eversince I discovered how to stretch my stash out. So yes, I am looking to stash alittle less than ounce at a time since I take it apart and put some in my go to stash and and put away my long term stash, I would probably get more if I can make it last just like the 1st day I got it.

I will look up Jyarz, it sounds like something I would be interested in.

Chezgreendream said:

I will look up Jyarz, it sounds like something I would be interested in.

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check out the JyARZ thread in the vapor equipment section.
I can't get enough bud to fill them so check that thread to see how much the Classic and Satchmo hold.
Pic below with red solo cup for size perspective. Disassembled to show inner glass and gaskets.


EDIT---found the dimension. The bigger Satchmo glasss liner is 2" x 2" . The cover/cap is 2.55" wide.

Glass mason jars stored in consistent environment can keep bud for years. If you burp and cure initially and fill jar up . It will change but it is still viable period in some ways it seems better . I know seeds can last indefinitely as well ,I used seeds over 7 years old with 100 percent germination . Excellent photos @steama that is the best example.

Don't know if this was mentioned already, if you pick up a moldy bud and clap your finger against it, you should see a lot of mold-spores flying away from it. Try it in front of a dark background and you can be 100% sure if there is mold or not. If you ever see the ouburst of actual mold spores (try it with some old food for sake), you know what to look for.

steama said:

I wouldn't spend too much money on any fancy storage jars when a simple mason jar will suffice.
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Here is an image of mold on herb for those that are not sure what it looks like.

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Here is another example with different lighting, as my brother @herbivore21 said...

It can look like a patch of Trichomes ...

Botrytis ...



Thick Trichome patch..

steama said:

If you have ever had seedy 'downtown brown' then you have smoked weed with some mold in it.

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The brown pound. The poo doo. Swag. Garf. Glad i haven't had to worry about quality, or where my herb has come from in many many years. I remember just getting a headache off that brown pound.

Was there anything worse than getting a mini brick, start to break it up and have it roll (multiple seeds) away from you. Yes it was cracking the brick to have powder (mold) bloom up from the pile.

I wouldn't be that concerned about the mold due to the fact that it will die when burned. The vapor from that will then be negligible.